Posts for Ticker ‘AFL’

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades, Initiations (AFL, BRCM, DDS, D, INTC, MRVL, BTU, RTP, STP, TXN)

These are Friday morning’s top 10 analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations we have seen early this morning in Wall Street research calls:

AFLAC (NYSE: AFL) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ: BRCM) Started as Outperform at BMO Capital Markets.
Dillard’s (NYSE: DDS) Raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank.
Dominion (NYSE: D) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) Started as Outperform at BMO Capital Markets.
Marvell Technology (NASDAQ: MRVL) Started as Outperform at BMO Capital Markets.
Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) Removed from Conviction Buy List (still Buy rated) at Goldman Sachs.
RioTinto (NYSE: RTP) Cut to Underperform at Credit Suisse.
Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) Raised to Hold at Soleil.
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) Started as Outperform at BMO Capital Markets.

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JON C. OGG
NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Posted on: November 20, 2009 – 8:05 am in Analyst Calls, Technology Companies, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Upgrades (AFL, AMX, GLW, KOF, GIS, HIG, TIF, TJX)

These are this Tuesday morning’s top pre-market analyst upgrades, initiations, or relatively positive research calls from Wall Street:

AFLAC (NYSE: AFL) Raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
America Movil (NYSE: AMX) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
Corning (NYSE: GLW) Raised to Buy at UBS.
Coca-Cola Femsa (NYSE: KOF) Raised to Buy at BofA/Merrill Lynch.
General Mills (NYSE: GIS) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley
Hartford Financial (NYSE: HIG) Started as Buy at UBS.
Tiffany (NYSE: TIF) Started as Buy at Citigroup
TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX) Raised to Conviction Buy List (was Buy) at Goldman Sachs.

You can join our open email distribution list which goes out several times per week for reminders of the top day trader alerts, analyst upgrades and downgrades, IPO’s, key secondary offerings, guru investor data on Buffett and others, mergers, and more.

JON C. OGG
OCTOBER 6, 2009

Posted on: October 6, 2009 – 8:03 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades (AFL, CPB, ECL, ISIS, MGM, NE, NSC, PERY, TER, WDC)

These are the ten top Wall Street analyst calls with upgrades, downgrades, and initiations we have this Wednesday morning:

Aflac (AFL) Cut to Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
Campbell Soup (CPB) Raised to Sector Perform at RBC.
Ecolab (ECL) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
Isis Pharmaceuticals (ISIS) Started as Buy at Cantor Fitzgerald.
MGM Mirage (MGM) Cut to Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
Noble Corporation (NE) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Norfolk Southern (NSC) Cut to Neutral at BofA/Merrill.
Perry Ellis (PERY) Cut to Neutral at SunTrust.
Teradyne (TER) Started as Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
Western Digital (WDC) Cut to Neutral at Baird.

Jon C. Ogg
July 27, 2009

Posted on: July 29, 2009 – 7:53 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Shorts Flee Financials, Attack Industrials And Tech

bearShort sellers jumped out of major financial shares but piled into the stocks for major industrial firms based on data as of June 15. Shorts clearly think the restructuring of the bank industry has taken hold permanently, but that the manufacturing industry is still likely to be troubled.

The short interest in Citigroup (C) dropped 3% to 1.244 billion. Shares sold short in Bank of America (BAC) dropped 20% to 95.5 billion. The short interest in AIG (AIG) fell 4% to 228.7 million shares. Read More »

Posted on: June 25, 2009 – 3:38 am in Short Interest, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Downgrades (AKS, AFL, CMA, DT, FDX, HAL, FITB, KEY, HOT)

burning-money-pic19These are some of the top pre-market analyst downgrades and negative calls we have seen from Wall Street firms with about two hours until the market open this Wednesday morning:

