Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded Reliance Steel (RS) to buy from neutral and The Buckle (BKE) to neutral from sell.
• RAM Energy (RAME) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Rodman & Renshaw.
• RBC Capital upgraded H&E Equipment (HEES) and Cameco (CCJ) to outperform from sector perform, and Denison Mines (DNN) to sector perform from underperform.
• Alexandria Real Estate (ARE) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Investment Technology (ITG) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Wedbush.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AKS, BXP, CCJ, CXW, GBX, PETM, RIMM, RS, SIRI SOHU ...

Analyst Calls: AKS, BXP, CCJ, CXW, GBX, PETM, RIMM, RS, SIRI SOHU ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Bulls Cheer All the Way Home (SVNT, BAC, C, CTV, SOHU)

Closing Bell: Bulls Cheer All the Way Home (SVNT, BAC, C, CTV, SOHU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Lubrizol (LZ) to Hold from Sell following the company's analyst day citing its continued pricing power in lubricants. Citi upped its target price for shares to $115 from $82.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Viacom (VIA) to Buy from Neutral citing the company's ratings improvement, 2011 film slate, and video game pipeline. The firm has a $45 price target for shares.
• BMO Capital resumed coverage on Gammon Gold (GRS) with an Outperform from a Market Perform following the its equity issue. The firm has a $12.50 price target on the stock.
• Comerica (CMA) and First Horizon (FHN) were upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Prudential (PRU) was upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
• Itron (ITRI) was upgraded to Hold from Sell at Stifel Nicolaus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: VIA, CMA, PRU, CMG, PBR, TXN, DHR, HUM

Analyst Calls: VIA, CMA, PRU, CMG, PBR, TXN, DHR, HUM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Soleil upgraded Baxter (BAX) to buy from hold on expectations the company will benefit from supply disruptions at privately-held plasma manufacturer Octapharma. The firm raised its price target for shares to $56 from $45.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Dolby (DLB) to buy from hold, citing valuation following the recent underperformance of shares. The firm upped its price target to $75 from $70.
• Bernstein upgraded Alexion (ALXN) to outperform from market perform based on increased Soliris forecasts for PNH and potential in aHUS. The firm also raised its price target to $75 from $60.
• Agrium (AGU) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Roche (RHHBY) was upgraded to conviction buy from neutral at Goldman.
• BMO Capital upgraded Energizer (ENR) to outperform from market perform.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ADBE, AXP, BAX, COST, DLB, FDX, HOT, NOK, NVS, TWX ...

Analyst Calls: ADBE, AXP, BAX, COST, DLB, FDX, HOT, NOK, NVS, TWX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Baidu.com (BIDU - option chain) shares are rising today on reports that Google (GOOG) advertisers in China have been advised to switch to its rivals, including Baidu and Sohu.com (SOHU). This is on the heels of this weekend's report that Google will shut down its Chinese search engine rather than bow to the countries strict censorship rules. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on Baidu.

BIDU opened this morning at $570.48. So far today the stock has hit a low of $563.20 and a high of $628.50. As of 12:35, BIDU is trading at $581.05 up $30.81 (5.6%). The chart for BIDU looks neutral and S&P gives BIDU a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Continue reading Baidu to Gain from Google's China Search Exit

Baidu to Gain from Google's China Search Exit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NetEase (NTES) closed at $34.17. NTES is expected to report Q4 in late February. March put option implied volatility is at 53, June is at 48; near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price fluctuations.

SINA Corp (SINA) closed at $36.09. March option implied volatility is at 47, June is at 45; verses its 26-week average of 45 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Sohu.com (SOHU) closed at $48.35. SOHU March put option implied volatility is at 48, June is at 47; near its 26-week average of 47, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Shanda Interactive (SNDA) closed at $47.76. SNDA is expected to report Q4 EPS in late February. March put option implied volatility is at 55, June is at 53; verses its 26-week average of 45, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Chinese Digital Content Providers' Volatility Flat originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the top performers in the U.S. growth fund sector has lost his appetite for tech. Jerry Jordan has booted almost all his Apple (AAPL) holdings from his portfolio, and he's done the same with Google (GOOG). Both, Jordan says, have become too expensive. In fact, he's getting out of almost all U.S. and European tech companies for that reason -- and is turning his attention to China.

