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CHANGE IN RATINGS

Alcoa

(AA) - Get Report

upgraded at Citigroup to Buy. Estimates also boosted, to reflect higher expected metal prices. $17 price target.

Akamai

(AKAM) - Get Report

upgraded at Merriman. AKAM was upgraded from Sell to Neutral. Expect rebound in demand from the Media vertical.

American Express

(AXP) - Get Report

upgraded at BofA/Merrill. AXP upgraded to Buy from Neutral as pull-back offers investors an opportunity to benefit from further expanding US economy and improving credit card sector. $44 price target.

Deere

(DE) - Get Report

rated new Hold at Morgan Joseph. DE was initiated with a Hold rating. Stock looks expensive, based on the near-term earnings potential.

Freeport-McMoran

(FCX) - Get Report

upgraded at Citigroup to Buy. Valuation call, as the stock is trailing the S&P 500 by 8% in 2010. Additionally, FCX was added to the Top Picks Live list. $95 price target.

Health Management Associates

(HMA)

upgraded at Credit Suisse. HMA upgraded to Outperform from Neutral. Recent pullback provides buying opportunity as management continues to build on operational improvements. Price target raised to $9 from $7. 2009 and 2010 EPS estimates lifted to 50 cents and 58 cents, respectively.

Hologic

(HOLX) - Get Report

estimates boosted at Barclays. HOLX 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates increased to $1.19 and $1.32, respectively. HOLX posted better than expected and raised guidance, Barclays said. Reiterate Equal Weight rating and $17 price target.

Hologic

(HOLX) - Get Report

estimates, target increased at Citigroup. HOLX estimates were boosted through 2011. Company raised guidance, following increased demand in the latest quarter. Hold rating and new $17 price target.

Hologic

(HOLX) - Get Report

upgraded at Brean Murray from Hold to Buy. $18 price target. Company is selling ore systems, albeit at lower price points.

Jacobs Engineering

(JEC) - Get Report

downgraded at Goldman. JEC was downgraded from Neutral to Sell. Stock was also placed on the Conviction Sell list, given the company's exposure to North America refining. New $33 price target.

King Pharmaceuticals

( KG) rated new Hold at Jefferies. Coverage of KG was started with a Hold rating. $11 price target. Company has attractive prospects in the pain prospects, but the pipeline still carries risks.

K-Sea Transportation

( KSP) downgraded at Barclays to Equal Weight from Overweight on weak refinery fundamentals and limited visibility. Price target plunged to $10 from $26.25. 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates sunk to -$0.78 and -$0.22, respectively.

Mastercard

(MA) - Get Report

rated new Outperform at Bernstein. MA was initiated with an Outperform rating. $329 price target. Company should see consistent volume growth over the next several years.

Southern Copper

( PCU) upgraded at Citigroup from Hold to Buy. Stock is down 21% from its recent highs and has low-cost production. $38 price target.

Schnitzer Steel

(SCHN) - Get Report

upgraded at UBS from Neutral to Buy. $50 price target. Stock is down 24% from its January highs and scrap steel demand should remain strong.

Visa

(V) - Get Report

rated new Outperform at Bernstein. Coverage of V was started with an Outperform rating. $104 price target. Market is underestimating the company's revenue growth potential.

Wesco

(WCC) - Get Report

upgraded at William Blair from Market Perform to Outperform. Company is facing easier year-over-year comparisons.

Exxon Mobil

(XOM) - Get Report

upgraded at BofA/Merrill to Buy from Neutral. Valuation call. Longer term, XOM faces challenges as production skews towards gas versus oil, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch said. Price target set at $82.

Exxon Mobil

(XOM) - Get Report

estimate tweaked at Barclays. XOM 2010 EPS estimate raised five cents to $5.95 on strong sales growth projection, 2009 maintained at $3.90. Reiterate $92 price target and Overweight rating.

