Dividend.com: Morning Playbook

The markets opened higher this morning, despite not much action in terms of news flow. Traders should use some caution here. We did get some good news from Home Depot(HD Quote) as far as guidance is concerned. Let's take a look at what I am watching this morning and what my gut tells me.

Story Stocks

Home Depot(HD Quote): Looks to be up in the early going after raising guidance.

Brown-Forman Corp. CL 'A'(BF.A Quote): Company reported results but no indication on any direction the stock will take.

Ameriprise Financial(AMP Quote): Stock is lower after company announces $900 million stock offering.

National Instruments Corp.(NATI Quote): Stock lower after issuing weak 2Q sales outlook.

New York Times(NYT Quote): Stock is flat after announcing it will take bids to sell the Boston Globe.

CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.(CBG Quote): Stock looks higher after saying it is selling $100 Million of Common Stock to Paulson & Co. Inc., as well as other financing initiatives.

Upgrades to Watch

U.S. Steel(X Quote): Started as a buy at Keybanc.

Yahoo!(YHOO Quote): Raised to a buy at Soleil. $20 target price.

XL Capital(XL Quote): Raised to a buy at Bank of America/Merrill. $14 Target price.

Research in Motion(RIMM Quote): Goldman Sachs increases estimates. Raises target price to $96.

Dendreon(DNDN Quote): Citigroup sees shares reaching $35.

Keep a close eye on the RIMM upgrade to see if the stock can follow through successfully. We witnessed Apple(AAPL Quote) fail to lift yesterday on two upgrades, despite a good move up in the Nasdaq.

Downgrades to Watch

First Solar(FSLR Quote): Cut to a hold at Soleil.

Reliance Steel(RS Quote): Cut to a hold at Keybanc.

Nucor(NUE Quote): Cut to a hold at Keybanc.