Sales Beef Up McD's Stock

Editor's Note: In this feature from Stockpickr, we highlight lists of stocks that have been upgraded by analysts or are experiencing activist-investor situations or some other market-moving events.

Rumors of the Day: The diminished likelihood of a takeout in the short term prompted UBS to lower its stock-price target on Tellabs (TLAB - commentary - Cramer's Take) from $14 to $11.50. According to the StreetInsider.com, the research firm cited internal weakness at the two most likely suitors -- Nokia-Siemens Network, a joint venture between Nokia (NOK - commentary - Cramer's Take) and Siemens (SI - commentary - Cramer's Take), and Nortel (NT - commentary - Cramer's Take).

UBS said that following their weak second quarters, Nokia-Siemens is likely to focus on integrating the two companies rather than large M&A, and Nortel could find it expensive to go to the debt market for M&A due to the current market conditions. The firm maintained its neutral rating on Tellabs. Tellabs stock dropped 2 cents to $10.37 while Nortel lost 18 cents to $17 in recent trading Tuesday.

Meanwhile, StreetInsider also points to a report in the New York Post that says Countrywide (CFC - commentary - Cramer's Take) is trying to put together another multibillion-dollar bailout as the lender struggles through the credit squeeze and decline in housing prices. The Post's sources say the mortgage company will continue working with Goldman Sachs but may now be trying to tap JPMorgan or Citi as well as several hedge funds that have recently expressed interest. One source familiar with the company said Countrywide is in desperate need of cash right now and the credit markets are still largely closed to it. Countrywide shares fell off 62 cents, or 3.6%, at $16.59.

Today's Hot List: McDonald's (MCD - commentary - Cramer's Take) reported today that global comparable sales rose 8.1% in August. U.S. comparable sales for the month rose 7.4% due to the ongoing strength of the fast-food chain's breakfast business, beverages and new food offerings. The company also said that positive sales growth in France, the U.K. and Germany drove Europe's comparable sales up 6.1% for the month and comparable sales increased 12.4% in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa due to robust sales in Japan, Australia and China. The stock jumped $1.89 to $52.04.

Shares of ImClone Systems (IMCL - commentary - Cramer's Take) are 22% higher to $46.24 following news that drug Erbitux met its phase III study's primary endpoint of increasing survival in lung cancer patients.

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