Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) was raised to Buy from Hold at Jefferies after strong earnings; shares are trading up 7% at all-time highs. Bank of America Merrill Lynch reiterated its Buy rating but raised the price target to $190 from $177.
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Canaccord Genuity.
BP PLC (NYSE: BP) was raised to Buy from Hold at Soc-Gen.
CAI International Inc. (NYSE: CAP) was downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Chesapeake Granite Wash Trust (NYSE: CHKR) was downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs based on expectations of a lower distribution (dividend) ahead.
Cobalt International Energy Inc. (NYSE: CIE) was reiterated Outperform on recent weakness, and the price target is $40 (versus a $23.12 close), at Credit Suisse.
3D Systems Inc. (NYSE: DDD) was reiterated as Outperform after earnings weakness, and the price target was raised to $65 from $62, at Credit Suisse.
Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) was started as Buy at UBS; Canaccord Genuity reiterated its Buy rating and raised the price target to $120 from $110.
Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) was reiterated as Buy with a $54 price target, despite slightly lowered earnings expectations, from Argus.
Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) was reiterated as Outperform and the ADRs were given the equivalent of 21% upside (after converting the price in euros) by Credit Suisse; Canaccord Genuity raised the ADR price target to $8.00 from $5.00 after backing out the sale of the unit.
Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY) was started as Neutral at Sterne Agee.
SanDisk Corp. (NASDAQ: SNDK) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy on valuation after its huge run up, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Willis Group Holdings PLC (NYSE: WSH) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Bank of America Merrill Lynch based on lower margin expansion.
Jefferies has identified top LBO and M&A candidates in the technology sector.
Also read: 10 Serious Reasons Apple Is Selling Off Rather Than Rallying
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks