Top Pre-Market Stock Upgrades/Downgrades April 29, 2010

Here is a list of this morning’s top companies upgrades, downgrades, and initiations by brokerage firms.

Upgrades:

• AFLAC (AFL) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup
• Akamai Technologies (AKAM) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup; price target $44 from $32
• Baidu (BIDU) target raised to $1000 from $728 at Susquehanna
• Barrick Gold (ABX) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies; price target $52 from $45
• First Solar (FSLR) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Robert W. Baird & Co.; price target $160 from $120
• First Solar (FSLR) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank
• Manitowoc (MTW) upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan
• Sprint Nextel (S) upgraded to Outperform from Perform at RBC Capital Markets; price target $6 from $4

Downgrades:

• Equifax (EFX) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Baird
• ManTech (MANT) downgraded to Hold from Buy at C.K. Cooper & Co.
• Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) downgraded to Reduce from Buy at Madison Williams

Coverage Initiated:

• Avanir Pharmaceuticals (AVNR) initiated with an Outperform at Wedbush; price target $9

Coverage Resumed:

• Celgene (CELG) resumed with an Outperform from Neutral at Wedbush; price target $73

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