Analyst Upgrades

• Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Boston Scientific (BSX) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Windstream (WIN) to buy from hold at Citigroup.
• Expeditors (EXPD) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• A123 Systems (AONE) to neutral from underperform and Chesapeake Midstream (CHKM) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• AvalonBay (AVB) to outperform from neutral and Post Properties (PPS) to neutral from underperform at Cowen.

Analyst Upgrades

• Qualcomm (QCOM) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• JPMorgan upgraded Allegheny Tech (ATI) to overweight from neutral.
• NetApp (NTAP) was upgraded to buy from hold at Canaccord.
• Estee Lauder (EL) was upgraded to perform from underperform at Oppenheimer.
• Citigroup upgraded Suntech (STP) to hold from sell.

A fairly obvious trade is presenting itself in shares of TiVo (TIVO). The company has been involved in patent infringement litigation with DISH Network (DISH) and Echostar (SATS) since 2004. At pretty much every step of the way, TiVo's claims have been upheld, including by the U.S. Patent Office this last October.

Currently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is conducting an en banc review of an earlier decision, which upheld a lower court's ruling in TiVo's favor with regard to the infringement of company patents by DISH and Echostar. The CEO of TiVo has said that he expects the litigation to be resolved by February or March of 2011.

Below are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks. Click through to the original posts for more details.

• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) shares rallied on heavy volume after it posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings.
• AutoZone Inc. (AZO) Q3 earnings easily beat consensus expectations and same-store sales rose sharply.
• Borders Group Inc. (BGP) posted a wider operating loss, decreasing gross margin, and a same-store sales decline.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) posted strong Q3 results and offered guidance, boosting shares on a down-market day.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, due in part to a surge in membership sales.

TiVo Inc. (TVO) has been desperately trying to find as many strategies as possible to ensure it stays the household name among the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) market. From a marketing perspective, the term "DVR" trumping the term "tivo" could signal the television recording pioneer's downfall. Based on its latest quarterly numbers, it may already be happening.

For the fifth time in a row, TiVo recorded a quarterly loss. This after just announcing the TiVo Premiere product that intends to integrate television/cable/satellite with web-based video content and give the customer a single interface for all their video. Problem #1: it's $300 -- quite a wallop. Problem #2: the competition is heating up fast. What does TiVo intend to do about it? If it can't make money on its hardware and subscribers are being lost to competing DVR services on cable and satellite networks, there's darkness on the horizon.

TiVo (TIVO), an expert in digital-video recording, closed Tuesday's regular session at $9.15. It was up over 1%. Sure, that sounds swell when juxtaposed with Tuesday's market action. It does nothing, however, to make me like the stock.

The 52-week low for the shares is $6.41. The 52-week high is $18.93. The one-year chart is ... not appealing. You've got a big spike in buying interest near the right side, preceded by sideways action. Then, a nasty plunge. How can you possibly comprehend this technical situation? It's difficult at best, and I'm not going to pretend I know where the stock is heading.

Analyst Upgrades

• JMP Securities upgraded Boston Properties (BXP) to outperform from market perform and has an $89 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on near-term catalysts that include, the potential start of 1msf of development in Midtown, investments, and selection as 1 World Trade Center project manager.
• Baird upgraded Bucyrus (BUCY) to outperform from neutral, citing valuation and an a more favorable view of the Terex Mining acquisition. The firm has an $83 price target on the stock.
• Jefferies upgraded Warner Chilcott (WCRX) to buy from hold and has a $30 price target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and conservative guidance.
• AmeriCredit (ACF) was upgraded to market perform from underperform at Keefe Bruyette.
• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Rio Tinto (RTP) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.

DISH Network Corp. (DISH), a provider of television entertainment channels whose competitors include Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) and DIRECTV (DTV), is trading higher about an hour before the closing bell. It's up 50 cents, or over 2%, to $21.80. Volume isn't that great, though. And I have to say, I'm not sure I'd want to join in with the buyers.

Over the last twelve months, the stock has seen a nice rise. Before you become too impressed, keep in mind that the 52-week range is a relatively narrow one. The low is $14.17, while the high is $23.06.

Analyst Upgrades

• Soleil upgraded Potash (POT) to hold from sell due to valuation. The firm maintains a $100 price target for shares.
• FBR Capital upgraded Arkansas Best (ABFS) to market perform from underperform after the company reached a tentative agreement with the Teamsters to amend its existing contract to include a 15% wage concession. The firm has a $34 price target for shares.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded Zions Bancorp (ZION) to market perform from underperform following the company's Q1 results and raised its target for shares to $25 from $17.
• Apache (APA) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.
• MGM Mirage (MGM) wasupgraded to conviction buy from buy at Goldman.
• Monster Worldwide (MWW) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.