24/7 Wall St. » PCLN

Media Digest (1/12/2012) Reuters, WSJ, NYT, FT, Bloomberg

247wallst — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:27:19 +0000

Olympus may partner with Samsung. (Reuters)

RBS cuts 3,500 investment bank jobs. (Reuters)

RealtyTrac reports that foreclosures reached a four-year low in 2011. (Reuters)

International Monetary Fund senior executive Lipton sees no hard landing in China. (Reuters)

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will delay it web TV plans. (Reuters)

The FCC may ask TV broadcasters to return unused spectrum so it can be auctioned to wireless carriers. (Reuters)

LG’s handset numbers rise in Q4 and the company says it will continue to invest in its wireless division. (Reuters)

Eastman Kodak (NYSE: EK) faces trouble with pension money it owes in the UK. (Reuters)

Raymond James (NYSE: RJF) will buy Morgan Keegan. (Reuters)

An oversupply of natural gas pushes prices to historic lows. (WSJ)

Carlyle’s three founders earned more than $400 million last year. (WSJ)

More senior bankers leave Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS). (WSJ)

CIT (NYSE: CIT) will no longer finance loans to Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) suppliers. (WSJ)

Emerging market nations step up their activity as they sell more bonds. (WSJ)

The Environmental Protection Agency releases a list of plants that emit the most greenhouse gases. (WSJ)

Food prices in India fall. (WSJ)

The Fed Beige Book says holiday sales helped the economy at the end of last year. (WSJ)

President Obama to propose tax cuts for companies that bring jobs back from overseas. (WSJ)

Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal say Europe is the greatest threat to U.S. expansion. (WSJ)

Daniel Alegre, Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) chief in Asia, says the company will press for more market share in China. (WSJ)

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) finds an unapproved fungicide in orange juice products. (WSJ)

Hotels establish a booking site to compete with Priceline (NASDAQ: PCLN). (WSJ)

Industry researchers Gartner and IDC say PC shipments fell in the past quarter. (WSJ)

Chevron (NYSE: CVX) says its fourth-quarter results were weak. (WSJ)

News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) may make a bid for the LA Dodgers. (WSJ)

Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM) will cut 1,000 jobs. (WSJ)

Coors Light passes Bud as the number two beer in the U.S. (WSJ)

Ford (NYSE: F) will introduce new models to try to salvage Lincoln. (WSJ)

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission tightens rules for swaps activity. (WSJ)

The eurozone will be challenged again as members refinance billions of dollars of debt early this year. (NYT)

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to announce programs to extend the mortgage payments of the unemployed. (NYT)

EU oil refiners cut ties with Iran. (FT)

China’s consumer inflation falls to 4.1%. (FT)

The head of Fiat says car makers must merge. (FT)

A move to safety cuts Treasury yields below 2%. (FT)

German December inflation slowed. (Bloomberg)

Delhaize Group, which owns Food Lion, will cut 5,000 jobs around the world. (Bloomberg)

Italy and Spain to offer 17 billion euro in debt sales. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre

Filed under: Press Digest Tagged: ADM, CIT, CVX, EK, F, GOOG, GS, KO, MSFT, NWS, PCLN, RJF, SHLD

The 17 Most Important IPOs To Watch In 2012

Administrator — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:04:43 +0000

The initial public offering market in 2012 is likely to be much stronger than many anticipate. Despite the lingering uncertainty and the underperformance of many popular IPOs in 2011, this year may see some very exciting underwriting activity with more than 200 companies hoping to go public. 24/7 Wall St. has evaluated dozens of IPO candidates to find the Top 17 IPOs To Watch In 2012.

Facebook and its $100 billion valuation, although by far the largest on our list, is just one of many IPO potentials which will be in high demand. A new stock exchange, a host of online media outfits, a giant casino, big name retail, and private equity are all trying trying to have successful IPOs in 2012. You do not have to be an approved Second Market account holder or a venture capitalist to have a stake. Investors in 2012 can invest through business development outfits like GSV Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: GSVC), which owns shares of Facebook and Twitter, and Keating Capital, Inc. (NASDAQ: KIPO). These pre-IPO funds were not available ahead of many of the top 2011 IPOs. There is even the First Trust US IPO Index (NYSE: FPX) fund for investors looking at other investment strategies around IPO investing.

