Dividend.com: Morning Playbook

We are off to a decent start to today's trading session. There are plenty of major news stories to embrace, including the retail monthly sales figures out this morning for many of the stocks we follow. Let's take a peek at what is on the radar.

Story Stocks

Cisco Systems(CSCO Quote): Stock is down slightly after company reports 46% drop in profits.

Activision Blizzard(ATVI Quote): Shares are higher despite lowering revenue guidance.

Prudential Financial(PRU Quote): Stock is lower after raising low end of guidance.

Allstate(ALL Quote): Shares are lower after company reported profit decline.

News Corp.(NWSA Quote): Stock is slightly higher after company reported fourth quarter results.

Career Education(CECO Quote): Stock is slightly lower following company's results.

Wendy's/Arby's Group(WEN Quote): Shares are a bit higher after company reaffirmed guidance.

DirecTV(DTV Quote): Stock is slightly higher despite profits falling 11%.

Nasdaq OMX Group(NDAQ Quote): Shares are slightly lower after second-quarter profits fall 31%.

Comcast(CMCSA Quote): Stock is higher after big jump in second-quarter profits.

World Wrestling Entertainment(WWE Quote): Stock is slightly higher after company reports results.

Brinker(EAT Quote): Stock getting hit hard after posting results.

Blackstone Group(BX Quote): Stock edges higher after reporting results.

Upgrades to Watch

MGM Mirage(MGM Quote): Bernstein Research raises stock to market perform; $9 price target.

JPMorgan Chase(JPM Quote): Deutsche Bank(DB Quote) initiates stock with a buy rating and $48 price target.

Alcoa(AA Quote): Merrill Lynch/Bank of America(BAC Quote) raises estimates;. $10 price target.

Lorillard(LO Quote): Citigroup(C Quote) adds stock to "top picks" list.

Foster Wheeler(FWLT Quote): Barclays Capital and Goldman Sachs(GS Quote) both raise estimates; $34 and $29 price targets, respectively.

Devon Energy(DVN Quote): Goldman Sachs raises estimates and target price to $76.

Discover Financial Services(DFS Quote): Barclays Capital raises target to $14.