Dividend.com: Morning Playbook

The markets are looking lower in the early going. Jobless claims came in above what analysts had been expecting, so a cautious tone appears to be the case as we get closer to the end of the quarter. Let's take a look at today's names to watch.

Story Stocks

Bed Bath & Beyond(BBBY Quote): Stock is higher after better-than-expected first-quarter results.

Nike(NKE Quote): Shares are down after fourth-quarter results were not so stellar.

Paychex(PAYX Quote): Shares are lower after fourth-quarter earnings dropped 16%.

Seagate Technology(STX Quote): Shares are flat despite company raising outlook.

Red Hat(RHT Quote): Stock is down after beating EPS estimates by a penny.

Lennar Corp(LEN Quote): Homebuilder is slightly higher after reporting Q2 loss of $125 million.

Conagra(CAG Quote): Shares are flat after reporting fourth-quarter profit fell 13%.

McCormick & Company(MKC Quote): Shares are flat despite company missing second quarter EPS by 3 cents.

Hertz(HTZ Quote): Shares are higher after company gave upbeat second-quarter guidance.

Bed Bath & Beyond is pretty consistent at beating estimates, but today's key name to watch will be Nike. If those shares can not firm up, the market may have a tough hill to climb.

Upgrades to Watch

Deere(DE Quote): Goldman Sachs increases rating to neutral. Initiates $42 price target.

Corning(GLW Quote): Morgan Keegan initiates stock with outperform rating.

Transocean Ltd.(RIG Quote): Goldman Sachs raises stock to a buy from neutral.

Analog Devices(ADI Quote): Merrill Lynch/Bank of America upgrades stock to a buy from underperform. $29 price target.

SLM Corp(SLM Quote): JP Morgan raises stock to an overweight.

Intel Corp(INTC Quote): UBS raises 2009 estimates. $18 price target.