AK Steel (AKS) Cut to Sell at UBS.
AFLAC (AFL) Cut to Underweight at Barclays.
Comerica (CMA) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
Deutsche Telekom (DT) was downgraded at both Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan after this week’s warning.
FedEx (FDX) Raised to Neutral at BofA-Merrill.
Halliburton (HAL) Cut to Equal Weight at Barclays.
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) Cut to Market Perform at BMO.
KeyCorp (KEY) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
Starwood Hotels (HOT) Cut to Neutral at Baird.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: April 22, 2009 – 6:45 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (AMZN, BBY, KO, GENZ, HAL, IPI, RIG, AFL, PBR, VE)

These are some of the top pre-market early bird analyst upgrades and downgrades from Wall Street this Monday morning:

  • Amazon.com (AMZN) Raised to Buy at Piper Jaffray.
  • Best Buy (BBY) Raised to Outperform at William Blair.
  • Coca-Cola (KO) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Genzyme (GENZ) Raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank.
  • Halliburton (HAL) Raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • Intrepid Potash (IPI) Raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Transocean (RIG) Raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • AFLAC (AFL) Cut to Sell at UBS.
  • Petrobras (PBR) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Veolia Environment SA (VE) Cut to Underperform at Credit Suisse.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: March 9, 2009 – 6:42 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (COF, CELG, ROCK, MOD, SNN, AFL, AMX, SPSS, VQ, WMS)

money-stack-pic2These are ten of the top pre-market analyst calls for upgrades and downgrades we have seen from Wall Street this Wednesday morning with more than two hours until the market opens:

  • Capital One (COF) Raised to Market Perform at FBR.
  • Celgene (CELG) Started as Outperform at Oppenheimer.
  • Gibralter Industries (ROCK) Raised to Neutral at Baird.
  • Modine Manufacturing Co. (MOD)  Raised to Neutral at Baird.
  • Smith & Nephew (SNN) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
  • AFLAC (AFL) Cut to Market Perform at FBR.
  • America Movil SA (AMX) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • SPSS (SPSS) Cut to Neutral at Baird.
  • Venoco, Inc. (VQ) Cut to Underweight at JPMorgan.
  • WMS Industries Inc. (WMS) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: February 18, 2009 – 7:31 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (ADTN, AFL, CBS, DDUP, ENR, INWK, PCS, PTRY, RGLD, SYK)

Burning_money_pic_2These are some of this Tuesday’s top pre-market analyst downgrades and cautious research calls from Wall Street that we have seen with more than two hours until the opens:

  • ADTRAN (ADTN) Started as Equal-Weight at Barclays.
  • AFLAC (AFL) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
  • CBS (CBS) Cut to Underperform at Bernstein.
  • Data Domain (DDUP) Started as Sell at Broadpoint AmTech.
  • Energizer (ENR) Cut to Sell at UBS.
  • Innerworkings (INWK) Cut to Hold at Jefferies.
  • MetroPCS (PCS) Cut to Sector Perform ar RBC.
  • Pantry (PTRY) Cut to Market Perform at FBR.
  • Royal Gold (RGLD) Cut to Underweight at HSBC.
  • Stryker (SYK) Cut to Hold at Needham.

Jon C. Ogg
January 27, 2009

Posted on: January 27, 2009 – 7:17 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club (AFL)(ALTU)(PSUN)(KVA)

Sad_clownAFLAC Incorporated (AFL) DeutscheBank dowgrades shares. Fall to $19.38 from 52-week high of $68.81.

Altus Pharmaceuticals (ALTU) Sharp job cuts. Drops to $.23 from 52-week high of $6.66.

Pacific Sunwear of California (PSUN) No obvious news, just selling. Down to $.72 from 52-week high of $14.04.

