Analyst Upgrades

• Home Depot (HD) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Delta Air Lines (DAL) to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Heico (HEI) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• MB Financial (MBFI) to outperform from neutral at RW Baird.
• Quest Diagnostics (DGX) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Oshkosh (OSK) to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan.
• Volterra (VLTR) and Silicon Laboratories (SLAB) to buy from neutral at Roth Capital.
• Ascena Retail Group (ASNA) to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Cytec Industries (CYT) to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: DAL, CIEN, DGX, HD, IMAX, LOW, OSK, PENN, RDS.A, SWK ...

Analyst Calls: DAL, CIEN, DGX, HD, IMAX, LOW, OSK, PENN, RDS.A, SWK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Diamond Offshore (DO) to conviction buy from sell and Baker Hughes (BHI) to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Frontier Communications (FTR) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Syntel (SYNT) to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo, to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank and to buy from neutral at Janney Capital.
• Kulicke & Soffa (KLIC) and Fiserv (FISV) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• 3M (MMM) to neutral from underweight and Tyco (TYC) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Collective Brands (PSS) and Nordstrom (JWN) to overweight from equal weight, as well as Foot Locker (FL) to equal weight from underweight, at Morgan Stanley.
• Amazon.com (AMZN) to buy from hold at Lazard Capital.
• Yamana Gold (AUY) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: APC, AMZN, CME, DO, GPS, H, JCP, JWN, KSS, PM SYNT ...

Analyst Calls: APC, AMZN, CME, DO, GPS, H, JCP, JWN, KSS, PM SYNT ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of National City (NYSE: NCC) to Buy from Sell on valuation as they believe their $9.00 target is in-line with the company's franchise value.
  
• Baird upgraded Syntax Brillian (NASDAQ: BRLC) to Outperform from Neutral based on recently announced strategic initiatives and valuation.
  
• Jefferies upgraded shares of Medco Health (NYSE: MHS) to Buy from Hold as they believe the company's renewed PBM contract with United Healthcare (NYSE: UNH) removes a major overhang.

• Friedman Billings raised Downey Financial (NYSE: DSL) to Market Perform from Underperform.
  
• Volterra (VNASDAQ: LTR) was raised to Buy from Neutral at Piper.
  
• Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) was raised at JP Morgan to Overweight from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades: NCC, BRLC and MHS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Prudential upgraded shares of ConAgra Foods Inc (NYSE: CAG) to Neutral from Underweight with a $26 target on valuation.
• Pacific Crest upgraded shares of Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) to Outperform from Sector Perform as the firm believes new management, new products and supply chain cost realignments could boost operating margins.
• Ryland Group, Inc (NYSE: RYL) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
• Unterberg upgraded shares of Volterra Semiconductor (NASDAQ: VLTR) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation.

• Friedman Billings upgraded Peabody Energy Corp (NYSE: BTU) to Outperform from Market Perform based on lack of CAPP exposure, growth profile, rising international demand and certain benefits from the scrubber trend.
• JP Morgan upgraded shares of Cincinnati Bell Inc (NYSE: CBB) to Overweight from Neutral, as the firm believes higher capex is reflected in the valuation and FCF should recover in 2008.
• Sandler upgraded First Charter Corp (NASDAQ: FCTR) to Buy from Hold based on valuation.
• Brean Murray has increased confidence in the success of Isle of Capri Casinos' (NASDAQ: ISLE) Isle casino, soon to open at Pompapno Park, and the considerable option value that should be embedded in shares related to a Florida gaming bill which would loosen restrictions on gaming at pari-mutual facilities. The firm upgraded shares to Buy from Hold on the news.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of Pogo Producing Co (NYSE: PPP) to Hold from Sell to reflect the likelihood of corporate action over the near term, most likely the sale of the company in whole or in parts.
• Merill Lynch upgraded Janus Capital Group Inc (NYSE: JNS) and Calamos Asset Management, Inc (NASDAQ: CLMS) to Buy from Neutral.

Analyst upgrades 4-09-07: ConAgra Foods, Dell and Ryland Group upgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTABLE:

• Cabela's inc (NYSE: CAB) was initiated with an Outperform rating and $30 target. The firm is confident in Cabela's outlook given the company's substantial store expansion opportunities, encouraging operating environment and valuation.

• Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) was started with a Buy rating and $25 target at UBS.

• Benchmark initiated Open Text Corp (NASDAQ: OTEX) with a Sell rating.

• Tortoise Capital Resources (NYSE: TTO )was initiated by both Ferris Baker and Stifel with a Buy rating.

• CIBC initiated Volterra Semiconductor Corp (NASDAQ: VLTR) with a Sector Performer rating.

• Goldman initiated Savvis, Inc (NASDAQ: SVVS) with a Buy rating and $50 target.

• Cowen started Cogent Communications Group, Inc (NASDAQ: CCOI) with an Outperform rating.

• Avondale initiated Callaway Golf Co (NYSE: ELY) with a Market Outperform rating and $20 target.

• ThinkEquity started Adventrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc (NYSE: ANX) with a Buy rating and $5 target.

Analyst initiations 3-16-07: Cabela's, Time Warner & Callaway Golf initiated today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) was upgraded to Buy from Sell at ThinkEquity citing increased performance and profitability in the company's Global Service unit and strong software sales; IBM's target was raised to $110 from $70.

• Volterra Semiconductor (NASDAQ: VLTR) was upgraded to Strong Buy from Buy with a $21 target at First Albany. The firm told clients Volterra's innovative power management technology is driving market penetration in higher volume markets while driving down costs per amp.

Analyst upgrades 12-27-06: IBM upgraded to Buy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.