Analyst Upgrades

• Sapient (SAPE) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Kroger (KR) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Harman (HAR) to overweight from neutral and Deutsche Bank (DB) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Savient (SVNT) to outperform from market perform at JMP Securities.
• LabCorp (LH) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Optimer Pharm (OPTR) and Landstar System (LSTR) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Essex Property Trust (ESS) to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Tyson Foods (TSN) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• Host Hotels (HST) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• SPX Corp. (SPW) to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AXP, COF, DB, DFS, DNDN, HST, KR, ROC, SAFM, STJ, TSN ...

Analyst Calls: AXP, COF, DB, DFS, DNDN, HST, KR, ROC, SAFM, STJ, TSN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• BB&T (BBT) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Janney Montgomery.
• Amylin (AMLN) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• Wells Fargo upgraded Morton's Restaurant (MRT) to outperform from market perform.
• Check Point (CHKP) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at HSBC.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Excel Maritime (EXM) to buy from hold.
• JinkoSolar (JKS) was upgraded to buy from hold at Auriga.
• Piper Jaffray upgraded Compellent (CML) to overweight from neutral.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded Crane (CR) to buy from neutral.
• Goldman upgraded Wisconsin Energy (WEC) to conviction buy from buy and American Electric (AEP) to buy from neutral.
• Motorola (MOT) was upgraded due to increasing carrier support by MKM Partners.
• Under Armour (UA) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Sterne Agee.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANF, BBT, COH, GPS, JCG, KKR, MOT, OSG, UA, UBS, WEC ...

Analyst Calls: ANF, BBT, COH, GPS, JCG, KKR, MOT, OSG, UA, UBS, WEC ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:40:00 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

• Soleil upgraded Community Health (CYH) to buy from hold based on expectations for improved 2011 demand. The firm has a $40 price target on the stock.
• Wunderlich upgraded Invesco Mortgage (IVR) to buy from hold following the company's better-than-expected Q3 dividend. The firm also raised its target price for shares to $23.50 from $21.50.
• Goldman upgraded SuccessFactors (SFSF) to conviction buy from buy, citing cloud exposure.
• Vulcan Materials (VMC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• Comstock Resources (CRK) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Ladenburg.
• Trimble Navigation (TRMB) was upgraded to buy from hold at Canaccord.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, CYH, DIS, ISRG, IVR, NYT, SNDK, TWX, VIA, VMC, WFMI ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, CYH, DIS, ISRG, IVR, NYT, SNDK, TWX, VIA, VMC, WFMI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Credit Suisse upgraded Netflix (NFLX) to neutral from underperform and raised its price target to $140 from $90. The firm's survey work indicates Netflix's streaming offering is compelling and will continue to grow as it acquires additional streaming content.
• Barclays upgraded Ford (F) to overweight from equal weight, citing the company's earnings power, reduced cost base, expectations for a return to prior peak margins and valuation. The firm raised its target to $16 from $15.
• Merriman upgraded OpenTable (OPEN) to buy from neutral based on increased visibility into international expansion from the toptable.com acquisition and upside from its Spotlight product.
• Siemens (SI) was upgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Medicis (MRX) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.
• IDEX (IEX) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Baird.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BT, BWA, COG, F, GD, HRS, LMT, MRK, NFLX, NOC, OPEN, SI ...

Analyst Calls: BT, BWA, COG, F, GD, HRS, LMT, MRK, NFLX, NOC, OPEN, SI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• UBS said Martin Marietta's (MLM) Q2 showed evidence of leverage to a recovery and the firm views risk/reward in shares as attractive. Shares were upgraded to buy from neutral, but its price target was lowered to $96 from $101.
• Soleil upgraded Regis (RGS) to buy from hold after the company said it is exploring strategic options. The firm raised its target for shares to $26 from $14.
• Wunderlich upgraded Sirius XM Radio (SIRI) to buy from hold with a $1.50 price target following the company's Q2 results. The firm believes Sirius' product continues to resonate with healthier higher-end consumers and notes that CEO Mel Karmazin said a resolution could be reached with Howard Stern by the Q3 conference call.
• Magellan Midstream (MMP) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Savient (SVNT) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• EMS Tech (ELMG) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CTRN, ICE, JACK, MLM, NNN, OPTR, PCG, RGS, RYN, SIRI ...