But other than those listed here, there are many other potential IPO candidates waiting in the wings. Among the private equity’s past giant leveraged buyouts are Univision and Clear Channel in media and TXU in power and electricity, which could all be potential IPO candidates if and when the market will accommodate them. Also, such companies as the fashion-deal site called Gilte Groupe, the “Angry Birds” video game maker Rovio, and others are also waiting in the wings with possible IPOs.

24/7 Wall St. has compiled a detailed review of each of the expected top IPOs for 2012. We have included details on the finances, backers, related entities, financial terms, the size of the IPO, and even the underwriting groups.

1. BATS Global Markets, which was founded in 2005, first filed to become a public company in May of 2011. The company, which started as an alternative to the NYSE for equities trading in Europe and the U.S. is now the third largest equity exchange in America and operates the second largest pan-European multilateral trading facility. As such, this IPO is is a key one for investors of exchanges and trading platforms. BATS plans to raise up to $100 million through the offering. More than 90% of the company’s revenues come from trading U.S. equities. These days it is also a primary listing venue, meaning it can conduct IPOs. The global operator of stock and options markets plans to list its shares on its own exchange rather than the NYSE under the ticker BATS. The offering will have a dual-class share structure and the bankers are listed as Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Credit Suisse.

2. Caesars Entertainment Corporation filed for its IPO in late 2011. This IPO is a holdover from the private equity buyout days when the company tried to go public but later retracted the offering. No exchange was specified nor was a ticker set in the filing. As of September 30, 2011, the company owned or operated 52 casinos in a dozen U.S. states and seven countries under the brand names of Caesars, Harrah’s and Horseshoe with a total gaming space of 3 million square feet and about 42,000 hotel rooms. Caesars Entertainment is what’s left of the massive $9.3 billion buyout by Apollo Global Management, LLC (NYSE: APO) and TPG in 2005. Sales in the first nine months of 2011 were more than $6.6 billion and operating income was was over $600 million, with a net loss after items of $467 million. Private equities and casino operators are paying close attention to this IPO. If the real size of the overall company is too large, perhaps the private equity firms may consider breaking the underlying companies up into separate offerings and utilize a ‘keiretsu’ approach under a network of companies.

3. The Carlyle Group, L.P. filed to raise up to $100 million in securities in September 2011. As one of the best known names in the world of private equity IPO be one to watch, for investors and other private equity companies. No ticker and no exchange were designated in the filing, but the company named J.P. Morgan, Citi, and Credit Suisse as the lead underwriters. With more than $150 billion in assets under management, this private equity giant is a key player in real assets, global market strategies, and now also in funds of funds after buying a 60% equity interest in AlpInvest. With several private equity companies already publicly traded, Carlyle has been an IPO candidate group for years.

Filed under: Annual Report, Business Services, Casinos, Compensation, Consumer Electronics, Corporate Governance, Economy, Editor's Picks, Internet, IPOs, Mergers and Buy Outs, Oil & Gas, Personal Finance, Private Equity, Special Report Tagged: APO, BATS, ECA, FPX, FRAC, GOOG, GRPN, GSVC, KIPO, LNKD, PCLN, SMTH, TRUN, WiFi, Yelp

24/7 Wall St. Closing Bell (DWA, HRB, PCLN, RAD, WAG, ADSK, GM, AONE, IL, NILE, HNR, NP, ENER, PRTS, ORLY, AMSC, NOR, C, BZH)

Paul Ausick — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:07:49 +0000

Pre-market signals were weak today, and once trading opened, the signals got stronger. The DJIA has traded down more than -200 points for most of the day, with financial and energy stocks the hardest hit. Rates on Italian bonds topped 7% this morning, sending traders running away from equities and commodities alike. The only gainer for the day appears to be the dollar, which is stronger against the euro and the yen in the mid-afternoon. Crude prices fell below $95/barrel before recovering to near $98/barrel, and gold is down at $1,789.30. About an hour before closing, nearly 99% of the S&P 500 stocks were down on the day.

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA down more than -389 points to 11,780.94 (-3.2%), the NASDAQ fell nearly -106 points (-3.88%) to 2,621.65, and the S&P 500 fell -3.67% or nearly -47 points to 1,229.10.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) cut to ‘sell’ at Janney; H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) raised to ‘outperform’ at Oppenheimer; Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) cut to ‘hold’ at S&P Capital IQ; Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) raised to ‘outperform’ at Credit Suisse; Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) cut to ‘neutral’ at Credit Suisse; and Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) cut to ‘neutral’ at BofA/ML.

