Goldman upgraded shares of BP Plc (NYSE: BP) to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the recent pullback provides an attractive entry point.
VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse citing its acquisition platform and international growth. The company's target was increased to $100 from $88.
Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) to Buy from Hold and increased its target to $8.50 from $7 to reflect increased confidence in the company's ability to beat expectations over the next 12 months and reduce its net debt.
US Steel (NYSE: X) was raised to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer at CIBC.
RBC Capital upgraded Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) to Sector Perform from Underperform following the acquisition by Shionogi.
Merrill believes Alcoa (NYSE: AA) may pursue an acquisition of Alumina Ltd (NYSE: AWC) following recent share weakness. Shares of Alumina were upgraded to Buy from Underperform.
Stanford upgraded shares of Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) to Buy from Hold after channel checks indicated U.S. search market trends have stabilized as they believe GOOG's market share gains are broadening, Q3 expectations are modest and the valuation is near lows. The firm has a $550 target on the stock.
Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
Analyst downgrades:
WestLB downgraded shares of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to Reduce from Hold as they believe the company's Q3 earnings could miss expectations.
Lehman downgraded Intersil (NASDAQ: ISIL) to Equal Weight from Overweight based PC exposure and market share loss in notebook power. The company's target was lowered to $24 from $29.
Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) was lowered to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America.
Citigroup initiated Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK) with a Sell rating and $13 target. The firm believes 2008 consensus estimates and guidance are too high given the company's headwinds.
GT Solar (NASDAQ: SOLR) was assumed with a Neutral rating and $16 target at Banc of America. The firm believes the risk/reward is balanced at current levels with no significant new polysilicon opportunity. Shares were also initiated at Thomas Weisel with an Overweight rating and $18 target and at UBS with a Buy rating and $19 target.
Citigroup initiated Xerox (NYSE: XRX) with a Buy rating and $20 target and Electronics for Imaging (NASDAQ: EFII) with a Hold rating and $18 target.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Antofagasta plc, Merrill Lynch, Valueclick, Telmex and Network Appliance were today's noteworthy upgrades:
UBS upgraded shares of Antofagasta (OTC: ANFGY) to Neutral from Sell as they see a strong possibility of delays to copper supply due to an earthquake on Nov. 14 in northern Chile.
Credit Suisse is positive on the appointment of John Thain as Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER)'s CEO and his ability to get the company back on track strategically. The firm upgraded shares of Merrill to Outperform from Neutral.
Valueclick (NASDAQ: VCLK) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup on valuation, as they believe the recent sell-off provides a great entry point.
Citigroup also raised its rating on Telmex (NYSE: TMX) to Buy from Hold after the company announced the spin-off of its international businesses.
Bear Stearns upgraded Network Appliance (NASDAQ: NTAP) to Peer Perform from Underperform following its Q2 report and increased outlook.
OTHER UPGRADES:
RBC Capital upgraded Sciele Pharma (NASDAQ: SCRX) to Sector Perform from Underperform.
Lehman upgraded Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) to Overweight from Equal Weight.
W.W. Grainger (NYSE: GWW) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.
Merrill Lynch upgraded Weyerhaeuser (NYSE: WY) to Buy from Neutral.
Sciele Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: SCRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, closed at $26.54. SCRX has a Sular line extension PDUFA on November 2. Roth Capital Partners has a Buy rating and $33 price target on SCRX. Roth says, "Pipeline strong, future looks bright, SCRX has eight products in different stages. One recently approved (Fenofibrate), two under review at the FDA (head lice and "new sular"), and five in Pivotal Ph 3 trials." SCRX November option implied volatility of 59 is above its 26-week average of 37 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.
MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR) is recently up $11.43 to $98 in pre-open trading. MSTR reported 3Q EPS of $1.51 verses consensus estimates of $1.11. Cowen says, "despite the strong license performance in the Q, the company is suffering from negative license growth year to date off a weak comp." MSTR over all option implied volatility of 49 is 42 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.
Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.
PDUFA Date for Sciele Pharmaceutical Inc's (NASDAQ: SCRX) LCP-FenoChol(Fenofibrate) for adjunctive therapy to diet for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia.
Tuesday August 21
Staples Inc (NASDAQ: SPLS) to report Q2 earnings; conference call at 8am.
PDUFA Date for IDM Pharmaceutical Inc's (NASDAQ: IDMI) MTP-PE (Mifamurtide), formerly Junovan, newly diagnosed resectable high grade osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in combination with chemotherapies.
MOST NOTEWORTHY: Dow Chemical (DOW), Smart Modular (SMOD), Wolverine World Wide (WWW), Win-Dixie Stores (WINN) and Blue Nile (BLUE) were today's noteworthy initiations:
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...
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Analyst upgrades:
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