MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Goldman upgraded the U.S. Semiconductor Sector, including Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) and SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) to Attractive from Neutral. The firm believes semi fundamentals are poised to improve in 2H08 and that valuations are reasonable.
  
• Wachovia upgraded Teekay Offshore (NYSE: TOO) to Outperform from Market Perform based on valuation and increased distribution growth outlook following the acquisition of an additional 25% ownership interest in Teekay Offshore Operating, L.P.
  
• Merriman upgraded shares of Oplink Communications (NASDAQ: OPLK) to Buy from Neutral as it believes the company is an attractive takeover target following the Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR) and Optium (NASDAQ: OPTM) merger, given its low-cost Chinese manufacturing capacity and attractive $140M cash balance.

• Goldman upgraded Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) to Buy from Neutral and added shares to its Conviction Buy List.
  
• William Blair raised Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) to Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• Citigroup upgraded Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades: U.S. semiconductors, TOO and OPLK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 May 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Baird upgraded the Auto & Truck Suppliers sector to Market Overweight from Market Weight citing valuations, lowered expectations, industry dynamics and a potential bottom in economic indicators. The firm upgraded Accuride Corp (NYSE: ACW) and Magna International (MGA) to Outperform from Neutral.
  
• Merriman upgraded shares of Oplink Comm (NASDAQ: OPLK) to Neutral from Sell on valuation, as they believe Friday's sell-off fully reflects near-term operating concerns and that share price downside from here is limited.
  
• Cowen raised The Wet Seal (NASDAQ: WTSLA) to Outperform from Neutral and has increased confidence that the new management's operational changes and cost cutting initiatives will lead to EPS upside.

• BT Group (NYSE: BT) was raised to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• Societe Generale raised Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) to Buy from Hold and ENI SpA (NYSE: E) to Hold from Sell.
  
• Goldman raised Embarq (NYSE: EQ) to Neutral from Sell.

Analyst upgrades: Auto & truck suppliers, OPLK and WTSLA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

M

• Banc of America downgraded shares of Dendreon Corp (NASDAQ: DNDN) to Sell from Neutral following the FDA's request for additional clinical data for Provenge.

• HSBC cut Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) to Underweight from Neutral after the second quarter miss.

• BMO Capital downgraded Rio Tinto plc (NYSE: RTP) to Underperform from Market Perform based on valuation.

• El Paso Corp (NYSE: EP) was cut to Sell from Buy at Matrix after the company's weak operating performance.

• Merriman downgraded shares of Oplink Communications (NASDAQ: OPLK) to Sell from Neutral based on concerns over the OCP acquisitions and inventory...

• 24/7 Real Media, Inc (NASDAQ: TFSM) was cut to Hold from Buy at Jefferies.

• Credit Suisse downgraded shares of RadioShack Corp (NYSE: RSH) to Neutral from Outperform.

• Bear Stearns cut Harman International Industries (NYSE: HAR) to Peer Perform from Outperform.

• Piper Jaffray downgraded shares of Cache, Inc (NASDAQ: CACH) to Market Perform from Outperform.

• Restoration Hardware, Inc (NASDAQ: RSTO) was cut at Caris to Average from Above Average.

Analyst downgrades 5-10-07: CACH, RSH, RTP and WFMI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 May 2007 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.