Here are today’s big post-earnings news reactions with prices during the last half-hour of trading: General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is up down about -10%, at $22.48; A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE) is down less than -1%, at $3.09; IntraLinks Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: IL) is down more than -37%, at $5.50, after posting a new 52-week low of $5.44 earlier today; Blue Nile Inc. (NASDAQ: NILE) is down nearly -16%, at $33.24; Harvest Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: HNR) is down more than -19%, at $8.80; and Neenah Paper, Inc. (NYSE: NP) is up more than 12%, at $18.84.

Several other standouts from today are as follows…

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) is down more than -32%, to $0.41. The company has said that it will suspend manufacturing and cut 500 jobs. Excess inventory of solar panels gets the blame.

U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTS) is down more than -22%, at $3.94, after posting a new 52-week low of $3.66 earlier in the day. The company received a waiver from one of its lenders for failing to meet coverage ratio requirements.

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY) is down about -1.1%, at $76.44, after posting a new 52-week high of $77.95 earlier today. We noted the company’s performance earlier today in an article on auto sector implied gains.

American Superconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSC)) is up nearly 10%, to $4.49. The company reported earnings today, and its growing order backlog indicates a possible turnaround following the loss of its biggest customer earlier this year.

Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp. (NYSE: NOR) is down more than -16%, at $8.51. The company will pay a special dividend of $1/share to shareholders of record as of yesterday’s close. That pushed the shares down a buck this morning, and the rest is due to the overall market decline today.

Citigroup (NYSE: C) is down more than -8%, at $28.78. The bank claimed the largest decline among the big US banks today.

Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) is down nearly -8%, at $2.17. There was no special news from Beazer today, but the threatened burst of new foreclosures soon to hit the housing market have had a nasty effect on this lower-priced builder.

Stay tuned for Thursday. Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank president Dennis Lockhart is giving a speech in the morning and Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke will hold a town hall meeting with soldiers and their families at Fort Bliss, Texas, at 11:45 a.m. We have noted the following events (all times Eastern):

8:30 a.m. – International trade balance report
8:30 a.m. – Initial unemployment benefits claims
8:30 a.m. – Monthly import/export price report
9:45 a.m. – Bloomberg consumer comfort index
10:30 a.m. – EIA natural gas inventory report
2:00 p.m. – Monthly US Treasury budget report
4:30 p.m. – Federal Reserve balance sheet and money supply report

Paul Ausick

Filed under: HI/LOW, Market Close Tagged: ADSK, AMSC, AONE, BZH, C, DWA, ENER, GM, HNR, HRB, IL, NILE, NOR, NP, ORLY, PCLN, PRTS, RAD, WAG

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (ALSK, ADSK, AVP, NILE, CAAS, DWA, EQR, HRB, PCLN, RAD, ROVI, SPPI, TGH, WAG, WPO)

Administrator — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:06:16 +0000

These are some of Wednesday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls.

Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. (NASDAQ: ALSK) Cut to Underperform at BofA/ML.
Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) Cut to Neutral at BofA/ML.
Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) cut to Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
Blue Nile Inc. (NASDAQ: NILE) Cut to Sell at Deutsche Bank.
China Automotive Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CAAS) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) Cut to Sell at Janney.
Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) Raised to Buy at Argus.
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) Raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer.
Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) Cut to Hold at S&P Capital IQ (late-Tuesday).
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ: ROVI) has seen at least three downgrades: Collins Stewart, CLSA, Brean Murray.
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPPI) named Momentum stock of the day at Zacks.
Textainer Group Holdings Limited (NYSE: TGH) named Value stock of the day at Zacks.
Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) Cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
The Washington Post Co. (NYSE: WPO) named Bull of the Day at Zacks.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Analyst Calls Tagged: ADSK, ALSK, AVP, CAAS, DWA, EQR, HRB, NILE, PCLN, RAD, ROVI, SPPI, TGH, WAG, WPO

Top Earnings & Economic Events In The Week Ahead (PCLN, AONE, ATVI, PAAS, TM, CSCO, CSC, GM, GMCR, M, SLW, MCP, JWN, NVDA, DIS)

Administrator — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:51:33 +0000

Earnings season has peaked, but we still have many key earnings reports and economic events coming in the week ahead. 24/7 Wall St. has featured a calendar with events scheduled all-week on the earnings and economic front.