Analyst Calls: CTRN, ICE, JACK, MLM, NNN, OPTR, PCG, RGS, RYN, SIRI ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The quiet bullish day (AMSC, AMAT, SVNT, SRZ)

Closing Bell: The quiet bullish day (AMSC, AMAT, SVNT, SRZ) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded Talbots (NYSE: TLB) to Outperform from Market Perform as it believes the company's inventory and SG&A control should help earnings and the stock's risk/reward is compelling at current levels. The firm raised its target on shares to $7 from $5.
• ThinkEquity upgraded Human Genome (NASDAQ: HGSI) to Buy from Accumulate to reflect higher assumptions for the company's Lupus treatment Benlysta. The firm raised its target on shares to $26 from $18.
• KeyBanc upgraded Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) to Buy from Hold based on valuation, improving fundamentals, and stable capital position. The firm has a $17 target on the stock.
• HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
• BioScrip (NASDAQ: BIOS) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• DISH Network (NASDAQ: DISH) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BIOS, DISH, FTE, HBC, MDSO, TLB ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: BIOS, DISH, FTE, HBC, MDSO, TLB ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Stocks surged again, setting up August to be another big month for investors. The S&P 500 cracked 1,000 for the first time this year. The Institute for Supply Management's index moved to 48.9 in July, up from 44.8 in June. A number over 50 signals growth in the manufacturing sector.

Car sales for July were fairly strong. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) sales moved up a little more than 2% from the same month last year. GM sales were off almost 20%, but overall the month was as strong as any in a year. Industry experts said that the "cash for clunkers" program deserved much of the credit. The Senate may not approve another $2 billion for the program which has already been passed by the House. If the bill does not make it to the President's desk this week, August could be an unpleasant month for the car companies.

All three major indexes were up more than 1%:

Dow 9,286.56 +114.95 (1.25%)
S&P 500 1,002.62 +15.14 (1.53%)
Nasdaq 2,008.61 +30.11 (1.52%)

Continue reading Closing bell: the rally that goes on forever

Closing bell: the rally that goes on forever originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: A win or a head-scratcher? (CSCO, ADBE, BIDU, SVNT, ETFC, FDX, STSI, YGE)

Closing Bell: A win or a head-scratcher? (CSCO, ADBE, BIDU, SVNT, ETFC, FDX, STSI, YGE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Oppenheimer upgraded Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT) to Perform from Underperform after the FDA's Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 14-1 in favor of approving Krystexxa for gout.
• Banc of America/Merrill upgraded Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) to Buy from Underperform and raised its target to $27 from $18 based on expectations that margin expansion will be higher than Street expectations.
• UBS said Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has limited downside risk given the improved outlook for the graphics processor market and professional solutions business. Shares were upgraded to Neutral from Sell and its target was raised to $11.50 from $8.
• BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Macquarie.
• Neutral Tandem (NASDAQ: TNDM) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
• Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at SunTrust.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: COMS, GOLD, STT, SVNT, TXN

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: COMS, GOLD, STT, SVNT, TXN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Rally reality check (AMGN, BAC, SVNT, WMT, YHOO)

Closing Bell: Rally reality check (AMGN, BAC, SVNT, WMT, YHOO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Goldman upgraded Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) to Buy from Sell and added shares to its Conviction Buy List citing valuation. The firm also upgraded the Semiconductor Capital Equipment Sector to Attractive.
  
• Morgan Keegan believes Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) will emerge from the slowdown as a stronger company with greater market share and expansion into adjacent markets. Shares were upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform.
• Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.
  
• Daimler (NYSE: DAI) was upgraded at UBS to Neutral from Sell.
• Friedman Billings upgraded Mariner Energy (NYSE: ME) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation and the company's upcoming catalysts in the deepwater GOM.
• Swiss Reinsurance (OTC: SWCEY) was raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.

• Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman.
• Deutsche Bank cut Hess Corp (NYSE: HES) and Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO) to Hold from Buy and Suncor (NYSE: SU) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) to Sell from Hold after cutting their oil price forecast for 2009 to $60/bbl and 2010 to $58/bbl.
  
• Merrill downgraded Akzo Nobel (OTC: AKZOY) to Neutral from Buy on expectations the company's coatings end markets will worsen and chemicals division will see pressure next year.
• Monster (NASDAQ: MNST) was lowered at Citigroup to Hold from Buy.

Continue reading Analyst calls: AMAT, CSCO, PFE, DAI, INTC, COP, MNST, SGP ...

Analyst calls: AMAT, CSCO, PFE, DAI, INTC, COP, MNST, SGP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dendreon (NASDAQ: DNDN) expects the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) to review in October 2008 the interim analysis of overall survival relating to the Company's Phase 3 IMPACT (Immunotherapy for Prostate AdenoCarcinoma Treatment). DNDN November call option implied volatility is at 164, puts are at 195; above its 26-week average of 129 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Savient Pharma (NASDAQ: SVNT) closed at $21.95 Thursday. SVNT's Puricase (treatment for refractory gout) BLA (biologics license application) filing is expected this autumn. SVNT September and October option implied volatility is at 86, December is at 82. SVNT average option implied volatility over the last 26-weeks is 79 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

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

Option Update: Dendreon and Savient Pharma volatility elevated originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• ING believes GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) should benefit from the appointment of Andrew Witty as CEO and see limited downside risks. The firm initiated shares with a Buy rating.
  
