Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ: MPEL) saw a big pop from a research call out of Bank of America/Merrill Lynch in Friday.  The Macau casino and ‘City of Dreams’ was raised to “Buy” from Neutral and noted that it trades at a 36% discount to peers on an enterprise value.  As such, BofA raised a target of $8.00 up to $11.10 per ADR.  Friday’s price change was up 5.35% to $9.15, but shares briefly hit a new 52-week and multi-year high of $9.32 mid
-Friday.  This stock is back to highs not seen since mid-2008.

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (NYSE: KWK) and Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) came to a tie in research impact.  These two were about equally moved (in opposite directions) by a research change at Howard Weil, a firm that is greatly respected when it comes to its energy research.  That makes these two a tie as the calls were moving calls in each. 

Howard Weil raised Quicksilver’s rating to “Outperform” from “Market Perform.”  Quicksilver Resources Inc. (NYSE: KWK) rose 4.6% to $14.28 and trading volume was more than twice normal at more than 6.7 million shares.  

Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) was cut to “Market Perform” from “Outperform.”  Its shares closed down 3.1% at $75.88 on about 20% above-average volume of more than 5.8 million shares.

We have another tie in a single firm’s research calls with implied upside.  Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE: SLW) and Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD) could have significant upside beyond consensus if Scotia Capital is correct.  These two upgrades did not move the needle much but it is the expected upside that stands out so much.  With more loud calls for $50 silver, the Devil’s Metal is still in focus. 

Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE: SLW) closed Friday at $42.61 versus a 52-week range of $16.80 to $47.60.  This last week came news that Randy Smallwood, who had been its President, is replacing Peter Barnes as CEO.  Scotia Capital raised its  Chief Executive Officer.  Dow Jones reported on Friday that Scotia Capital raised its price target from $47 to $58 based upon its prospects.  This call did not move the needle much, but if it is right then the silver bugs can expect another 36% upside in Silver Wheaton.  This appears to be the highest price target of the analyst group and it is well above the consensus price target of $47 to $48 that exists currently.  

Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD) saw its price target raised to $77 from $72 according to Dow Jones.  Its shares closed up 0.6% on Friday at $53.77 against a 52-week trading range of $42.15 to $55.22.  Analysts have a consensus price target of almost $69.00, implying that “the wolf pack” expects upside of about 28% currently.  If Scotia is right, then there is more than 43% upside left in Royal Gold.

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JON C. OGG