Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Vivus (VVUS) to overweight from neutral.
• Citigroup upgraded Corn Products (CPO) to buy from hold.
• Maxim Integrated (MXIM) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at FBR Capital.
• Cardinal Health (CAH) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Citigroup upgraded Monster Worldwide (MWW) and EchoStar (SATS) to buy from hold, as well as Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to buy from sell.
• BMO Capital upgraded Potash (POT) and Barrick Gold (ABX) to outperform from market perform.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CAH, EXPE, FSLR, HOT, LVS, MWW, NUVA, POT ...

Analyst Calls: CAH, EXPE, FSLR, HOT, LVS, MWW, NUVA, POT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• RBC Capital upgraded Syniverse (SVR) to outperform from sector perform based on strong secular growth in mobile data and roaming. The firm raised its price target to $28 from $23.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded PG&E (PCG) to buy from hold with a $49 price target due to valuation.
• Jefferies assumed coverage on Sierra Wireless (SWIR) with a buy from a hold and raised its price target to $12 from $9. The analyst expects the M2M market to experience 25% growth over the next two years.
• Affiliated Managers (AMG) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• EastGroup Properties (EGP) was upgraded to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Gammon Gold (GRS) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: AAPL, BLK, BTU, CL, MOT, MSFT, PCG, RIMM, SVR, SWIR ...

Analyst Calls: AAPL, BLK, BTU, CL, MOT, MSFT, PCG, RIMM, SVR, SWIR ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded shares of Sovereign Bancorp (NYSE: SOV) to Buy from Hold on their belief Sovereign will merge with Banco Santander (NYSE: STD) according to the terms on their October 13 agreement.
  
• Jefferies upgraded Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFMI) to Hold from Underperform on valuation as they believe the capital infusion from Leonard Green limits downside risk. The company's target was raised to $11 from $9.50.
  
• Banc of America upgraded Max Capital (NASDAQ: MXGL) to Buy from Neutral on valuation, the company's strategic changes to lower earnings volatility and their belief it is well positioned to benefit from an improved P&C marketplace.
• Qimonda (NYSE: QI) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Cowen.
  
• Health Net (NYSE: HNT) was raised to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.
  
• Parkway Properties (NYSE: PKY) was lifted to Market Perform from Underperform at Wachovia.

Continue reading Analyst calls: WFMI, SOV, STD, QI, NWS, ENS, GILD, ADBE

Analyst calls: WFMI, SOV, STD, QI, NWS, ENS, GILD, ADBE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
• Fortress (NYSE: FIG) was upgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Sell.
• Prudential (NYSE: PUK) was lifted to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) to Outperform from Market Perform and added shares to their Best Ideas List on valuation as they see an attractive risk/reward at current levels.
• UBS upgraded ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML) to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the company remains a market leader.
• Oppenheimer raised Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: SGEN) to Outperform from Perform on valuation following the recent weakness as they expect positive clinical news flow beginning in December.

• UBS downgraded U.S. Steel (NYSE: X) to Sell from Buy and lowered its target to $30 from $60 citing deteriorating U.S. conditions and concerns about the company's high fixed costs in a falling steel price environment.
• Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• China Unicom (NYSE: CHU) was lowered to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.

Continue reading Analyst calls: PEP, FIG, PUK, BEN, ASML, X, RDS.A, CHU, SVR ...

Analyst calls: PEP, FIG, PUK, BEN, ASML, X, RDS.A, CHU, SVR ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It just doesn't cease to amaze me how some people have the nerve to ask for certain perks in addition to their very fine salaries and severance pays. Here are some more examples:

• Hanmi Financial (NASDAQ: HAFC) President and CEO Dr. Sung Won Sohn requested and got a 2005 Mercedes Benz 430S, as well as the transfer of his membership to the Wilshire Country Club and the Jonathan Club. This was in addition to his $1,298,000 lump sum retirement pay.

Continue reading Outrageous executive severance perks - talk about chutzpah!

Outrageous executive severance perks - talk about chutzpah! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: The Aerospace sector, Boeing, Aurora Oil & Gas and Syniverse were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Goldman downgraded the Aerospace sector to Cautious from Neutral to reflect high oil prices and the weak economy. The firm also downgraded Boeing (NYSE: BA) shares to Sell from Neutral and added the stock to their Conviction Sell List as they expect the economic weakness and high fuel prices to drive slowing orders.
  
• Jefferies downgraded shares of Aurora Oil & Gas (AMEX: AOG) to Underperform from Hold to reflect the company's falling production, minimal cash flow through the remainder of 2008, and limited access to capital.
  
