Analyst Upgrades

• Citigroup (C) to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Cubist Pharma (CBST) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Pentair (PNR) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Heritage Financial (HFWA) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• SL Green Realty (SLG) and Digital Realty (DLR) to market perform from underperform at FBR Capital.
• MGM Resorts (MGM) to neutral from Sell at Janney Capital.
• Ciena (CIEN) to buy from neutral and Olin (OLN) to buy from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Mellanox (MLNX) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• ConocoPhillips (COP) and Canadian Natural (CNQ) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• IDEX (IEX) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Ctrip.com (CTRP) to positive from neutral at Susquehanna.
• Linear Technology (LLTC) and Analog Devices (ADI) to hold from sell at Auriga.
• Quicksilver (KWK) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADI, BRCM, C, CIEN, COP, INTC, MGM, OXY, QCOM, TXN ...

Analyst Calls: ADI, BRCM, C, CIEN, COP, INTC, MGM, OXY, QCOM, TXN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you're going to the beach this summer, chances are you'll bring a swimsuit with you. Last summer, with the recession beginning and the credit crisis just unfolding, consumers held off on updating their wardrobe. This summer, those two-year-old duds will not do.

One of my favorite beachwear names is Quiksilver (NYSE: ZQK). This ultra-hip name will provide beach goers with an instant upgrade. My bet is that sales will increase this summer from previously anemic levels.

Continue reading Stock #2: Quiksilver (ZQK)

Stock #2: Quiksilver (ZQK) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Before you retreat to your favorite summer locale with the perfect book, let's take a look at the stocks set to profit as consumers look to enjoy the fruits of their labor over the next several months.

For me, summer means lots of boating, fishing, and time with my family. And this year I'll be doing more of each to make up for lost time spent hunkering down during the downturn.

As such, companies that make the goods in each of these categories should do well. That's how it goes during a recession. Demand builds as we retreat to preserve cash and fix balance sheets.

Continue reading 5 hot summer stocks for cool profits

5 hot summer stocks for cool profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nike looking to sell Bauer hockey unit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Quiksilver sells Cleveland Golf -- Should Adams Golf be next?

Quiksilver sells Cleveland Golf -- Should Adams Golf be next? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• AG Edwards initiated Quicksilver Gas Services (NYSE: KGS) with a Buy rating and $26 target as the firm believes the company's distribution growth has high visibility, based on its current asset base and the possibility of third-party acquisitions. UBS initiated shares with a Buy rating and $34 target.
  
• Hireright (NASDAQ: HIRE) was initiated with a Market Perform rating and $13 target at Piper Jaffray, as the firm believes the company's distribution growth has high visibility, based on its current asset base and the possibility of third-party acquisitions. CIBC is positive on Hireright's extensive solution set and strategic alliances and initiated shares with a Sector Outperformer rating.
  
• DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DAI) was started at Bear Stearns with an Outperform rating. Following the Chrysler transaction, Bear expects Daimler to raise its margin guidance now that the company can focus on its truck platform.
  
• Masimo Corporation (NASDAQ: MASI) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Piper Jaffray, as the firm believes the company's "best in class" technology will drive continued pulse oximetry share gains. Cowen initiated shares with a Neutral rating on valuation and Deutsche Bank started shares with a Buy rating and $30 target..

• TD Newcrest started shares of Vitran Corporation (NASDAQ: VTNC) with a Hold rating.
  
• Lazard started shares of E-House China Holdings (NYSE: EJ) with a Buy rating; CIBC initiated shares with a Sector Outperformer rating and $25 target.
  
• Rodman & Renshaw initiated shares of Iomai Corporation (NASDAQ: IOMI) with a Market Outperform rating and $4.25 target.

Analyst Initiations: KGS, HIRE, DAI and MASI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Banc of America cut ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) to Neutral from Buy on valuation and the lack of upstream catalysts.

• Deutsche Bank cut Transocean (NYSE: RIG) to Hold from Buy based on the GlobalSantaFe (GSF) merger.

• Raymond James downgraded LifePoint Hospitals (NASDAQ: LPNT) to Market Perform from Strong Buy following the company's cut in guidance. Merrill Lynch downgraded LifePoint Hospitals to Neutral from Buy.

• Citigroup downgraded EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG) and Quicksilver Resources (NYSE: KWK) to Sell from Hold as both trade above the sector averages for NAV and cash flow and neither is well protected in the likely event commodity prices deteriorate...

• BMO Capital downgraded Biovail (NYSE: BVF) to Market Perform from Outperform.

• Brean Murray cut Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SPPI) to Sell from Buy.

• Wedbush downgraded Cosi Inc (NASDAQ: COSI) to Hold from Buy.

• RBC Capital downgraded Ventana Medical (NASDAQ: VMSI) to Sector Perform from Outperform.

Analyst downgrades 7-23-07: BVF, COP, COSI and RIG originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS is positive on the ethylene cycle over the next two years and believes Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) can beat 2008 consensus estimates, initiating shares with a Buy rating.

• JMP Securities started Smart Modular (NASDAQ: SMOD) with a Strong Buy as a unit volume growth theme without much dependence on commodity memory chip pricing.

