MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Caris initiated shares of Athenahealth (NASDAQ: ATHN) with an Average rating and $26 target, as they believe an unachievable growth rate is priced into shares at current levels.
• Brocade Communications Systems (NASDAQ: BRCD) was initiated with a Neutral rating at UBS.
  
• Royal Bank of Scotland (NYSE: RBS) was initiated with an Underweight rating at Lehmen.
  
• JP Morgan resumed coverage of Human Genome Sciences (NASDAQ: HGSI) with a Neutral rating.

• Lazard resumed coverage of Zoran (NASDAQ: ZRAN) with a Hold rating and Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) with a Buy rating.
  
• Stifel initiated Tortoise Energy Capital (NYSE: TYY) with a Buy rating and $32 target.
  
• HSBC initiated DSG International (OTC: DSITY) with an Overweight rating.

Analyst initiations: ATHN, BRCD, RBS and HGSI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Deutsche Bank initiated shares of Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) with a Buy rating and $62 target, as they believe the company can maintain its leadership position in the fast-growing IPTV and high-def DVD markets. Baird said Sigma's IPTV momentum is accelerating, Blu-ray demand in strong, and Ultrawideband is the next growth opportunity. The firm resumed coverage with an Outperform rating.
  
• Banc of America started shares of Satyam Computer Services (NYSE: SAY) with a Neutral rating and $39 target on valuation, as they believe better value exists in peers Cognizant Technology (NASDAQ: CTSH) and Infosys Technologies (NASDAQ: INFY).
  
• UBS initiated Genpact (NYSE: G) with a Neutral rating and $18 target on valuation.

• Goldman resumed coverage of HealthSpring (NYSE: HS) with a Neutral rating and $23 target.
  
• Wachovia initiated Gentiva Health (NASDAQ: GTIV) with an Outperform rating.

Analyst inititations: SIGM, SAY and G originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Merrill downgraded Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) to Sell from Neutral citing expectations of margin erosion.

• Brean Murray cut Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ: CWTR) to Hold from Buy following their disappointing Q2 report and outlook.

• Select Comfort (NASDAQ: SCSS) was cut to Strong Sell from Hold at Matrix based on weak performance and high risk characteristics.

• Anadys Pharma (NASDAQ: ANDS) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Cowen, citing pipeline setbacks over the last 12 months, and lack of near-term catalysts...

• Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS) was cut to Hold from Aggressive Buy.

• Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) was cut to Hold from Buy at Needham.

Analyst downgrades 8-30-07: CWTR, SIGM and WMT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan started CKE Restaurants (NYSE: CKR) with a Neutral rating, citing near-term margin concerns.

• Barrington believes Capella Education (NASDAQ: CPLA) is one of the fastest growing companies within its group in every aspect including enrollment, earnings and revenue.

• Stifel started IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) with a Buy rating, believing there is a 60% chance of a material event occurring within the next 6 months. Stifel believes QVC is the best interactive retailing operator given its 22% EBITDA margins and 16% operating margins.

• Banc of America initiated BWAY Holding (NYSE: BWY) with a Neutral rating, citing a balanced risk/reward. JP Morgan started shares of BWY with an Overweight rating on valuation...

• Lehman initiated Huntington Bancshares (NASDAQ: HBAN) with an Underweight rating.

• Montgomery initiated Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) with a Buy rating.

• Stifel initiated Overstock.com (NASDAQ: OSTK) with a Hold rating.

• JMP Securities started BFC Financial (AMEX: BFF) with a Market Outperform rating.

Analyst initiations 7-23-07: CKR, IACI, OSTK and SIGM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Jefferies upgraded shares of Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) and raised their target to $90 from $68 as the firm believes shares are fairly valued based on assumed higher spark spreads in New England.

• Syniverse Holdings (NYSE: SVR) was raised to Peer Perform from Underperform at Bear Stearns after its Q1 report.

• Credit Suisse upgraded Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) and raised their target to $145 from $100 as the firm believes the company will benefit from smart phone market growth and improving international traction. However, FBCO still believes RIMM's increasing exposure to the consumer market will continue to pressure margins.

• Prudential said Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is showing signs of improving revenue growth and accelerating FiOS TV subscriber additions, as well as continued dominance in wireless, and upgraded shares to Neutral from Underweight.

• Matrix USA raised Comcast Corp's (NASDAQ: CMCSA) rating to Hold from Sell on valuation...

• Goldman upgraded Danaher Corp (NYSE: DHR) to Buy from Neutral with an $81 target.

• NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

• Bear Stearns raised Ingersoll-Rand's (NYSE: IR) rating to Peer Perform from Underperform.

• Needham upgraded Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) to Buy from Hold with a $28 target.

• Wachovia raised Innkeepers USA Trust (NYSE: KPA) rating to Market Perform from Underperform.

Analyst upgrades 5-01-07: CMCSA, D, RIMM and VZ originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 May 2007 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Citigroup cut CV Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: CVTX) to Sell from Hold with a $6 target due to the diminished market potential for Ranexa and its high operating expenses. First Albany downgraded shares to Neutral from Strong Sell to reflect the lack of catalysts.

• Matrix USA cut Stone Energy Corp (NYSE: SGY) to Strong Sell from Hold, believing significant cost increases are driving negative fundamental trends.

• Deutsche Telecom AG (NYSE: DT) was downgraded to Peer Perform from Outperform at Bear Stearns as the firm believes evidence of a turnaround needs to be seen before shares move higher.

• Thomas Weisel cut Brady Corporation (NYSE: BRC) to Market Weight from Overweight to reflect lower confidence in management's ability to deploy capital effectively.

• Overseas Shipholding Group Inc (NYSE: OSG) was downgraded to Hold from Strong Buy at Matrix USA.

• American Technology downgraded Sigma Designs, Inc (NASDAQ: SIGM) to Neutral from Buy with a $28 target.

Analyst downgrades 3-28-07: CV Therapeutics, Deutsche Telecom downgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.