• Baird cut Syniverse (NYSE: SVR) to Neutral from Outperform as they believe the impact from the Verizon (NYSE: VZ)-Alltel merger could be greater than investors think.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Arch Chemicals (NYSE: ARJ) was lowered at Oppenheimer to Perform from Outperform.
  
• New York Community Bancorp (NYSE: NYB) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
  
• Sonic (NASDAQ: SONC) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Stephens.

Analyst downgrades: Aerospace sector, Boeing, Aurora Oil & Gas, Syniverse originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) Q2 profits declined on a glut of flash memory chips.
• Bally Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BYI) beat Q3 expectations and offered full-year guidance.
• Barclay's (NYSE: BCS) reported a big Q1 loss on credit-related write-downs.
• Constant Contact Inc. (NASDAQ: CTCT) saw big increases in Q1 revenues and in its customer base.
• Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) Q2 profits rose on international demand, but results just missed estimates.
• Fluor Corp.'s (NYSE: FLR) strong Q1 results are a signal for the energy sector, says Jim Cramer.
• Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) Q1 loss widened on the housing slump, but not as much as forecast.
• IndyMac Bancorp Inc. (NYSE: IMB) narrowed its loss but predicted it wouldn't see a profit in 2008.
• LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) Q1 earnings topped forecasts and it raised its outlook.
• MBIA Inc. (NYSE: MBI) reported a larger-than-expected Q1 loss due to write-downs.
• Mindray Medical International Ltd. (NYSE: MR) beat Q1 expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) Q2 earnings were in line with analysts' expectations.
• ON Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: ONNN) beat Q1 expectations and raised its Q2 revenue forecast.
• RealNetworks Inc. (NASDAQ: RNWK) beat Q1 estimates and announced share buybacks and a spin off.
• Salary.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SLRY) missed Q1 forecasts, leading to analysts' downgrades.
• Sykes Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: SYKE) beat Q1 estimates and raised its Q2 and full-year forecast.
• Syniverse Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SVR) beat Q1 expectations on strength in "messaging and mobil data."
• Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) warned of lower Q2 profits and more "challenging times" ahead.
• Website Pros Inc. (NASDAQ: WSPI) reported flat earnings despite soaring revenues and operating income.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Deere, Freddie Mac, Applied Materials, Barclay's and others

Earnings highlights: Deere, Freddie Mac, Applied Materials, Barclay's and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 May 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Syniverse Holdings (NYSE: SVR) provides a variety of technology services to wireless telecommunications companies. Those services enable phone number portability; fraud management; the invoicing and settlement of wireless roaming calls; and the routing and translation of services between carriers. The company also offers data clearing and financial clearing services. Customers include AT&T (NYSE: T), Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ).

The firm pleased investors last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 37 cents and revenues of $115.6 million. Analysts had been looking for 26 cents and $102.4 million. In discussing the quarter, the CEO noted particular strength in messaging and mobile data. Management also guided FY08 revenues to $455-$465 million ($435.83M consensus). JP Morgan subsequently upgraded the shares to "overweight". Wedbush Morgan reiterated its "strong buy," Lehman Brothers its "overweight" and Brean Murray its "buy." Price targets ranged between $24 and $26.

Continue reading Syniverse Holdings (SVR): Shares in bullish 'flag'

Syniverse Holdings (SVR): Shares in bullish 'flag' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, YRC Worldwide and Syniverse were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Soleil upgraded shares of Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) to Buy from Hold on improving fundamentals, as they believe the economic stimulus package should drive consumer demand in 2H08.
  
• Stephens upgraded shares of YRC Worldwide (NASDAQ: YRCW) to Overweight from Underweight as they believe management is making meaningful changes.
  
• Syniverse (NYSE: SVR) was raised to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan. The firm upgraded shares based on accelerating organic growth from consumer wireless data usage.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) to Buy from Hold.
  
• VASCO Data Security (NASDAQ: VDSI) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies.
  
• Goldman upgraded Lukoil (OTC: LUKOY) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, YRC Worldwide, Syniverse originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 May 2008 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (NYSE: SNP) to Buy from Hold on valuation following the recent sell-off.
• ThinkEquity upgraded Syniverse Holdings Inc (NYSE: SVR) to Buy from Accumulate citing growth from further price reductions and adoption of new technologies that will drive transaction volumes.
• Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.The firm upgraded Allegheny based on valuation, low stainless steel inventories, and nickel price stabilization.

