Stock Upgrades, Downgrades from TheStreet.com Ratings

Tim Hortons, Inc.(THI Quote) operates and franchises quick-service restaurants. It has been upgraded to a hold from a sell. The company's return on equity of 27% in the third quarter significantly exceeds that of both the industry average and S&P 500. Its third-quarter revenue growth of 19% over last year outpaced the industry average of 0.8%. In addition, its stock price has gone up by 30% in the last 12 months. However, the company's profit margins have been poor overall. Tim Hortons, Inc. had been rated a sell since coverage was initiated in August 2007.

Quidel(QDEL Quote) manufactures and markets point-of-care diagnostic solutions for infectious diseases and reproductive health. It has been upgraded to a buy from a hold. The company's third-quarter revenue rose 16.2% on the year, outpacing the industry average of 2.9%. Quidel's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.08 and is below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 3.79, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs. The company has also shown solid stock price performance and good cash flow from operations. Although no company is perfect, currently TheStreet.com Ratings do not see any significant weaknesses that are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook. Quidel had been rated a hold since August 2007.