Friday's Analysts' Upgrades and Downgrades

Who made what calls.

Author:: TSC Staff
Publish date:: Jun 15, 2007 10:54 AM EDT

CHANGE IN RATINGS

Continental Airlines

downgraded at Goldman to Neutral from Buy based on limited upside, given premium valuation of shares, weak domestic environment, and high oil prices. 2007 estimates cut to $4.30 from $5.35 due to lower growth and pricier fuel. Price target lowered to $34 from $39.

Freddie Mac

( FRE) upgraded at Friedman, Billings Ramsey from Market Perform to Outperform. $77 price target. Option-adjusted spreads are widening and higher conforming volumes should also lead to higher earnings growth.

Hansen Natural

( HANS) upgraded at Goldman Sachs to Buy from Neutral based on accelerating growth in sales and earnings in the second half of 2007. See new products, expanded geographic reach and strengthened distribution platform benefiting the top line. Also potential for share buyback announcement in next week's Q1 filing. Price target raised to $52 from $46.

Intel

(INTC) - Get Report

upgraded at Goldman Sachs to Buy from Neutral, based on increased confidence that rival

AMD

(AMD) - Get Report

will move to an outsourced manufacturing model in 2008. See new business model allowing company to maintain sustainable product advantage over AMD, as well as less severe effects from capacity driven cyclical downturns. Price target raised to $28 from $22.

Lubrizol

( LZ) downgraded at Keybanc to Hold. Not recommending that new positions in the company can be established at the current level. Decrease second quarter '07 estimates due to slight lowering of volume estimate and somewhat higher stock option expenses.

Nationwide Financial

( NFS) upgraded at Citigroup to Buy. Growing confidence in management's ability to get operating at a level appropriate with the considerable potential afforded by its strong group retirement and good individual annuity operations. $70 price target.

Pantry

(PTRY)

upgraded at Jefferies to Buy rating from Hold. Price target jumps to $55 from $48 and 2008 EPS estimates rise to $3.30 from $3.27.

StanCorp

(SFG)

upgraded at Citigroup to Buy. With higher bond yields and share repurchases, along with premium growth bottoming, the outlook for SFG is positive.

Molson Coors

(TAP) - Get Report

downgraded at Goldman Sachs to Neutral from Buy. See shares as less attractive due to 31% increase since March. See less upside to consensus earnings estimates, and additional competitive pressure from BUD and Labatt this summer. Maintained $105 price target.

Watsco

(WSO) - Get Report

downgraded at BB&T to Hold. Stock has reached the $62 price target, and the company usually posts lower earnings in the second half of the year.

STOCK COMMENTS / EPS CHANGES

Build-A-Bear Workshop

(BBW) - Get Report

2007 EPS estimates cut at Credit Suisse to $1.57 from $1.75 after company warned that Q2 results would fall short of estimates. Lowered target price to $34 from $37 and maintained Outperform rating.

Foundry Networks

( FDRY) numbers raised at Jefferies. Price target lifts to $20 from $18 and 2008 EPS estimates bump up to $0.75 from $0.74. Reiterates Buy rating.

General Dynamics

(GD) - Get Report

target price raised at Credit Suisse to $85 from $83. Sees strength in combat outlook and opportunity in Europe following investors conference. Maintained Neutral rating.

MGM Mirage

(MGM) - Get Report

numbers raised at Jefferies. Price target lifts to $94 from $85.50, but 2008 EPS estimates lowered to $2.84 from $2.87. Reiterates Buy rating.