Analysts' Upgrades and Downgrades
Tuesday's Analysts' Upgrades and Downgrades
TSC Staff
03/13/07 - 09:35 AM EDT
CHANGE IN RATINGS
Atheros Communications (ATHR Quote) upgraded at Jefferies to Buy rating from Hold. Price target jumps to $30 from $22 and 2007 EPS estimates rise to $0.98 from $0.95.
CVS (CVS Quote) upgraded at Deutsche Bank from Hold to Buy. $42 price target. Overhang from the CMX deal has been lifted, and the core retail operation should continue to deliver solid results.
Dow Jones (DJ Quote) upgraded at Prudential from Underweight to Neutral. $36 price target. Stock has pulled back to a fair valuation, and the company can post 34% earnings growth in 2007.
Dollar Tree (DLTR Quote) was upgraded from Underperform to Peer Perform at Bear Stearns. Stock is trading at a 30% discount to the DG takeover bid, though industry fundamentals remain choppy.
Expedia (EXPE Quote) upgraded at Merrill Lynch from Neutral to Buy. Company recently said that US traffic is improving, following new advertising. Occupancy cycle may also be improving. $27 price target.
j2 Global (JCOM Quote) upgraded to Buy rating from Hold at Jefferies. Price target lifts to $31 from $27. However, 2007 EPS estimates lowered to $1.48 from $1.50.
McGraw-Hill (MHP Quote) upgraded at AG Edwards from Hold to Buy. $76 price target. Stock is trading at the low end of its historical range, and fundamentals should remain strong through 2008. Subprime fears have been overblown, and the company's buyback program should help support the stock.
Marvell Technology (MRVL Quote) downgraded at UBS to Reduce rating from Buy. Price target drops to $18.50 from $28 and 2007 EPS estimates lowered to $0.41 from $0.53.
PPG Industries (PPG Quote) upgraded at Goldman Sachs to Buy from Neutral based on management's commitment to consider alternatives for its low-growth, low-margin auto glass business and newfound reporting transparency of its better-performing businesses. Price target at $82.
Shuffle Master (SHFL Quote) downgraded at Jefferies to Hold rating from Buy. Price target falls to $19 from $26 and 2007 EPS estimates lowered to $0.50 from $0.77.
SanDisk (SNDK Quote) upgraded at UBS to Buy rating from Neutral. Price target jumps to $53 from $43 and CY2008 EPS estimates hold at $2.12.