• Citigroup expects further upside given Wolverine World Wide's (NYSE: WWW) strong portfolio of brands, further growth opportunities through line extensions and international growth. The firm started Wolverine World Wide with a Buy rating and $33 target.

• Winn-Dixie Stores (NASDAQ: WINN) was started with a Market Perform rating, citing low levels of profitability and unproven ability to drive sustainable profitable sales.

• American Technology believes the valuation of Blue Nile (NASDAQ: NILE) leaves little room for upside, despite a highly attractive business model and strong fundamentals, and started shares with a Sell rating and $45 target...

• Susquehanna started King Pharma (NYSE: KG), Sepracor (NASDAQ: SEPR) with Neutral ratings and Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) with a Positive rating.

• Citigroup initiated shares of Quicksilver Inc (NYSE: ZQK) with a Hold rating.

• Longbow started Mips Tech (NASDAQ: MIPS) with a Buy rating and $12 target.

Analyst initiations 5-11-07: DOW, NILE, WINN and ZQK originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 May 2007 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Oppenheimer believes Jamba (NASDAQ: JMBA) is in the early stages of a solid top- and-bottom-line growth story and is one of the few opportunities today that offers sizable square foot growth, revenue and earnings growth, all with several years of visibility.

• Quiksilver Inc (NYSE: ZQK) was initiated with an Accumulate rating and $14 target at ThinkEquity.

• ThinkEquity also initiated shares of Volcom Inc (NASDAQ: VLCM) with a Buy rating.

• AG Edwards started Interactive Data Corp (NYSE: IDC) with a Buy rating.

• Merrill Lynch resumed coverage of Merck & Co, Inc (NYSE: MRK) with a Neutral rating.

• Matrix USA started coverage of Loral Space & Communications Ltd (NASDAQ: LORL) with a Strong Buy rating and $72 intrinsic value.

• AG Edwards initiated shares of Atheros Communications, Inc (NASDAQ: ATHR) with a Buy rating.

• Stifel initiated Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc (NASDAQ: PEET) with a Hold rating.

• Bear Stearns started Genworth Financial, Inc (NYSE: GNW) with an Outperform rating and $42 target.

• Morgan Stanley started Nova Chemicals Corp (NYSE: NCX) with an Equal Weight rating.

Analyst initiations 4-19-07: PEET, MRK, VCLM and ZQK initiated today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Prudential upgraded Tribune Co (NYSE: TRB) to Neutral from Underweight based on the company's decision to go private.

• Quicksilver Inc (NYSE: ZQK) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal-Weight with a $17 target at Morgan Stanley.

• F5 Networks Inc (NASDAQ: FFIV) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Kaufman Brothers.

• Raymond James upgraded Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) to Strong Buy from Market Perform.

• Keefe, Bruyette added Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) and Merrill Lynch & Co (NYSE: MER) to KBW's Best Ideas List.

• Jefferies upgraded Kinetic Concepts, Inc (NYSE: KCI) to Buy from Hold with a $60 target as the firm believes the final competitive bidding ruling on durable medical equipment eliminates the single greatest overhang on the stock.

• Wachovia upgraded Amerigroup Corp (NYSE: AGP) to Outperform from Market Perform, believing weakness related to AGP's $240M convertible and risks related to the ongoing whistle blower lawsuit are reflected in valuation.

• Credit Suisse added United Technologies Corp (NYSE: UTX) to its U.S. Focus List.

• JP Morgan upgraded Cadbury Schweppes plc (NYSE: CSG) to Neutral from Underweight.

Analyst upgrades 4-03-07: Tribune, Merrill and Johnson & Johnson upgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Credit Suisse downgraded EchoStar Communications Corp (NASDAQ: DISH) to Underperform from Neutral based on valuation and lower probability of an acquisition by AT&T (NYSE: T).

• PeopleSupport Inc (NASDAQ: PSPT) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at both Piper Jaffray and Freidman Billings following disappointing Q4 earnings and guidance; JMP Securities cut PeopleSupport to Market Outperform from Strong Buy.

• Quicksilver (NYSE: ZQK) was downgraded by a host of firms: to Market Performer from Outperformer at Piper Jaffray, to Sector Performer from Outperformer at CIBC, to Hold from Buy at W.R. Hambrecht, to Neutral from Accumulate at Buckingham and to Sell from Hold at Wedbush.

• Freidman Billings downgraded Tercica, Inc (NASDAQ: TRCA) to Underperform from Market Perform on valuation.

• Prudential cut Cheesecake Factory Inc (NASDAQ: CAKE) to Underweight from Neutral citing soft industry sales trends which will impact Q1 and Q2 results.

• Raymond James downgraded Goldcorp Inc (NYSE: GG) to Outperform from Strong Buy.

• Lehman cut Sprint Nextel Corp (NYSE: S) to Equal-Weight from Overweight.

• UBS downgraded New Century Financial Corp (NYSE: NEW) to Reduce from Neutral.

• Stifel downgraded C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc (NASDAQ: CHRW) to Sell from Hold.

Analyst downgrades 3-09-07: Quicksilver, EchoStar, Cheesecake Factory all downgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.