The earnings previews are as follows: priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN); A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE); Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI); Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ: PAAS); Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM); Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO); Computer Sciences Corp. (NYSE: CSC); General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM); Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR); Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M); Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE: SLW); Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP); Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN); NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA); and Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS). Earnings estimates are from Thomson Reuters.

For each day of the week we have also added in the key economic events to watch for as well.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7

priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) is expected to report $9.30 EPS and $1.42 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $5.14 EPS and $996.75 million in revenues.

10:00 AM EST Employment Trends Index (October)

3:00 PM EST Consumer Credit (September)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE) is expected to report -$0.38 EPS and $66.3 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are -$0.35 EPS and $84.2 million in revenues.

Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) is expected to report $0.02 EPS and $558.4 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.53 EPS and $2.1 billion in revenues.

Pan American Silver Corp. (NASDAQ: PAAS) is expected to report $0.78 EPS and $260.8 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.66 EPS and $247.58 million in revenues.

Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) is expected to report $0.41 EPS and $52 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $1.03 EPS and $66.47 billion in revenues. As a reminder, this will originally be in Yen and the Yen has been at record highs and it could impact the figures.

7:30 AM EST NFIB Small Business Sentiment (October)

4:30 PM EST API Weekly Oil Inventories

Filed under: Calendar, Earnings, Economy, The Week Tagged: AONE, ATVI, CSC, CSCO, DIS, GM, GMCR, JWN, M, MCP, NVDA, PAAS, PCLN, SLW, TM

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (AA, AMZN, ATHN, CHS, CF, FSLR, GPS, GG, LNKD, NTAP, PCLN, QIHU, SHLD, STT, UAL)

Administrator — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:16:53 +0000

These are some of this Monday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen having an impact from Wall Street research calls.

Alcoa, Inc. (NYSE: AA) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) Raised to Buy at Stifel Nicolaus.
Athenahealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHN) Started as Outperform as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Chico’s FAS Inc. (NYSE: CHS) Cut to Hold at KeyBanc.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF) named value stock of the day at Zacks.
First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) Cut target to $80 from $135 at Credit Suisse.
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) Cut to Hold at KeyBanc.
Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG) Raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank.
LinkedIn Corporation (NYSE: LNKD) Started as Hold at Citigroup.
NetApp, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ: PCLN) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NYSE: QIHU) Started as Buy with $24 target at BofA/ML.
Sears Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) maintained Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) Cut to Hold at Jefferies.
United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.

Here is a detailed summary list of the top analyst calls from Wall Street last week. Many were cautious.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Analyst Calls Tagged: AA, AMZN, ATHN, CF, CHS, FSLR, GG, GPS, LNKD, NTAP, PCLN, QIHU, SHLD, STT, UAL

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (CRL, CSCO, GLW, EXPE, PPDI, RL, PCLN, REGN, RIMM, RPM, BID, TSO, TIVO, URI)

Administrator — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:06:01 +0000

These are some of this Friday’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen having an impact from Wall Street research calls.

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) Started as Hold at Citigroup.
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) Raised to Sector Perform at RBC.
Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) Maintained Buy but cut target to $25 at BofA/ML.
Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) Started as Outperform at Wedbush.
Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc. (NASDAQ: PPDI) Started as Hold at Citigroup.
Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) named Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ: PCLN) Started as Outperform at Wedbush.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) Cut to Underperform at BofA/ML.
Research In Motion Limited (NASDAQ: RIMM) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
RPM International (NYSE: RPM) Raised to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Sotheby’s Inc. (NYSE: BID) called the value stock of the day at Zacks.
Tesoro Corporation (NYSE: TSO) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO) Started as Buy at Brean Murray.
United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) Started as Outperform at Credit Suisse.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Analyst Calls Tagged: BID, CRL, CSCO, EXPE, GLW, PCLN, PPDI, REGN, RIMM, RL, RPM, TIVO, TSO, URI

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (MDRX, ANR, AMCX, AEO, BAC, CBRL, EMR, JNY, LDK, PERY, PCLN, R, HOT, SXC, VPRT)

Administrator — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:08:36 +0000

These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls this Tuesday morning.

