Change in Ratings
Ann Taylor
(ANN)
downgraded at Citigroup from Buy to Sell. $21 price target. Second-quarter expectations also cut ahead of the upcoming report, as broad consumer weakness should delay the company's potential turnaround story.
Cabot Oil & Gas
(COG) - Get Report
upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Bank of America along with the upgrade of the E&P group to Overweight. Price target maintained at $74.
Comstock Resources
(CRK) - Get Report
upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA. Price target maintained at $70.
Dover
(DOV) - Get Report
downgraded at JP Morgan from Overweight to Neutral. Stock has outperformed the market by 19%, and the benefits from the buyback and currency gains should shrink in 2009.
Fluor
(FLR) - Get Report
estimates increased at Lehman. Lehman continues to believe that Fluor is the only E&C that provides enough diversity across the sector's end markets. Analyst sees potential for several large bookings in the near term. Lehman raised price target to $103 from $98.
Goldman Sachs
(GS) - Get Report
downgraded at Deutsche Bank from Buy to Hold. $192 price target. Estimates also cut, as company has about 35% exposure to equities in a difficult market.
ITT
(ITT) - Get Report
downgraded at JP Morgan from Neutral to Underweight. Valuation call, as the commercial business is facing fundamental growth risks into 2009.
Quicksilver Resources
(KWK)
upgraded to a Buy at BofA. Price target maintainted at $40.
Longs Drug Stores
( LDG) downgraded at Credit Suisse to Underperform from Neutral based on valuation. Lowered target to $37 from $52.
McDonald's
(MCD) - Get Report
downgraded at UBS to Neutral from Buy. Maintains 2008 EPS estimates of $3.55 and $69 price target.
Penn National
(PENN) - Get Report
upgraded at JP Morgan from Neutral to Overweight. $39 price target. Company has an attractive and fully funded development pipeline. Management can also leverage the balance sheet over time to drive EBITDA growth.
Psychiatric Solutions
(PSYS)
downgraded at Deutsche Bank from Buy to Hold. $40 price target. Company could struggle to keep growing margins, based on a change in the industry model and potential competition from HCA.
Penn Virginia
(PVA)
upgraded to Buy at Suntrust. $93 price target. Company realizing higher coal royalties.
Stone Energy
(SGY)
upgraded to buy at BofA. Price target maintained at $70.
Tyco
(TYC)
downgraded at JP Morgan from Overweight to Neutral. Stock has outperformed the market by about 20% year-to-date, though risks are rising in the flow and commercial construction businesses.
VMware
(VMW) - Get Report
coverage initiated at Goldman Sachs with a Neutral rating. See slowing growth rate, increasing competition and premium valuation relative to comparable companies. Price target at $40.
Whiting Petroleum
(WLL) - Get Report
upgraded to Buy at BofA. Price target maintained at $114.
Wynn Resorts
(WYNN) - Get Report
downgraded at JP Morgan from Overweight to Neutral. Valuation call, as the stock is up 65% since July 10. Market is already pricing in strong Macau results.
Stock Comments/EPS Changes
Clear Channel Outdoor
(CCO) - Get Report
numbers lowered at Jefferies. 2008 EPS estimates lowered to $0.45 from $0.65. Price target lowered to $21 from $25. Maintains Buy rating.
Coca-Cola
(KO) - Get Report
numbers lowered at UBS. 2008 EPS estimates lowered to $3.08 from $3.10. Price target lowered to $67 from $70. Maintains Buy rating.
Constellation Brands
(STZ) - Get Report
numbers raised at UBS. Fiscal 2009 EPS estimates raised to $1.71 from $1.67. Price target raised to $23.50 from $20. Maintains Neutral rating.
Sybase
( SY) price target raised at Jefferies to $36 from $33. Maintains Hold rating and 2008 EPS estimates of $1.99.
Strategy Calls/Market Calls
JP Morgan changes ratings on airline stocks.
Alaska
(ALK) - Get Report
,
AMR
(AMR)
,
Continental
(CAL) - Get Report
,
Delta
(DAL) - Get Report
and
UAL
( UAUA) were upgraded to Overweight. Rating on
Northwest
( NWA) was also raised to Neutral. On the other hand,
Southwest
(LUV) - Get Report
was downgraded from Neutral to Underweight.
This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.com.