Exxon Mobil

(XOM) - Get Report

estimates upped, target cut at UBS. XOM estimates were raised through 2010. Company is seeing lower corporate costs and tax rate. On the other hand, the target was lowered to $72. Neutral rating.

STOCK COMMENTS / EPS CHANGES

Advanced Micro

(AMD) - Get Report

added to Conviction Sell List at Goldman. Company will likely continue to generate sizable losses in 2010, with expected market share losses in servers. $5.50 price target.

Affiliated Managers

(AMG) - Get Report

numbers upped at Goldman through 2011. Management boosted guidance, and the pending Artemis acquisition could add to earnings. Neutral rating and new $80 price target.

Anadarko Petroleum

(APC) - Get Report

estimates raised at Morgan Stanley. APC estimates were upped through 2011. Company is realizing lower costs. Equal-weight rating.

AmeriGas Partners

(APU) - Get Report

target, estimates boosted at BofA/Merrill. APU price target raised by a dollar to $41 on stronger than expected 1Q10 results. 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates set at $3.20 and $3.28. Neutral rating.

Avon

(AVP) - Get Report

estimates, target reduced at UBS. AVP estimates were cut through 2010. Company is being hurt by currency risks. Buy rating and new $38 price target.

Cliffs Natural

(CLF) - Get Report

numbers boosted at Citigroup. Shares of CLF now seen reaching $56. Estimates also raised, to reflect an improved pricing environment. Buy rating.

Danaher

(DHR) - Get Report

estimates raised at FBR through 2011. AB SCIEX acquisition will add to earnings. Outperform rating and $87 price target.

Ford

(F) - Get Report

target, estimates higher at Barclays. F price target increased to $12 from $11 as the company expects a profit in 2010. 2010 EPS estimates raised to $1.00. Maintain Equal Weight rating.

FirstEnergy

(FE) - Get Report

price target cut at BofA/Merrill. FE price target lowered to $48 from $50 on reduced volumes. Estimates fell through 2013. Buy rating.

Hewitt Assoc.

( HEW) numbers lowered at Goldman. Shares of HEW now seen reaching $39. Estimates also cut, to reflect lower sales and high interest costs. Sell rating.

Petrohawk

(HK)

estimates, target raised at UBS. Shares of HK now seen reaching $30. Estimates also boosted, because of lower expected operating costs. Buy rating.

Humana

(HUM) - Get Report

estimates, target increased at UBS. HUM estimates were boosted through 2011. Solid Medicare growth is accelerating lower commercial margins. Neutral rating and new $50 price target.

Kellogg

(K) - Get Report

estimates boosted at Morgan Stanley. K estimates were increased through 2011. Company raised guidance, reflecting better sales growth and currency gains. Overweight rating and $60 price target.

KLA-Tencor

(KLAC) - Get Report

estimates, target cut at FBR. Shares of KLAC now seen reaching $38. Estimates also lowered, as the company is seeing lower memory sales. Market Perform rating.

Palm

( PALM) estimates, target boosted at Deutsche. Shares of PALM now seen reaching $20. Estimates also raised, as the company's webOS should help grow the installed base. Buy rating.

PennyMac Mortgage

(PMT) - Get Report

price target lower at Credit Suisse. PMT price target cut to $19 from $20.50 as capital deployment begins. 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates sunk to $2.20 and $2.80, respectively. Reiterate Outperform rating.

Qwest

(Q)

removed from Conviction Sell List at Goldman. Q was taken off the Conviction Sell list. Stock is 15% off its highs and the company is poised to generate steady free cash flow.

Smart Modular

( SMOD) target, estimates boosted at Barclays. SMOD price target raised by a dollar to $7 after updated guidance. 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates increased to 35 cents and 44 cents, respectively. Equal Weight rating.

Sysco

(SYY) - Get Report

estimates boosted at Morgan Stanley through 2012. Company is seeing better volumes, though offset by deflation. Equal-weight rating.

This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.com.