• Napster Inc (NASDAQ: NAPS) was upgraded to Outperform from Peer Perform at Bear Stearns.
• Goldman raised Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to Neutral from Sell.
• Johnson Controls Inc (NYSE: JCI) was upgrade to Buy from Add at Calyon.

Analyst upgrades: SNP, SVR and ATI originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Syniverse Holdings (NYSE: SVR) provides a variety of technology services to wireless telecommunications companies. Those services enable phone number portability; fraud management; the invoicing and settlement of wireless roaming calls; and the routing and translation of services between carriers. The company also offers data clearing and financial clearing services. Customers include AT&T (NYSE: T), Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ).

The firm pleased investors last week when it said it expected fourth-quarter revenues to fall in the range of $369-$371 million. That topped the consensus Wall Street estimate of $363.4 million. Management also said it expected FY08 revenues of $425-$440 million ($405.72M consensus) and FY08 free cash flow of more than $100 million. Wedbush Morgan subsequently reiterated its "strong buy" recommendation and boosted its price target to $23. SVR shares popped on the news and then moved into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling on entry. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Continue reading Syniverse Holdings: Shares in bullish 'flag' consolidation

Syniverse Holdings: Shares in bullish 'flag' consolidation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merrill cut Novartis (NYSE: NVS) to Neutral from Buy based on a lack of near-term catalysts. Credit Suisse downgraded shares of the company to Underperform from Neutral on expectations of slowing sales growth in 2H07.

• JMP Securities downgraded Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to Market Perform from Outperform based on valuation and lower estimates.

• JP Morgan cut Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT) to Neutral from Overweight on valuation.

• Syniverse (NYSE: SVR) was cut to Strong Sell from Sell at Matrix USA as competition in North America is creating a cut in Network Services and Number Portability Services revenue.

• Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) was cut to Underperform from Market Perform at Wachovia based on valuation...

• DaVita (NYSE: DVA) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

• Citigroup downgraded the coal sector, including Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI), Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) and Foundation Coal (NYSE: FCL) to Hold from Buy.

• Credit Suisse downgraded ACA Capital Holdings (NYSE: ACA) to Neutral from Outperform.

Analyst downgrades 7-18-07: ACA, INTC, NVS and TOT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Both Soleil and Citigroup downgraded Take-Two Interactive Software Inc (NASDAQ: TTWO) to Sell from Hold following the company's earnings shortfall and reduced guidance.

• Piper Jaffray downgraded Circuit City Stores Inc (NYSE: CC) to Market Perform from Outperform and a $20 target, based on checks that indicate weak sales trends following Christmas.

• AG Edwards removed Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM) from its Focus Portfolio, believing the company offers less upside potential than other companies in the energy sector...

• Harrah's Entertainment Inc (NYSE: HET) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Buckingham Research.

• Sasol Limited ADR (NYSE: SSL) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup based on the persistent regulator risk.

• ThinkEquity cut Syniverse Holdings Inc (NYSE: SVR) to Source of Funds from Accumulate citing expectations for increased competition and price pressures.

• Citigroup downgraded Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc (NYSE: BRL) to Hold from buy.

• First Albany cut Shuffle Master Inc (NASDAQ: SHFL) to Neutral from Buy.

• Jefferies downgraded Omnicare Inc (NYSE: OCR) to Hold from Buy with a $44 target.

Analyst downgrades 3-01-07: Take-Two was taken down, downgraded to Sell originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan downgraded Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE: LMT) to Underweight from Neutral, citing Lockheed's outperformance as well as expectations for a more challenging environment for defense stocks.

• Harrah's Entertainment (NYSE: HET) was downgraded to Neutral from Add at Calyon based on the expected buyout.

• Thomas Weisel downgraded Avaya Inc (NYSE: AV) to Underweight from Market Weight based on increased concerns that shares are not sufficiently discounting transition risks associated with AV's strategic shift from telephony hardware to software and applications, driven by the shift towards VoIP from TDM technology.

• JP Morgan removed Dover Corp (NYSE: DOV) from its Focus List.

• Baird downgraded PRA International (NASDAQ: PRAI) to Underperform from Neutral following a disappointing Q4 report.

• Syniverse Holdings Inc (NYSE: SVR) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Raymond James and Avondale Partners; Kaufman Bros cut Syniverse to Hold from Buy, while Bear Stearns downgraded Syniverse to Underperform from Peer Perform.

• Roth Capital downgraded Shuffle Master (NASDAQ: SHFL) to Hold from Buy.

• Lazard cut Overseas Shipholding Group (NYSE: OSG) to Hold from Buy.

Analyst downgrades 2-28-07: Lockheed Martin enters more challenging waters originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.