Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) may not sound like much, but S&P Capital IQ cut the rating to “Buy” from “Strong Buy” this week.  Some boutiques were also noting a lower demand and Apple closed down marginally on Friday at $384.62 and that was the lowest closing price since October 7.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) beat earnings and shares rose.  We saw three more analysts get on board this week as the largest communications equipment provider continues its recovery: raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank; raised to Buy at Citigroup; and its target was raised to $26 from $25 at Credit Suisse.

Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) tanked this week after missing revenue figures and lowering its earnings forecast for the year.  CSC was downgraded to Underweight at JPMorgan on Thursday, but the scare here is that things just keep getting worse and worse and it is not normal for that firm to trim a “value stock” to an “Underweight” rating even if it was an after the fact downgrade.

Corrections Corporation of America (NYSE:CXW) is a prison operator in America and it recently announced the closing down of the Delta Correctional Facility in Mississippi.  Mid-week came news from Zacks that it was the value stock of the day and the call seems aggressive considering that it is fairly valued, is in a very controversial business segment, and it does not even pay a dividend.

Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) is one turnaround that investors just aren’t sure if it can or will ever turn around.  Apparently, the analyst community is at war too.  The milk and dairy player was given two big competing calls when it was downgraded to SELL at S&P Capital IQ late on Wednesday but when it was maintained with a “Buy” rating by BofA Merrill Lynch the following morning. Earlier in the week its rating was raised to Overweight at Stephens.

Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE: EPD) is one of the top three leading MLPs in most funds that track the sector and it is truly a monster in its market capitalization.  This week came a call from Zacks noting it as the Bull of the Day and it assigned a street high price target in this upgrade.  We are interested in this one enough that we did our own take and even found two other fresh independent opinions that show the good and the caution of the MLP.

Genworth Financial Inc. (NYSE: GNW) won’t sound like much on the surface.  Citigroup removed its SELL rating and raised the stock to NEUTRAL because of asset sales.  What does a 6.1% gain sound like to you?  That is how much shares rose just because the real negative rating just went to what is still just “less bad.”

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) managed to steamroll all of its analysts who were remaining positive and pounding the table over the efforts of short seller David Einhorn.  A 7% gain on Friday was preceded by a drop of 39% on Thursday.  This one was very painful for many analysts.

Get Our Free Investment Newsletter

I have read, and agree to the Terms of Use