Jordan tells Reuters, "The growth [in China] is much faster, it's much more of a green field opportunity."

Continue reading Top growth fund manager sours on Apple, U.S. tech

Top growth fund manager sours on Apple, U.S. tech originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• American Express (NYSE:AXP) was upgraded to Market Perform from Underperform at FBR Capital, as the firm sees limited near-term downside in the stock. The firm raised its target price on the shares to $37 from $25.
  
• RBC Capital upgraded Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL) to Outperform from Sector Perform. Target to $44 from $34. UBS upgraded Nestle on expectations the company will begin returning cash to shareholders via buybacks and dividends.
  
• Piper Jaffray raised Dicks Sporting (NYSE:DKS) to Neutral from Underweight following positive channel checks and raised its target on the shares to $28 from $18.
  
• Sohu.com (NASDAQ:SOHU) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell by Pali Capital.
  
• Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) was raised to Buy from Hold by Natixis.
  
• Sunpower (NASDAQ:SPWRA) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Macquarie.
• China Automotive (NASDAQ:CAAS) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Merriman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AXP, HAL, EL, MAT, CAT....

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AXP, HAL, EL, MAT, CAT.... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Stephens upgraded The Andersons (NASDAQ: ANDE) to Overweight from Equal Weight on expectations the company is benefiting from good space income opportunities and better ethanol profitability. The firm raised its target price to $31 from $28.
  
• Jefferies upgraded NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) to Buy from Hold as the analyst believes Exelon (NYSE: EXC) will have to materially raise its offer to close the acquisition. The firm raised its target on shares to $25 from $22.50.
  
• FBR Capital upgraded FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI) to Outperform from Market Perform after meeting with management to reflect the company's 2011 growth potential. The firm raised its target on shares to $51.
• J. Sainsbury (OTC: JSAIY) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  
• SVB Financial (NASDAQ: SIVB) and Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT) were upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANDE, CAR, YUM, INTC, NKE ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: ANDE, CAR, YUM, INTC, NKE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As the quarterly reports continue to roll out and the market continues to rally, optimism seem to be rising. Analysts certainly have high hopes for some companies reporting earnings this week.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) to report first-quarter earnings of $1.51 per share, which is 62.3% higher than a year ago. Revenue for the quarter is expected to be 105.6% higher, or $404.9 million. First Solar earnings have topped expectations in the past five quarters, by as much as 47.3%. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 40.6% and the forward PE ratio estimate is 23.0. In the previous quarter, Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar reported having more cash on hand than debt. The First Call consensus recommendation is to buy FSLR; CNBC recently included it as a stock pick. First Solar has announced that it will build new solar power plants in Nevada and Germany. Its share price has risen 6.9% since the beginning of the year to $147.46.

Continue reading The week in preview: High hopes for First Solar, Humana, DreamWorks and more

The week in preview: High hopes for First Solar, Humana, DreamWorks and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After a long draught, the IPO market came to life this week. Changyou.com, which is a hyper-growth online gaming company based in China, was able to price its offering at $16 per share. In all, the company raised $120 million. Changyou.com is a spinoff of Sohu.com (NASDAQ: SOHU), a top portal in China.

In May 2007, Changyou launched its hugely popular game, Tian Long Ba Bu (which became the #3 game in China). The platform has about 1.8 million active paying accounts.

Continue reading Changyou's IPO fever

Changyou's IPO fever originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:30:00 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.

Now, the division has filed to go public. Crazy? Perhaps not.