K-V Pharmaceutical (KVA) May default on credit lines. Sells off to $.49 from 52-week high of $28.25.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: January 26, 2009 – 3:58 pm in HI/LOW, , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (AFL, AMGN, BBY, CHTT, CVH, HNT, KMB, PCLN, RDC)

These are not all of the upgrades or positive calls we have seen, but these are some calls moving shares this Monday morning:

  • AFLAC (AFL) Raised to Outperform at Raymond James.
  • Amgen (AMGN) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Best Buy (BBY) Raised to Buy at Banc of America.
  • Chattem (CHTT) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Coventry Health (CVH) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Health Ney (HNT) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Kimberly-Clark (KMB) Raised to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • Pricleine.com (PCLN) Raised to Overweight at Thomas Weisel.
  • Rowan (RDC) Raised to Neutral at JPMorgan.

Jon C. Ogg
July 28, 2007

Posted on: July 28, 2008 – 6:30 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AFL, AW, CPB, MWV, NYX, ODFL, PDLI, PCZ, SPIL, WDFC)

There are other calls out there, but these are ten of the early morning analyst calls that we are focused on this Friday 13th:

  • Aflac (NYSE: AFL) Started as Buy at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.
  • Allied Waste (NYSE: AW) Raised To Buy From Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) Raised To Overweight from Equalweight at Lehman.
  • MeadWestvaco (NYSE: MWV) Raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
  • NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) Started as Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  • Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ: ODFL) Raised to Outperform from Neutral at Baird.
  • PDL Biopharma (NASDAQ: PDLI) Cut to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Petro-Canada (NYSE: PCZ) raised to Buy at Banc of America.
  • Siliconware Precision (NASDAQ: SPIL) Raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
  • WD-40 (NASDAQ: WDFC) Cut to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.

Jon C. Ogg
June 13, 2008

Posted on: June 13, 2008 – 6:51 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AFL, CSCO, DVN, JMBA, KBW, MRO, NCC, PRSP, URBN, VMW)

There are other analyst calls affecting shares this morning, but these are ten of the top calls that we are focusing on this Thursday in pre-market trading:
AFLAC (NYSE: AFL) cut to Neutral from Buy at Banc of America Sec
Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
Devon Energy (NYSE: DVN) raised to Overweight at JP Morgan.
Jamba (NASDAQ: JMBA) started as Hold at Jefferies.
KBW inc. (NYSE: KBW) started as Sell at Stern Agee.
Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO) raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer.
National City (NYSE: NCC) raised to Outperform at Bear Stearns; raised to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
Prosperity Bancshares (NASDAQ: PRSP) cut to Neutral at Sun Trust Robinson Humphrey.
Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ: URBN) cut to Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.
VMware (NYSE: VMW) cut to Hold at Lazard.

Jon C. Ogg
April 3, 2008

Posted on: April 3, 2008 – 7:08 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AFL, CROX, DKS, DWA, EXPD, ERIC, POT, STT, UST, XTO)

Below are the top analyst calls we are focusing on this Wednesday morning:

  • AFLAC (NYSE: AFL) cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
  • Crocs (NASDAQ: CROX) cut to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) cut to Neutral from Buy at UBS.
  • DreamWorks Animation (NYSEL DWA) started as Neutral at UBS.
  • Expeditors International (NYSE: EXPD) cut to Neutral at UBS.
  • LM Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) cut to Neutral at HSBC Securities.
  • Potash Corp. (NYSE: POT) target Raised to $240 From $200 at CIBC.
  • State Street (NYSE: STT) cut to Market Perform from Outperform at KBW.
  • UST (NYSE: UST) cut to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.
  • XTO Energy ((NYSE: XTO) started as Outperform at Morgan Keegan.

