Stock Upgrades, Downgrades from TheStreet.com Ratings

08/21/07 - 02:35 PM EDT

TheStreet.com Ratings Staff

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers(RRGB Quote - Cramer on RRGB - Stock Picks), a quick service restaurant chain, has been downgraded to hold. While the company has experienced robust revenue growth and is reasonably well valued at its current stock price, it has also seen disappointing return on equity and poor profit margins. Its stock price performance has also been generally disappointing. Last week Red Robin said second-quarter earnings fell 32% to $4.9 million, or 29 cents a share, because of one-time charges and the increased costs of dairy and cheese products. Excluding charges, the company would have earned 44 cents a share. Revenue increased 32% to $178.6 million. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers had been rated a buy since April.

Charles River Laboratories(CRL Quote - Cramer on CRL - Stock Picks), a medical research company, has been upgraded to buy. The company is operating from a largely firm financial position, with solid stock performance, reasonable valuation levels and growth in revenue and earnings per share. These strengths are expected to outweigh Charles River's somewhat disappointing return on equity.

Earlier this month, the company said second-quarter earnings increased 47% to $38 million, or 55 cents a share, as pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers continued demanding research models and outsourced services. Excluding items, the company earned 64 cents a share. Revenue totaled $307.4 million, up from $267.9 million a year ago. Charles River also raised its full-year sales guidance and the low end of its profit forecast and increased its stock buyback authorization. Charles River Laboratories had been rated a hold since early August.

Research company Gartner(IT Quote - Cramer on IT - Stock Picks) has been upgraded to buy. The company has enjoyed a solid stock performance and revenue growth, notable return on equity, good cash flow from operations and expanding profit margins. These strengths are expected to outweigh its subpar growth in net income. In July, Gartner said second-quarter earnings fell 23% to $14 million, or 13 cents a share, as results were pulled down by rising costs and a drop in revenue. Company executives noted that contract value had increased by 19%. Gartner said it would allocate more resources toward growing the research business and will add more sales associates this year than previously anticipated. The company had been rated a hold since June.

Additional ratings changes are listed below.

Stock Upgrades, Downgrades
Company Name Ticker Change New Rating Former Rating
Caraco Pharmaceutical Labs CPD Downgrade Hold Buy
Charles River Labs CRL Upgrade Buy Hold
Citigroup C Downgrade Hold Buy
FEI FEIC Downgrade Hold Buy
Fresenius Medical Care FMS Downgrade Hold Buy
Gartner IT Upgrade Buy Hold
Intel INTC Upgrade Buy Hold
Merix MERX Downgrade Sell Hold
Modine Manufacturing MOD Upgrade Buy Hold
Quidel QDEL Downgrade Hold Buy
Restoration Hardware RSTO Downgrade Sell Hold
Wrigley WWYWB Upgrade Buy Hold
Chipmos Technologies IMOS Downgrade Hold Buy
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers RRGB Downgrade Hold Buy
Huntsman HUN Upgrade Buy Hold
Heritage Oaks Bancorp HEOP Upgrade Buy Hold
Stantec SXC Upgrade Buy Hold
Sunpower SPWR Upgrade Hold Sell
Innovative Card Technologies INVC Downgrade Sell Hold
Source: TheStreet.com Ratings
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