MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• JP Morgan started Crocs Inc (NASDAQ: CROX) with an Overweight rating based on the company's strong growth model.

• JMP Securities upgraded Plantronics Inc (NYSE: PLT) with a Market Perform citing price competition and visibility in the speaker market.

• MasterCard Inc (NYSE: MA) was started with an Underweight rating at Thomas Weisel citing concerns regarding increased pressure from bank issuing partners regarding fees and reduced cross border pricing benefits. Additionally,

• Thomas Weisel started American Express Co (NYSE: AXP) with an Overweight rating, expecting increased card issuance migration and merchant migration due to increased pressure on bank fees and increasing consumer demand for rewards...

• Stifel started Microsemi Corp (NASDAQ: MSCC) with a Buy rating and $28 target.

• JP Morgan initiated shares of Deckers Outdoor Corp (NASDAQ: DECK) with an Overweight rating.

• Goldman started Eastman Kodak Co (NYSE: EK) with a Neutral rating.

• Soleil initiated shares of Urban Outfitters, Inc (NASDAQ: URBN) with a Buy rating.

• United Therapeutics Corp (NASDAQ: UTHR) was initiated with a Sector Outperformer rating and $83 target at CIBC.

Analyst initiations 5-16-07: AXP, CROX, EK, MA and URBN originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 May 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.