Here is a list of this morning’s company upgrades, downgrades, and coverage initiations by brokerage firms.
Analyst Upgrades:
- Amazon.com (AMZN) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Kaufman
- AK Steel (AKS) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman
- Artio Global (ART) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill
- Aurizon Mines (AZK) upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Raymond James
- Best Buy (BBY) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Rochdale
- FBR Capital is raising their price target on Baker Hughes (BHI) to $61 from $54
- Baker Hughes (BHI) upgraded to Outperform from Underperform at Calyon
- Children’s Place (PLCE) upgraded to Buy at MKM Partners; price target $39
- Cooper Industries (CBE) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at UBS
- DeVry (DV) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Baird; price target raised to $76 from $62
- Hertz Global (HTZ) upgraded to Buy at MKM Partners
- Gilead Sciences (GILD) upgraded at Citigroup; price target raised to $59 from $57
- Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Leerink Swann
- Kraft Foods (KFT) upgraded to Buy at Stifel Nicolaus; price target raised to $33
- Molex (MOLX) upgraded to Buy at Ticonderoga Securities; price target raised to $26
- Moody’s (MCO) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Benchmark; price target $33
- McGraw-Hill (MHP) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Benchmark; price target raised to $42
- Nara Bancorp (NARA) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley & Co
- Repsol YPF (REP) upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays
- Sandy Spring Bancorp (SASR) upgraded to Perform from Underperform at FBR Capital; price target raised to $11 from $7.50
- Spartan Stores (SPTN) upgraded to Outperform from Perform at BMO Capital Markets; price target $17
- Super Micro Computer (SMCI) upgraded at Thomas Weisel; price target raised to $15 from $13
- QLogic (QLGC) upgraded to Buy at Canaccord Adams; price target $21.50
- Virginia Commerce Bancorp (VCBI) upgraded to Perform from Underperform at FBR Capital; price target raised to $6 from $3
- ViewPoint Financial (VPFG) upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Keefe Bruyette
- ZAGG (ZAGG) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Merriman
- Whitney Holding Co (WTNY) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Wunderlich; price target raised to $16 from $11
- FBR Capital is raising their price target on WW Grainger (GWW) to $124 from $123
Analyst Downgrades:
- Banco Santander (SAN) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman
- British Sky (BSY) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Exane BNP Paribas
- Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Macquarie
- Consolidated Edison (ED) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill; price target lowered to $44 from $48
- CTC Media (CTCM) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS
- ENI S.p.A (E) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Exane BNP Paribas
- Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at BofA/Merrill; price target lowered to $19 from $20
- McKesson (MCK) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Leerink Swann
- US Steel (X) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman
- US Steel (X) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Citigroup
- Verizon Communications (VZ) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at FBR Capital; price target lowered to $34 from $37
- Virgin Media (VMED) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill; price target lowered to $17.50 from $22
- WNS (WNS) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill
Coverage Initiated:
- Agrium (AGU) initiated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill
- Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) initiated with an Outperform at RBC; price target set at $38
- Immunogen (IMGN) initiated with a Buy at Canaccord Adams
- Intrepid Potash (IPI) initiated with an Underperform at BofA/Merrill; price target set at $30
- Jarden (JAH) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital Markets; price target set at $41
- Kennametal (KMT) initiated with a Buy at Jesup & Lamont; price target set at $38
- Magnum Hunter (MHR) initiated with a Buy at Global Hunter Securities; price target $3.50
- Mosaic (MOS) initiated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill
- Northwest Bancshares (NWBI) initiated with a Buy at Stifel Nicolaus; price target set at $13.50
- Potash Corp (POT) initiated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill
- Systemax (SYX) initiated with a Buy at Janney; price target set at $23
- Terra Industries (TRA) initiated with a Neutral at BofA/Merrill
- Tupperware (TUP) initiated with an Outperform at RBC; price target set at $52
- Time Warner (TWX) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital; price target set at $35
- U.S. Auto Parts Network (PRTS) initiated with a Buy at Merriman
- ShoreTel (SHOR) initiated with a Buy at Lazard; price target set at $8