Continue reading Changyou looking to light up the IPO market

Changyou looking to light up the IPO market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) kicked off the new season with a larger-than-expected loss due to the economic slump.
• Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions (NASDAQ: MDRX) reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings.
• Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL) share price soared after its strong Q1 earnings and guidance.
• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) earnings prospects without CEO Steve Jobs led to an analyst's downgrade.
• Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) lowered its guidance as business slows at an unprcedented rate.
• Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) reported terrible Q4 results and receivbed additional TARP money.
• Bunge Ltd. (NYSE: BG) lowered its 2008 earnings estimate due to soft soybean commodity markets.
• Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) posted a much bigger-than-expected loss and said it would split in two.
• Coventry Health Care Inc. (NYSE: CVH) offered full-year guidance that was less than analysts expectations.
• CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX) forecast Q4 earnings would come in below analysts' expectations.
• CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS) increased its quarterly dividend despite the recent lowered guidance.
• Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) reported a net loss for Q4 and the full year, dragging down the sector.
• Genentech Inc. (NASDAQ: DNA) revenue and earnings surged but were lower than analysts estimated.
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) Q4 results were in line with low expectations as the gross margin declined.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) reported a huge drop in Q4 earnings but it stayed in the black.
• Lexmark International Inc. (NYSE: LXK) slashed its Q4 outlook and announced job cuts.
• Pentair Inc. (NYSE: PNR) efforts to limit an earnings decline led to a buy recommendation.
• Precision Cast Corp. (NYSE: PCP) earnings prospects following the recent rally led to an analyst's downgrade.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Citigroup, Intel, JPMorgan, Alcoa, Apple and others

Earnings highlights: Citigroup, Intel, JPMorgan, Alcoa, Apple and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Oppenheimer assumed coverage of Sohu (NASDAQ:SOHU) and upgraded shares to Outperform from Perform as they believe the company is better positioned in an uncertain economy. The firm thinks strength in online games could lead to EPS upside and raised their target to $61 from $53.
  
• Allegiant (NASDAQ:ALGT) was upgraded to Buy from hold at Jesup & Lamont on valuation following the recent weakness.
  
• Suntrust upgraded Prosperity Bancshares (NASDAQ:PRSP) to Buy from Neutral based on valuation. The firm maintains a $30 target on shares.
• LaBranche (NYSE:LAB) was upgraded to Buy from Sell at Goldman.
  
• AU Optronics (NYSE:AUO) was raised to Overweight from Neutral at HSBC.
• Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

• Jefferies downgraded shares of BPZ Resources (AMEX:BPZ) to Underperform from Hold as they believe the decline in oil prices and the uncertain credit markets has placed considerable pressure on the company's operations in northwest Peru. The firm maintains a $5 target on the stock.
  
• UBS downgraded StatoilHydro (NYSE:STO) and Repsol SA (NYSE:REP) to Neutral from Buy as they expect 2009 to be a difficult year for European oil and gas companies.
  
• Bernstein downgraded Heinz (NYSE:HNZ) to Market Perform from Outperform and lowered their target to $42 from $62 citing foreign exchange impact and commodity pressures.
• Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX) was downgraded to Underweight from Overweight at Barclays.
  
• Siemens (NYSE:SI) was lowered to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America/Merrill.
  
• Pride International (NYSE:PDE) was cut to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

• Kaufman Bros. believes GT Solar's (NASDAQ:SOLR) equipment orders are at a bottom and that shares are undervalued. Shares were initiated with a Buy rating and $7 target.
  
• Jefferies assumed L-1 Identity (NYSE:ID) with a Buy rating and $11 target. The firm believes concerns over the company's sensitivity to government budget priorities and elevated levels of debt are overdone.
  
• JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) was started at Keefe Bruyette with a Market Perform rating and $30 target. Keefe Bruyette sees limited catalysts for the stock as they expect credit headwinds and subdued investment banking revenues to persist over the near-term.
• Legg Mason (NYSE:LM) and T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ:TROW) were initiated with an Equal Weight rating at Barclays.
  
• Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) was initiated at Janney Mongtomery with a Neutral rating.
  
• Friedman Billings reinitiated U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) with an Underperform rating and $17 target.

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: SOHU, JPM, PRSP, STO, ERTS, LM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Although I am not a big fan of either technology stocks or Chinese stocks, bear markets do create opportunities -- such as Sohu.com. (NASDAQ: SOHU), says Jack Adamo.

