24/7 Wall St.

These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen in Wall St. research calls this Thursday. With this being the week of Christmas, analyst upgrades and downgrades are likely going to be very light until after January 2. Again, 24/7 Wall St. reiterates its Strong Sell rating on the Mayan Calendar.

Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP) reiterated Buy with a target price of $120 at Argus.

Carnival Corp. (NYSE: CCL) reiterated Hold but kept as Long-Term Buy at Argus.

Domino’s Pizza Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) reiterated Outperform and raised target to $50 from $44 at Oppenheimer.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) named Bull of the Day at Zacks.

HSBC Holdings PLC (NYSE: HBC) named Bear of the Day at Zacks.

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) cut to Market Perform at JMP Securities.

Most investors and traders were out on Monday and Wednesday, but here are some of the standout calls that were still listed with upgrades and downgrades this week:

Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) reiterated as Buy with a $77 target at Goldman Sachs, but Raymond James lowered its price target to $68 from $72 due to margin pressure (both calls Wednesday).

JDS Uniphase Corp. (NASDAQ: JDSU) reiterated Outperform at Piper Jaffray, but the price target was raised to $16 from $12 in the call.

Credit Suisse commented that Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) could make the software as a service (SaaS) market come with higher multiples. Those noted positively were RNOW and TLEO, and others were CNQR, CSOD, CTCT, JIVE, MKTG, RP, SNCR and ULTI. (Wednesday)

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) reiterated Buy but the price target raised to $33 from $25 at Needham. (Monday)

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) started as Buy with $35 price target at Goldman Sachs. (Monday)

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) reiterated Buy but price target raised to $26 from $19 at Needham. (Monday)

Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) reiterated Buy with $76 target at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. (Monday)

Here are the four definite and four runner-ups for the 2013 Dogs of the Dow. Also, here is another take for the Pigs of the Dow for 2013 as the DJIA’s worst performing stocks in 2012.

JON C. OGG