BloggingStocks

Analyst downgrades 8-01-07: AMGN, CEPH, LYO and TDK

Kevin Shult — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:34:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Analyst Reports, Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades, Bad News, Amgen Inc (AMGN)

MOST NOTEWORTHY: TDK Corp. (TDK), Maquire Properties (MPG), BankAtlantic Bancorp (BBX), ON Semiconductor (ONNN) and Amgen (AMGN) were today's noteworthy downgrades:

UBS downgraded TDK Corp. (NYSE: TDK) to Reduce from Neutral after the company's operating profit missed estimates.

Deutsche Bank cut Maguire Properties (NYSE: MPG) to Sell from Hold following the company's disappointing Q2 report.

Sandler cut BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX) to Sell from Hold on valuation.

Valuation and debt levels pushed Unterberg to downgrade ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) to Market Perform from Buy.

William Blair downgraded shares of Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) to Market Perform from Outperform as they believe the CMS decision on ESA reimbursement guidelines is extremely restrictive regarding Aranesp use in oncology...

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

Lyondell Chemical Co (NYSE: LYO) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight.

UBS cut FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI) to Reduce from Neutral.

Stanford downgraded MoSys (NASDAQ: MOSY) to Hold from Buy.

Brean Murray downgraded SumTotal Systems (NASDAQ: SUMT) to Hold from Buy.

Buckingham cut Cephalon (NASDAQ: CEPH) to Accumulate from Strong Buy.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst downgrades 8-01-07: AMGN, CEPH, LYO and TDK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cramer's chemical weapons

Jon Ogg — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: Analyst Reports, Dow Chemical (DOW)

On tonight's MAD MONEY on CNBC, BASF (NYSE: BF) in Germany is the next stock that Cramer wants to visit as an EU play, and he also thinks this company will be making some acquisitions. He does not see this as the traditional takeover stock. This one did the $80 to $120 move already, and this is over $60 Billion in market cap and he wouldn't be shocked if it goes to $150.00. He noted it is also cheaper on P/E than Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) and it only gets 22% of its net from North America. BASF's earnings are also becoming more and more consistent, and that can command a P/E premium from Wall Street.

Interestingly enough, Cramer also gave us a chemical stock that could be an acquisition target. We already say Lyondell Chemical (NYSE: LYO) fall to Basell, and Cramer thinks that Nova Chemicals (NYSE: NCX) is the other chemical stock that could easily be acquired. The analyst at BB&T has picked the last two buyouts in the sector and he thinks Nova Chemical could be the next target. This one has a $3.3 Billion market cap and is atthe top of its 52-week trading range. It is far under the $50.00+ highs of early 2005.

BASF is definitely a company to watch, although Cramer is probably right that it won't be acquired. We are back to a good solid manufacturing economy and emerging markets are helping all these guys out. The company has managed to be a growth engine, and if it is true that their earnings are becoming more predictable then maybe he's right. Nova is a tough one to call, particularly since I haven't looked at it closely in some time.

Jon Ogg is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Cramer's chemical weapons originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst downgrades 5-24-07: AGN, FITB, SLB and VCLK

Kevin Shult — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades, Bad News, Allergan (AGN), Schlumberger Limited (SLB), ValueClick Inc (VCLK)

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The more noteworthy downgrades today came from Calyon, which cut five companies in the oil services and equipment sector:

Calyon is taking a more cautious stance due to valuations in the sector. The firm believes strong fundamentals are now reflected in share prices. As such, Calyon downgraded Global Industries, Ltd (NASDAQ: GLBL), Ensco International Inc (NYSE: ESV), Transocean Inc (NYSE: RIG) and Schlumberger Ltd (NYSE: SLB) to Add from Neutral and downgraded Gerber Scientific, Inc (NYSE: GRB) to Neutral from Add...

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

Piper Jaffray cut ValueClick, Inc (NASDAQ: VCLK) to Market Perform from Outperform.

UBS cut Lyondell Chemical Co (NYSE: LYO) and IndyMac Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: IMB) to Neutral from Buy.

Goldman downgraded Worthington Industries, Inc (NYSE: WOR) to Sell from Neutral.

Matrix USA cut Allergan, Inc (NYSE: AGN) to Sell from Hold and Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst downgrades 5-24-07: AGN, FITB, SLB and VCLK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 May 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst initiations 2-16-07: Cadbury Schweppes started with an Outperform

Kevin Shult — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Analyst Initiations

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Cadbury Schweppes ADS (CSG) and Buckeye Partners (BPL) were today's most notable rating changes.

Wachovia started Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) with an Outperform rating. They said Cadbury's long-term global confectionery opportunities are among the best in the industry and the recent buyout of its U.S. Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up bottling unit provides high-leverage cash flow.

Buckeye Partners Ltd (NYSE: BPL) was initiated with an Underperform rating and a $48 target at RBC based on valuation.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

Stanford initiated AudioCodes Ltd (NASDAQ: AUDC) with a Buy rating and $15 target. The firm believes AudioCodes is an inexpensive play on the migration to packet networks.

Stifel initiated William Partners LP (NYSE: WPZ) with a Buy rating and $46.50 target.

AG Edwards started BioMarin Pharmaceutical inc (NASDAQ: BMRN) with a Buy rating and $25 target.

Pacer International Inc (NASDAQ: PACR) was initiated with a Hold rating at Stifel.

Morgan Stanley started Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE: LYO) with an Overweight rating and $38 target.

Buckingham initiated Chattem Inc (NASDAQ: CHTT) with an Accumulate rating and $64 target, citing high margins, cash flow and reduced debt.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Analyst initiations 2-16-07: Cadbury Schweppes started with an Outperform originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lyondell's got it all: earnings, cash flow and a huge refinery

Eric Buscemi — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 07:31:00 EST

Filed under: Forecasts, Good news

Lyondell Chemical (NYSE: LYO) was mentioned twice as a stock to buy in this past weekend's Barron's Roundtable (subscription required), recommended by both Archie MacAllaster and John Neff. At $25, the stock is selling for 6.25x earnings, versus the S&P 500 which is selling for 15x to 16x earnings.

What is particularly attractive about Lyondell is that it bought out its Venezuelan partner's 41% stake in the Citgo refinery and now fully owns this sizable refinery. This asset should generate a lot of cash flow for Lyondell's shareholders for years to come.

Lyondell put a good chunk of debt on its balance sheet to purchase the Citgo refinery stake, but has already reduced debt by $2 to $3 billion, according to MacAllaster, who put a $40 price target on the stock.

Lyondell's got it all: earnings, cash flow and a huge refinery originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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