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: MDRX) Reiterated Buy with $27 target at Argus.
Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ANR) Started as Neutral at JPMorgan.
AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX) Started as Buy with $42 target at BofA/ML.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) Maintained Outperform with $14 target at Credit Suisse.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL) Cut to Neutral at SunTrust.
Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE: EMR) Cut to Hold at Argus.
The Jones Group Inc. (NYSE: JNY) Raised to Buy with $14 target at BofA/ML.
LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) Cut to Underperform at Wells Fargo.
Perry Ellis International (NASDAQ: PERY) Raised to Buy with $26 target at BofA/ML.
Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) Reiterated Outperform as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) named Value stock of the day at Zacks.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) Maintained Outperform but cut target to $64 at Credit Suisse.
SunCoke Energy Inc. (NYSE: SXC) Started as Outperform with $19 target at Credit Suisse.
VistaPrint NV (NASDAQ: VPRT) Cut to Neutral as Bear of the Day at Zacks.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Analyst Calls Tagged: AEO, AMCX, ANR, BAC, CBRL, EMR, HOT, JNY, LDK, MDRX, PCLN, PERY, R, SXC, VPRT

24/7 Wall St. Top Analyst Calls of the Week (AAPL, BAC, BSX, GOOG, HGSI, JNPR, NDAQ, NEM, P, PCLN, RIMM, SGEN, SQNM, SLM, VVUS, VMW, INT, JPM, GOOG)

Administrator — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 11:31:29 +0000

Each morning we review our top upgrades, downgrades, and initiations from Wall Street analysts. At the end of the week, we review these more closely along with other calls made throughout the week and we find many calls which highlight underlying catalysts or developments that go far beyond the impact of a call on one day.

These become the top analyst calls of the week. This last week there were many such calls with keen insight and some which stand out from the pack… For better or worse.

This last week’s top research calls were in shares of the following: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL); Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC); Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX); Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG); Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI); Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE: JNPR); NASDAQ OMX Group (NASDAQ: NDAQ); Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM); Pandora Media, Inc. (NYSE: P); Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ: PCLN); Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM); Seattle Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ: SGEN); Sequenom Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM); SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM); VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS); VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW); and World Fuel Services Corporation (NYSE: INT).

We have included the impact and pricing data on each, as well as added in some outside trading color if applicable.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was in the news after the departure of Steve Jobs as CEO. What is interesting is that almost every research analyst out there came out and defended Apple saying that this was mostly factored in and that the prospects for Apple remain solid. Here were some of the calls that we saw:

Maintained Overweight at JPMorgan;
Maintained Outperform at Credit Suisse;
Maintained Buy at BofA/ML;
Reiterated Buy at Canaccord Adams;
Maintained Buy at Gabelli;
Maintained Buy at Deutsche Bank.

Filed under: Analyst Calls, Research, The Week Tagged: AAPL, BAC, BSX, GOOG, HGSI, INT, JNPR, JPM, NDAQ, NEM, P, PCLN, RIMM, SGEN, SLM, SQNM, VMW, VVUS

Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (AET, AMR, ADM, MT, BG, CINF, COH, EXPE, FAST, HGSI, NSIT, JNPR, KMB, PCLN, RYL, LCC, SAFM, WAG)

Administrator — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:11:21 +0000

These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls this Tuesday morning.

Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
AMR Corp. (NYSE: AMR) Raised to Neutral at BofA/ML.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) Started as Equal-Weight at Barclays.
Arcelor Mittal (NYSE: MT) Cut to UNderperform at BNP Paribas.
Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) STarted as Overweight at Barclays.
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CINF) Maintained Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) Started as Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST) Raised to Outperform as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) Started as Buy at Brean Murray.
Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSIT) Reiterated Buy as Value at Zacks.
Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE: JNPR) Raised to Outperform at Morgan Keegan.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) Raised to Equal-Weight at Barclays.
Priceline.com Incorporated (NASDAQ: PCLN) Started as Outperform with $720 target at Credit Suisse.
Ryland Group Inc. (NYSE: RYL) Raised to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE: LCC) Raised to Buy at BofA/ML.
Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) Raised to Neutral at JPMorgan.
Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) Cut to Underweight at Barclays.

You are invited to join our free daily email distribution list to hear more about analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader and active trader alerts, dividend trends, news on Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: Analyst Calls Tagged: ADM, AET, AMR, BG, CINF, COH, EXPE, FAST, HGSI, JNPR, KMB, LCC, MT, NSIT, PCLN, RYL, SAFM, WAG