Tuesday's Analysts' Upgrades and Downgrades

CHANGE IN RATINGS

Assurant (AIZ Quote) upgraded at Merrill Lynch to Buy. $64 price target. Estimates are above consensus, based on a more favorable outlook for the specialty property business.

AS&E (ASEI Quote) upgraded at Jefferies to Hold rating from Under Perform. Price target jumps to $65 from $40, and 2008 EPS estimates upped to $2.90 from $2.33.

Burger King (BKC Quote) upgraded at Citigroup to Buy from Hold. Management is being more proactive in working to stem the tide of domestic franchise restaurant closures. The company possesses margin expansion and international growth opportunity. $28 price target.

Blackbaud (BLKB Quote) upgraded at Jefferies to Buy rating from Hold. Price target bumps to $27 from $26, and 2008 EPS estimates initiated at $1.02.

BMC Software (BMC Quote) upgraded at Bear Stearns to Peer Perform. Core business-mainframe database tools have been stabilized. The company reported a solid quarter with strong cash flow three times that achieved a year ago. Estimates raised.

Cooper Tire & Rubber (CTB Quote) upgraded at BB&T to Buy. The company beat analysts' second quarter estimates and is well positioned heading into its two seasonally strongest quarters. Due to falling costs margins anticipated to be higher in third quarter. $27 price target.

F5 Networks (FFIV Quote) downgraded at Thomas Weisel from Overweight to Market-weight. Cautious about the Acopia acquisition, given the price and management's track record of integrating deals. $70 price target.