• FreeSeas (NASDAQ: FREE) was started at Oppenheimer with an Outperform rating and $8 target, as they view FREE as an early stage growth company in the smaller dry-bulk vessel segment and finds the valuation attractive at current levels.
  
• Kaufman Bros. initiated SINA Corp (NASDAQ: SINA) with a Buy rating and $4.50 target, and believes China represents a compelling long-term growth opportunity.

• Level 3 Comm (NASDAQ: LVLT) was initiated with a Underperform rating at Wachovia.
  
• Jefferies assumed Savient Pharma (NASDAQ: SVNT) with a Buy rating and $30 target.
  
• Lehman initiated Brown & Brown (NYSE: BRO) with an Underweight rating.

Analyst initiations: GSK, LVLT, SVNT, FREE and SINA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Five smallcaps I'm watching right now

Five smallcaps I'm watching right now originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Nollenberger started shares of 1-800-Flowers.com (NASDAQ: FLWS) with a Buy rating and $14 target and believes shares are undervalued at current levels given the company's compelling growth prospects, strong cash flow generation, and solid balance sheet.
  
• Bear believes Ctrip.com (NASDAQ: CTRP) is the best positioned online travel company ahead of structural changes and consolidation in China's fragmented travel agency industry. The firm initiated shares with an Outperform rating and $80 target.
  
• Bear expects 51job (NASDAQ: JOBS) to benefit from China's increasing Internet user base due to the internet's broadening reach among job seekers, resuming coverage with an Outperform rating and $28 target.
  
• Goldman started Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) with a Buy rating and $45 target, as they are positive on the stock given unit growth and minimal capital needs, among other reasons.

• Thomas Weisel initiated On Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) with an Overweight rating and $15 target.
  
• Broadpoint initiated Ariba (NASDAQ: ARBA) with a Buy rating and $15 target and Ultimate Software (NASDAQ: ULTI) with a Neutral rating.
  
• Merrill started shares of Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT) with a Neutral rating.

Analyst initiations: FLWS, CTRP, JOBS and CHH originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This year has been a stock picker's market extraordinaire! This month's review provides ample evidence of this, as you'll note that Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), which I included for fun because of its popularity, beat all else as a portfolio of one. The average of my seven picks came in second, beating James Cramer's average based on his nine picks. Both Cramer and I beat each of the three indices I am tracking, and therefore beat the average as well, with the largest and most stable, the Standard & Poor's 500 coming in last.

Of course, this could easily change given recent market volatility. A sharp downturn in the market could reverse our fortunes. A lot can happen in the remaining two months -- I take nothing for granted.

While Google shined brightly this year, Cramer and I have each made one pick that shined brighter. Cramer's best, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has gone into orbit this year on the wings of the iPhone, iPod, and growing Mac sales. Benefiting from rising oil prices, shortages in China and the Chinese government allowing a 10% price hike, my PetroChina ADR (NYSE: PTR) has rocketed, becoming the second-largest capitalized company in the world. PTR has done this even in the shadow of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) selling its shares and Warren Buffett questioning the huge appreciation of the Chinese stock market and stocks overall.

Continue reading Chasing down 007 picks: AAPL +135%, PTR +85%, GOOG +53%, & VLO +36%

Chasing down 007 picks: AAPL +135%, PTR +85%, GOOG +53%, & VLO +36% originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS is positive on Genentech Inc's (NYSE: DNA) leading industry franchises and potential upside from development projects and started shares with a Buy rating and $101 target.
  
• HSBC Holdings (NYSE: HBC) was assumed with a Reduce rating at WestLB, as the firm believes subprime concerns may hold back shares in the near-term.
  
• Jefferies initiated shares of SunTech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP) with a Buy rating and $45 target. The firm believes the company is positioned to beat 2007 and 2008 expectations by ramping manufacturing capacity and production faster than expected.
  
• Jefferies also resumed coverage of SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) with a Hold rating and $90 target, citing valuation, but believes the stock's higher multiple is justified given the company's superior growth potential.
  
• Force Protection Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) was initiated with a Market Perform rating and Friedman Billings, as they believe near-term production expectations are too high given emerging DOD funding issues.

• Lehman started shares of Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) with an Overweight rating.
  
• UBS started shares of RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ: RFMD) with a Neutral rating.
  
• Cowen resumed coverage of Savient Pharmaeuticals Inc (NASDAQ: SVNT) with an Outperform rating.
  
• Morgan Keegan started shares of Heartland Payment Systems Inc (NYSE: HPY) with a Market Perform rating.

Analyst initiations: DNA, HBC, STP, SPWR and FRPT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Short sellers betting against Cramer picks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.