Friday's Analysts' Upgrades and Downgrades

CHANGE IN RATINGS

Fairchild Semiconductor

(FCS)

downgraded at Piper to a Market Perform rating as industry checks indicate weakening semiconductor recovery. Channel inventory replenishment likely delayed.

Fidelity National Financial

(FNF) - Get Report

downgraded at Piper to a Market Perform rating due to lower title orders. Reduction partially tied to housing market and spike in interest rates. Lower mortgage volumes expected.

The Gap

(GPS) - Get Report

coverage initiated at FBR with an Outperform rating and a $24 target price. Rating based on refocus on merchant-led organization, focus on expense control, leveraging market budget, and capitalizing on company's strong brand equity and awareness.

Linear Technology

(LLTC)

downgraded at Piper to a Market Perform rating due to near-term growth uncertainty. Target price cut to $39.

MGM Mirage

(MGM) - Get Report

upgraded at CIBC to Sector Outperform from Sector Performer. Says business fundamentals remain healthy. Raised target price to $98 from $70.

Nuance Communications

(NUAN) - Get Report

downgraded at FBR to a Market Perform rating following announcement of acquisition of Tegic Communications. Deal appears risky.

STOCK COMMENTS / EPS CHANGES

Actuant

(ATU)

numbers raised at Jefferies. Price target jumps to $66 from $53 and FY 2008 eps estimates rise to $3.90 from $3.78. Reiterates Hold rating.

ConocoPhillips

(COP) - Get Report

target price raised at Credit Suisse to $76 from $71 based on sum of parts analysis. Maintained Neutral rating.

Crocs

(CROX) - Get Report

target raised at Piper to $55 to reflect rolling forward of estimates as visibility continues to improve on growth initiatives. Maintained Outperform rating.

Dow Chemical

(DOW) - Get Report

target raised at Goldman by $2 to $52 to reflect a more robust outlook for petrochemical joint ventures. Maintained Neutral rating.

eBay

(EBAY) - Get Report

2007 estimates raised at Goldman by a penny to $1.35 a share to reflect accelerating U.S. listings growth.

Consolidated Edison

(ED) - Get Report

numbers lowered at Jefferies. Price target drops to $48 from $54.50 and FY 2008 eps estimates lowered to $3.25 from $3.30. Reiterates Hold rating.

H&R Block

(HRB) - Get Report

2008 estimates cut at Morgan Stanley to $1.33 a share to reflect lower-than-expected guidance. Maintained Equal-weight rating.

Mastercard

(MA) - Get Report

price target raised at UBS. New price object lifts to $190 from $160 and FY 2008 eps estimates hold at $5.95. Reiterates Buy rating.

MGM

(MGM) - Get Report

target raised at Deutsche to $104 to reflect increasing valuations for land on the strip, higher multiples on gaming companies, and the new Kerzner JV. Maintained Buy rating.

Starbucks

(SBUX) - Get Report

2007 estimates cut at Goldman by 2 cents to 87 cents a share following management update.

Taser

(TASR)

target price raised at Jefferies to $20 from $13. Says company booked enough orders to meet high-end of estimates and future potential is positive. Maintained Buy rating.

Tektronix

(TEK)

target price raised at Credit Suisse to $31 from $28 after solid Q4 results. Maintained Neutral rating.