Lazard: Analysts' Upgrades, Downgrades
NEW YORK (
) --
CHANGE IN RATINGS
DiamondRock Hospitality
(DRH) - Get DiamondRock Hospitality Company Report
upgraded at Citi to Buy from Hold on relative valuation and potential sentiment shift. $11.50 price target.
FirstEnergy
(FE) - Get FirstEnergy Corp. Report
downgraded at Citi to Hold from Buy as near term opportunity closed. Maintain $39 price target.
International Paper
(IP) - Get International Paper Company Report
upgraded at BofA Merrill to Buy from Neutral. Price target raised to $32 from $30. 2010 EPS estimates raised to $1.90 from $1.75.
Kforce
(KFRC) - Get Kforce Inc. Report
upgraded at Credit Suisse to Outperform from Neutral and price target increased to $18 from $13. Temp staffing growth continuing rapid recovery.
TheStreet Recommends
Lazard
(LAZ) - Get Lazard Ltd Class A Report
downgraded at Goldman to Neutral from Buy on M&A headwinds, volatility, and sovereign uncertainty. Price target cut to $15 from $20.
Niska Gas Storage
(NKA)
initiated at Credit Suisse with an Outperform rating and $21 price target. Pure-play natural gas storage MLP driven by increasing natural gas consumption.
OpenTable
(OPEN)
downgraded at Citi to Hold from Buy. Pure valuation call. Maintain $45 price target.
Public Service Enterprise Group
(PEG) - Get Public Service Enterprise Group Inc Report
upgraded at Goldman to Conviction Buy List on strong EPS growth and improving cash flows. Price target set at $41.
Polycom
(PLCM)
upgraded at BofA Merrill. Rating raised to Buy from Neutral. Price target raised to $38 from $35. 2010 EPS estimates raised to $1.38 from $1.23.
Robert Half
(RHI) - Get Robert Half International Inc. Report
upgraded at Credit Suisse to Outperform from Neutral and price target raised to $31 from $30. Demand for temps still improving.
Rock Tenn
(RKT) - Get Rocket Companies Inc Class A Report
downgraded at BofA Merrill. Rating lowered to Neutral from Buy. Price target raised to $60 from $55. 2010 EPS estimates raised to $4.15 from $4.10.
STOCK COMMENTS / EPS CHANGES
Discover Financial
(DFS) - Get Discover Financial Services Report
estimate lower at Barclays. DFS 2010 EPS estimate cut to 40 cents as provisions should decline in 2010. Reiterate Overweight rating and $18 price target.
El Paso Pipeline Partners
(EPB)
price target higher at Citi; raised to $31.50 as above trend growth continues. Maintain Buy rating.
ReneSola
(SOL) - Get ReneSola Ltd. Report
estimates boosted at Barclays. SOL 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates jumped to $1.15 and $1.05, respectively. Potential to generate huge cash flows in 2010. Maintain Equal Weight rating and $9 price target.
WESCO International
(WCC) - Get WESCO International, Inc. Report
estimates trimmed at Barclays. WCC 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates lowered to $2.35 and $3.25, respectively. Barclays cited loss of joint venture income. Maintain Overweight rating and $50 price target.
This article was written by a staff member of TheStreet.com.
