MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Restaurant Sector, Blockbuster and Plexus were today's noteworthy upgrades:
Bear Stearns upgraded the Restaurant Sector to Market Weight from Underweight citing better investor sentiment following Fed rate cuts and the economic stimulus plan; upgraded shares include Brinker International (NYSE: EAT), Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) and Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI).
JP Morgan upgraded shares of Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) to Overweight from Neutral ahead of the company's Q4 results on March 6, as they believe the quarter will be at least in-line and 2008 guidance will be above Street expectations.
Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse as they believe current quarter sales and bookings are tracking ahead.
OTHER UPGRADES:
Maxwell Technologies (NASDAQ: MXWL) was upgraded to Market Perform from Market Underperform at JMP Securities.
The firm also raised Sotheby's (NYSE: BID) to Market Outperform from Market Perform.
Goldman Sachs added Allianz AG (NYSE: AZ) to its Conviction Buy List.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: The small-cap bank sector, Waste Connections, Warnaco Group and Intersections were today's noteworthy upgrades:
Lehman upgraded the small-cap bank sector to Neutral from Negative as they expect the group to benefit from the decline in short-term interest rates and the steeping yield curve. The firm upgraded Associated Banc-Corp (NASDAQ: ASBC), Pacific Capital Bancorp (NASDAQ: PCBC) and Westpac Banking Corp (NYSE: WBK) to Equal Weight from Underweight.
Friedman Billings added Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) to its Top Picks list. The firm believes the company can outperform the group and overall market in an economic downturn.
Warnaco Group (NASDAQ: WRNC) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan on valuation and growth potential.
JMP Securities' checks indicate that Intersections (NASDAQ: INTX) is on track to meet EPS expectations for the quarter and is well positioned to beat their 2008 EPS estimate of 80c. The firm raised shares to Strong Buy from Outperform.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Celgene (CELG), Flextronics (FLEX), TradeStation (TRAD) and Assisted Living Concepts (ALC) were today's noteworthy initiations:
Jefferies is positive on Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG) over the longer term given the company's robust earnings growth potential and strong cash flow prospects, and started shares with a Buy.
Flextronics (NASDAQ: FLEX) was assumed with a Buy rating at Banc of America, who called the proposed acquisition of Solectron (SLR) a positive.
Friedman Billings believes TradeStation's (NASDAQ: TRAD) unique platform differentiates it from the competition and gives it a sustained advantage, starting shares with an Outperform.
Ferris Baker Watts initiated Assisted Living (NYSE: ALC) with a Buy rating, calling shares attractive...
MOST NOTEWORTHY: The electronics manufacturing services sector was today's noteworthy initiation:
Credit Suisse initiated coverage of the EMS sector with an Underweight. The firm believes the industry is burdened with overcapacity in high-cost manufacturing regions, with hyper competition, allowing for no pricing power.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Plexus Corp (PLXS) and Ameristar Casinos Inc (ASCA) were some of today's most notable initiations:
Lehman initiated Plexus Corp (NASDAQ: PLXS) with an Underweight rating and $15.50 target.
Wachovia started Ameristar Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ASCA) with an Outperform rating; the firm sees upside for Ameristar through growth of existing properties that have expansions and the removal of the $500 loss limit in Missouri.
OTHER INITIATIONS:
Mattel Inc (NYSE: MAT) was initiated with a Hold rating at Sterne Agee.
First Albany started Gaming Partners International Corp (NASDAQ: GPIC) with a Buy rating and $23 target.
Jefferies initiated Morgans Hotel Group Co (NASDAQ: MHGC) with a Hold rating and $20 target based on valuation.
UBS started E*Trade Financial Corp (NASDAQ: ETFC) with a Buy rating and $29 target.
UBS also started TD Ameritrade Holding Corp (NASDAQ: AMTD) with a Neutral rating on valuation.
Stifel initiated Saia Inc (NASDAQ: SAIA) with a Buy rating and $31 target; the firm is positive on Saia's growth and said the company should be the biggest beneficiary of further tonnage leakage from Central Freight Lines, which recently went private.
William Blair started US BioEnergy Corp (NASDAQ: USBE) with an Outperform rating.
JMP Securities assumed coverage of Delta Financial Corp (NYSE: DFC) with a Strong Buy rating and $13 target.
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MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Restaurant Sector, Blockbuster and Plexus were today's noteworthy upgrades:.gif){kind=logo}
MOST NOTEWORTHY: The electronics manufacturing services sector was today's noteworthy initiation: 
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