In his Jack Adamo's Insiders Plus newsletter, the advisor reviews Sohu.com, the second-largest internet search engine company in China.

"In recent quarters, it has made 42% of its revenues from search and display advertising; the rest comes from online gaming and wireless services. Earnings in the September quarter grew by more than fourfold year-over-year.

"With the Olympics over and the economy slowing to an expected GDP rate of 7%, earnings growth at Sohu is expected to slow as well. The last few quarters bear that out. But even in the slowing environment, earnings were up 14% compared to the June quarter.

"For a Chinese stock, this may be considered to be a relatively slow grower, but the price is right. Selling at less than 10-times earnings, you'd be hard pressed to find a better buy among well-established Chinese companies.

Continue reading China 'search' leads to Sohu.com (SOHU)

China 'search' leads to Sohu.com (SOHU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Global Q&A: Battered emerging markets worth a look, consider Sohu or Gafisa

Global Q&A: Battered emerging markets worth a look, consider Sohu or Gafisa originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sohu.com (NASDAQ: SOHU), Chinese portal, closed at $82.24 Monday.

SOHU overall option implied volatility of 62 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price risk.

Energy Conversion (NASDAQ: ENER), a builder of commercial rooftop photovoltaics, closed at $56.58 Monday.

ENER June option implied volatility of 60 is near its 26-week average of 61 according to Track Data, suggesting slightly decreasing price risk.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Option Update: Sohu.com and Energy Conversion rally sharply originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 20 May 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Georgia Gulf, Sohu.com and I-flow were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Citigroup downgraded Georgia Gulf (NYSE: GGC) to Sell from Hold to reflect the deteriorating fundamentals in North American housing, and their belief that the company is increasingly likely to break its debt covenant ratio.
  
• Deutsche Bank downgraded shares of Sohu.com (NASDAQ: SOHU) to Hold from Buy on valuation and expects 2009 growth to be modest.
  
• Piper cut I-Flow (NASDAQ: IFLO) to Sell from Neutral following the weak Q1 report and guidance.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Morgan Stanley downgraded Coca-Cola Femsa (NYSE: KOF) to Equal Weight from Overweight.
  
• Goldman removed Teva Pharma (NASDAQ: TEVA) from its Conviction Buy List.
  
• Aqua America (NYSE: WTR) was cut to Market Perform from Outperform at Wachovia.
  
• JP Morgan lowered PetroChina (NYSE: PTR) to Underweight from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades: Georgia Gulf, Sohu.com, I-Flow originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 May 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) reported its fifth straight quarterly loss and lowered its outlook.
• Anadigics Inc. (NASDAQ: ANAD) beat Q1 expectations and raised its Q2 guidance.
• AuthenTec Inc. (NASDAQ: AUTH) Q1 revenues jumped 67% on new product offerings.
• CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS) posted better-than-expected Q1 results and raised its dividend.
• Cognex Corp. (NASDAQ: CGNX) beat Q1 expectations and lifted its outlook.
• Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) posted soild Q1 results on high-speed internet/digital phone strength.
• DreamWorks Animation Inc. (NYSE: DWA) earnings and revenues soared in the first quarter.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) narrowed its Q1 loss but missed earnings estimates.
• IAC/InterActivCorp (NASDAQ: IACI) Q1 profits fell but met analsts' expectations.
• LSI Corp. (NYSE: LSI) beat Q1 expectations and raised its guidance for the next quarter.
• NetSuite Inc. (NASDAQ: N) narrowed its loss on a surge in Q1 revenue.
• Omniture Inc. (NASDAQ: OMTR) Q1 revenue jumped 136% on acquisitions.
• RadioShack Corp. (NYSE: RSH) just beat low Q1 expectations on lower demand and narrower margins.
• SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) earnings for the first quarter fell short of analysts' expectations.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Verizon, Comcast, CBS, DreamWorks, IAC, Kodak and others

Earnings highlights: Verizon, Comcast, CBS, DreamWorks, IAC, Kodak and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 May 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.