Jon C. Ogg
April 2, 2008

Jon Ogg produces the Special Situation Investing Newsletter and he can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: April 2, 2008 – 6:52 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AFL, AXP, ABX, CATM, KSS, LOW, LULU, MDAS, MET, MHS, TNK)

It is going to be hard to get traders to care about mere upgrades and downgrades on a day when the Federal Reserve did an inter-meeting emergency rate cut to stave off a 500+ point drop in the DJIA.  But here are some of the calls from analysts today:

  • AFLAC inc. (AFL) raised to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • American Express (AXP) downgraded to Hold at Citigroup.
  • Barrick Gold (ABX) upgraded to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Cardtronics (CATM) started as Buy at Banc of America; started as Buy at Deutsche Bank; started as Buy at Piper Jaffray.
  • Kohl’s (KSS) & Lowe’s (LOW) raised to Outperform at Bernstein.
  • lululemon althletica (LULU) downgraded to Underperform at BMO Capital.
  • MedAssets (MDAS) started as Buy at Deutsche Bank; started as Neutral at Piper Jaffray; started as Market Perform at Wachovia.
  • MetLife (MET) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs.
  • Medco Health Solutions (MHS) cut to Neutral at UBS.
  • Teekay Tankers (TNK) started as Overweight at JPMorgan; started as Hold at Citigroup.

Jon C. Ogg
January 22, 2008

Posted on: January 22, 2008 – 8:47 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Calls (AFL, BBY, CAT, C, DISH, FNM, LEAP, QCOM, WLP, YHOO)

There are many other impact analyst calls this morning, but these are the TOP 10 ANALYST CALLS that 24/7 Wall St. is focusing on:

AFLAC (AFL) raised to Hold from Sell at Citigroup.
Best Buy (BBY) raised to Outperform at Wachovia.
Caterpillar (CAT) raised to Neutral from Sell at UBS.
Citigroup (C) was cut to Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Echostar (DISH) raised to Buy at Citigroup.
Fannie Mae (FNM) cut to Mkt Perform at FBR.
Leap Wireless (LEAP) cut to Equal Weight from Overweight at Lehman.
Qualcomm (QCOM) raised to Overweight from Neutral at JPMorgan.
WellPoint (WLP) raised to Outperform at Wachovia.
Yahoo! (YHOO) raised to Buy from Neutral at Merrill Lynch.

Jon C. Ogg
November 19, 2007

Jon Ogg produces the 24/7 Wall St. Special Situation Investing Newsletter; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: November 19, 2007 – 8:07 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Pre-Market Analyst Calls (July 23, 2007)

AFL raised to Overweight at Lehman.
AMGN raised to Hold at Citigroup.
ASBC cut to Underweight at Lehman.
BUD raised to Hold at Citigroup.
CKR started as Neutral at JPMorgan.
EMN raised to Buy at Citigroup.
EOG cut to Sell at Citigroup.
FPL raised to Outperform at Baird.
FTO started as Neutral at UBS.
GAP cut to Sector Perform at CIBC.
HBC raised to Overweight at Lehman.
IMAX raised to Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
KWK cut to Sell at Citigroup.
NVT raised to Buy at UBS.
PGN raised to Outperform at Baird.
PNY raised to Outperform at Baird.
SUN started as Neutral at UBS.
TAC cut to Sector Perform at CIBC.
TSO started as Neutral at UBS.
VLO started as Buy at UBS.
VMSI cut to Sector Perform at CIBC.
WNR started as Reduce at UBS.

Jon C. Ogg
July 23, 2007

Jon Ogg can be reached at jonogg@247wallst.com; he does not own securities in the companies he covers.

Posted on: July 23, 2007 – 6:49 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Big List of Private Equity Targets in Financial Services

There is a recent boutique research report from earlier in the week showing a list of potential private equity targets from a specialty brokerage firm that I was very positive on from even before its IPO: Keefe Bruyette & Woods (KBW).  The truth is that this company is probably only behind Goldman Sachs (GS) as far as its knowledge of what is going on in the North American financial services sector, and the argument is that KBW is considered the number one firm as far as independent coverage of the financial services sector.  It is too bad the company did not get this out at the end of last year to include many other names that have been gobbled up, but it really feels as though every firm is ‘cramming for finals’ in the M&A world with the private equity superstars.

Read More »

Posted on: May 31, 2007 – 9:32 am in Bait Shop, Banking, Financial Stocks, Mergers and Buy Outs, Private Equity, Research, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,