Analyst upgrades:

• Keefe Bruyette upgraded shares of AllianceBernstein (NYSE: AB) to Outperform from Market Perform as they find AB's risk/reward attractive given its attractive long-term business model. Wachovia upgraded Watson Pharma (NYSE: WPI) and Teva Pharma (NASDAQ: TEVA) to Outperform from Market Perform citing valuations and positive drivers for generics that include patent expirations and market share expansion.
• UBS raised Lloyds TSB Group (NYSE: LYG) to Neutral from Sell on expected pricing power following the HBOS (OTC: HBOOY) acquisition.
• Otter Tail (NASDAQ: OTTR) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
• GFI Group (NASDAQ: GFIG) was upgraded at Citigroup to Hold from Sell.
• Merrill upgraded Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI) to Neutral from Underperform.

• JP Morgan downgraded shares of Lloyds TSB Group to Underweight from Neutral on capital concerns and believes the HBOS acquisition is not in the best interest of shareholders.
• Stephens downgraded Universal Truckload (NASDAQ: UACL) to Equal Weight from Overweight on valuation and concerns about a slowdown in the flatbed sector. The firm's target remains $28.

Continue reading Analyst calls: AB, WPI, TEVA, LYG, UACL, NTAP, SIMO, BRCM ...

Analyst calls: AB, WPI, TEVA, LYG, UACL, NTAP, SIMO, BRCM ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS upgraded Brinker International Inc (NYSE: EAT) to Buy from Neutral with a $38 target, citing valuation following the recent sell-off.

• National Semiconductor Corp (NYSE: NSM) was upgraded to Accumulate from Source of Funds with a $28 target at ThinkEquity, following the company's Q3 report and guidance.

• Three transportation companies were upgraded at Stifel: Con-Way Inc (NYSE: CNW), FedEx Corp (NYSE: FDX) and Universal Truckload Services Inc (NASDAQ: UACL) were upgraded to Buy from Hold to reflect attractive valuations.

• Credit Suisse upgraded Office Depot, Inc (NYSE: ODP) to Outperform from Neutral.

• JMP Securities upgraded Texas Instruments Inc (NYSE: TXN) to Market Outperform from Market Perform ahead of the mid-quarter upgrade. Texas Instruments was also upgraded to Buy from Hold at Stifel.

• Calyon Securities upgraded Halliburton Co (NASDAQ: HAL) to Add from Neutral on valuation.

• Bernstein upgraded Charles Schwab Corp (NASDAQ: SCHW) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• BMO Capital Markets upgraded Cognos Inc (NASDAQ: COGN) to Outperform from Market Perform. BMO believes Cognos will receive additional business due to Oracle Corp's (NASDAQ: ORCL) acquisition of Hyperion Solutions Corp (NASDAQ: HYSL) and also see a greater chance that Cognos itself could be acquired.

• Cowen upgraded King Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: KG) to Neutral from Underperform citing Skelaxin's new label approval, which likely delays a generic.

Analyst upgrades 3-09-07: National Semi, FedEx, Halliburton all upgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• UBS upgraded Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) to Buy from Neutral with a $560 target on valuation.

• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Office Depot (NYSE: ODP) to Buy from Hold on valuation, following the recent sell-off.

• Brinker International Inc (NYSE: EAT) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman Sachs, based on the company's ongoing restructuring efforts.

• Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) was also upgraded at Goldman Sachs, to Buy from Neutral, and was added to its America's Buy List.

• Lehman upgraded Joy Global Inc (NASDAQ: JOYG) to Overweight from Equal-Weight as they believe the recent sell-off has created a buying opportunity.

• Bank of America upgraded Clear Channel Communications Inc (NYSE: CCU) to Buy from Neutral with a $42 target to reflect their belief that activist shareholders will push for value creation rather than a sale to private equity.

• Wachovia upgraded McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant (NASDAQ: MSSR) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• BB&T upgraded Universal Truckload Services Inc (NASDAQ: UACL) to Buy from Hold on valuation.

• Lehman upgraded Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) to Overweight from Equal-Weight, with a $135 target. Lehman has increased confidence around the durability of higher agricultural commodity prices as well as the company's ability to turn elevated end market demand into stronger margins, earnings, and free cash flow.

Analyst upgrades 3-07-07: Google, Kellogg & Brinker Int'l upgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.