Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded Norfolk Southern (NSC) to outperform from market perform following the company's Q1 results.
• RBC Capital transferred coverage on Gildan Activewear (GIL) with an outperform from sector perform. The firm is positive on Gildan's low-cost producer strategy and free cash flow generation. The firm raised its target to $35 from $26.
• Wunderlich upgraded Delphi Financial (DFG) to buy from hold following the company's Q1 results and raised its target for shares to $31 from $29.
• Aflac (AFL) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Sterne Agee.
• Time Warner (TWX) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Cowen.
• Pride International (PDE) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: NSC, GIL, DFG, F, DVA, PFWD, PGN, TDS, PSSI ...

Analyst Calls: NSC, GIL, DFG, F, DVA, PFWD, PGN, TDS, PSSI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Before the Bell: Futures Lower as Investors Mull Earnings

Before the Bell: Futures Lower as Investors Mull Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Wells Fargo upgraded MasterCard (MA) to outperform from market perform on valuation as it views the sell-off in shares following the company's Q4 results as unwarranted.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Best Buy (BBY) to buy from neutral on valuation as it believes sentiment has gotten overly negative on the stock. The firm raised its target on shares to $44 from $42.
• Citigroup upgraded Gap (GPS) to buy from hold on valuation following the recent pullback in shares and the company's sales results. The firm raised its price target for the stock to $24 from $23.
• Starwood Hotels (HOT) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Baird.
• Murphy Oil (MUR) was upgraded to hold from sell at Collins Stewart.
• Motorola (MOT) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: BBY, EXC, GPS, H, LEAP, MA, MOT, TAP ...

Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades and Initiations: BBY, EXC, GPS, H, LEAP, MA, MOT, TAP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded Talbots (NYSE: TLB) to Outperform from Market Perform as it believes the company's inventory and SG&A control should help earnings and the stock's risk/reward is compelling at current levels. The firm raised its target on shares to $7 from $5.
• ThinkEquity upgraded Human Genome (NASDAQ: HGSI) to Buy from Accumulate to reflect higher assumptions for the company's Lupus treatment Benlysta. The firm raised its target on shares to $26 from $18.
• KeyBanc upgraded Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) to Buy from Hold based on valuation, improving fundamentals, and stable capital position. The firm has a $17 target on the stock.
• HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
• BioScrip (NASDAQ: BIOS) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BIOS, DISH, FTE, HBC, MDSO, TLB ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BIOS, DISH, FTE, HBC, MDSO, TLB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• JP Morgan upgraded Alcoa (NYSE: AA) to Overweight from Neutral and added shares to its Focus List. The analyst said the equity offering and dividend cut provide enough "liquidity insurance" to make it through 2009 and now views risk/reward as attractive.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Asbury Automotive (NYSE: ABG) to Buy from Hold as it finds the current valuation attractive and thinks the company's cost savings will drive upside in a recovery. The firm raised its target price to $7 from $5.50.
  
• Barclays upgraded Beckman Coulter (NYSE: BEC) to Overweight from Equal Weight. Following their healthcare conference and management meetings, the firm sees increased visibility into revenues.
• Waddell & Reed (NYSE: WDR) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Nokia (NYSE: NOK) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD) was lifted to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, NOK, EXPE, MTB, CSC ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AA, NOK, EXPE, MTB, CSC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Cowen upgraded Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) to Outperform from Neutral following the Q1 report based on accelerating growth. Shares were also upgraded at JP Morgan to Overweight from Neutral.
  
• Friedman Billings upgraded Phase Forward (NASDAQ: PFWD) to Outperform from Market Perform following the solid Q1 report and views guidance as beatable.
  
• CIBC raised Celestica (NYSE: CLS) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer following Q1 results, citing end markets that look stable.

• JP Morgan upgraded the Consumer Discretionary Sector to Overweight from Underweight.
  
• Wendy's (NYSE: WEN) was raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.
  
• Progenics Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PGNX) was upgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Sell.
  
• Merrill Lynch raised Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: NOC, PFWD and CLS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Over the years, Phase Forward (NASDAQ: PFWD)'s sophisticated software has managed more than 10,000 clinical trials with companies like Merck and Co. (NYSE: MRK), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK), and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY). And investors are taking notice, as the stock price is up about 50% this year.

In Q3, Phase Forward reported a 24% increase in revenues to $34.9 million and net income was $5.7 million, or 13 cents per share, up from $2.9 million or 8 cents per share in the same period a year ago. The company's cash balance increased by $7.6 million to $187 million.

Phase Forward scored several key customer wins in Q3, such as with Novartis (NYSE: NVS) and Eisai, which is one of the largest pharma companies in Japan. No doubt, it helps that the company's software platform is highly scalable for complex, global organizations. This is critical in combating rivals like Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL), ArisGlobal, and etrials Worldwide (NASDAQ: ETWC).

Continue reading Phase Forward hits the growth phase

Phase Forward hits the growth phase originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Kaufman Bros. expects MRU Holdings (NADAQ: UNCL) to post a profit in Q4 for the first time due to its first student loan securitization and started shares with a Buy rating and $9 target.

• Thomas Weisel believes shares of CVS/Caremark (NYSE: CVS) represent a compelling risk/reward at these levels, initiating shares with an Overweight rating and $51 target, given the positive trends in the market and the likelihood of successful merger integration.

• Thomas Weisel believes Medco Health (NYSE: MHS) is well positioned to capitalize on continued generic conversions, starting shares with an Overweight rating and $100 target.

• Banc of America would be buyers of Blackboard (NASDAQ: BBBB) current levels, initiating shares with a Buy rating and $50 target, given the company's defensible business model and market leadership position.

• UBS started Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET) with a Neutral rating.

• Leerink Swann initiated Phase Forward (NASDAQ: PFWD) with a Market Perform rating and $19-$20 valuation range.

Analyst initiations: BBBB, CVS and MHS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.