"TAL International (TAL) is one of the worlds largest lessor of containers; its annual dividend of $1.60 provides a current yield of 5.3%," says income specialist Amy Calistri.

The editor of The Daily Paycheck explains, "In today's global economy, roughly 90% of non-bulk cargo is transported by container ships. Interestingly enough, most shipping lines don't own the actual containers; they lease them.

"This wasn't necessarily the type of stock you wanted to be in when the global economy ground to a halt. But as the world's economies and trade improve, this is one company that benefits first.

Analyst upgrades:

• UBS upgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Buy from Neutral but lowered its target to $42 from $45 following the solid Q4 report. The firm expects Dollar Tree's cost containment to continue. JP Morgan upgraded shares to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as it believes the recent pullback is overdone and the company set achievable FY09 guidance. The firm has a $43 target on the stock.
  
• JP Morgan also upgraded Smithfield Foods (NYSE: SFD) to Overweight from Neutral on valuation as they find the stock oversold at current levels.
  
• KeyBanc upgraded Nordson (NASDAQ: NDSN) to Hold from Underweight based on valuation, strong balance sheet and cost reductions, and a solid track record of execution.
• Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) was upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at HSBC.
  
• Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO) was raised to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays.
  
• Carter's (NYSE: CRI) was upgraded at Goldman to Neutral from Sell.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: PFF Bancorp, Ericsson and TAL International Group were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• B. Riley upgraded shares of PFF Bancorp (NYSE: PFB) to Neutral from Sell on valuation with the stock trading at 11% of the last reported tangible book value of $14.37 at December 31, 2007.
  
• RBC Capital believes Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) will benefit from network builds in North America and Asia. Shares were raised to Outperform from Sector Perform.
• Baird upgraded TAL International Group (NYSE: TAL) to Outperform from Neutral based on solid container leasing demand, rising container costs, and more constrained capital conditions.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI) to Buy from Hold.
  
• JP Morgan upgraded Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) to Neutral from Underweight.
  
• Goldman raised Marsh & McLennan (NYSE: MMC) to Neutral from Sell.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: American International Group, Pacific Sunwear, FedEx and Cheniere Energy were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Goldman downgraded American International Group (NYSE: AIG) to Neutral from Buy as they expect market concerns regarding balance sheet pressures and dilutive capital raises to pressure shares.
  
• Citigroup downgraded shares of Pacific Sunwear (NASDAQ: PSUN) to Sell from Buy as they believe Q1 trends are disappointing following the comp results.
  
• Morgan Keegan downgraded FedEx (NYSE: FDX) to Market Perform from Outperform citing the uncertainty related to fuel prices and the economy. RBC
  
• Capital cut Cheniere Energy (NYSE: LNG) to Underperform from Outperform citing the corrected 2007 10K which indicates increased liquidity concerns.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Oppenheimer cut Navios Maritime (NYSE: NM) to Perform from Outperform.
  
• Credit Suisse lowered TAL International Group (NYSE: TAL) to Neutral from Outperform.
  
• Vital Signs (NASDAQ: VITL) was downgraded at Piper to Neutral from Buy.