Stock Upgrades, Downgrades From TheStreet.com Ratings

Each weekday, TheStreet.com Ratings updates its ratings on the stocks it covers. The proprietary ratings model projects a stock's total return potential over a 12-month period, including both price appreciation and dividends. Buy, hold or sell ratings designate how the Ratings group expects these stocks to perform against a general benchmark of the equities market and interest rates.

While the ratings model is quantitative, it uses both subjective and objective elements. For instance, subjective elements include expected equities market returns, future interest rates, implied industry outlook and company earnings forecasts. Objective elements include volatility of past operating revenue, financial strength and company cash flows.

Advanced health and security system manufacturer Analogic(ALOG Quote) has been upgraded to a buy from a hold. The company's earnings were up 177.8% in the most recent quarter compared with the year-earlier period. Meantime, Analogic has no debt to speak of and appears to have the ability to cover short-term cash needs. Investors seem to have noticed, and they have pushed the stock price up 39.1% in the past 12 months. ALOG had been rated a hold since June 2006.

Electronics manufacturer Audiovox(VOXX Quote) has been downgraded to a sell from a hold. Audiovox's current stock price is not very different from what it was a year ago. TheStreet.com believes this is probably due to weak earnings growth and sees little in the future that could change the company's course. The gross profit margin for Audiovox is rather low at 20%, and the net profit margin trails the industry average. VOXX had been rated a hold since October 2005.