Monday's Analysts' Upgrades and Downgrades

Who did what on Wall Street?

Author:: TSC Staff
Publish date:: Nov 5, 2007 11:32 AM EST

Change in Ratings

8:07 AM EST

Credit Suisse said it is downgrading

ACA Capital

(ACA) - Get Report

to Underperform from Neutral based on future losses in CDO related investments. Lowered target price to $2 from $7.

8:44 AM EST

Amedisys

(AMED) - Get Report

was downgraded from Outperform to Market Perform, Wachovia said. Stock has enjoyed a nice run, and 2008 guidance may prove too optimistic.

8:33 AM EST

Cheesecake Factory

(CAKE) - Get Report

was upgraded from Neutral to Buy, Suntrust, Robinson Humphrey said. $26 price target. Stock has pulled back down near the low point of its historical valuation.

7:52 AM EST

Deutsche Bank said it is downgrading Home Depot (HD) - Get Report to a Hold rating as a myriad of data indicates a housing recovery is further off than previously thought.

8:09 AM EST

K-Swiss

( KSWS) was downgraded to Neutral, Merrill Lynch said. Estimates also cut, as the company continues to ramp investments in its new products.

8:35 AM EST

Legg Mason

(LM) - Get Report

was downgraded to Underperform, Wachovia said. Estimates also cut, to reflect lower liquidity and interest income.

7:53 AM EST

Deutsche Bank said it is downgrading

Lowe's

(LOW) - Get Report

to a Hold raing as 2008 estimates look high in light of weak housing market.

7:52 AM EST

Nalco

( NLC) upgraded to Neutral rating from Sell at UBS. Price target and FY 2008 eps estmiates hold at $26 and $1.35, respectively.

8:14 AM EST

Credit Suisse said it is downgrading

Nelnet

(NNI) - Get Report

to Neutral from Outperform. Believes recent legislative changes should result in continued margin compression and slower near-term asset growth. Lowered target price to $20 from $26.

8:26 AM EST

Private Bancorp

(PVTB)

was upgraded to Overweight, JP Morgan said. New management team should help position the company for significant growth.

8:21 AM EST

Vectren

(VVC)

was upgraded from Hold to Buy, Citigroup said. $30.50 price target. Stock should be able to generate steady double-digit returns over the next few years.

7:50 AM EST

West Pharma

(WST) - Get Report

upgraded to Buy rating from Neutral at UBS. Price target and FY 2008 eps estmiates hold at $45 and $2.37, respectively.

Stock Comments/EPS Changes

7:33 AM EST

Goldman said it is cutting its 2007 estimates on

Citigroup

to $2.22 from $3.85 following the announcement of $8 to $11 billion in writedowns on its $55 billion exposure to U.S. sub-prime mortgages/CDOs. Believe market is likely to view management change as positive. Lowered target to $48 from $51 and maintained Neutral rating.

7:58 AM EST

FBR said it is cutting its target price on

FormFactor

(FORM) - Get Report

from $35 to $32 to account for increased risk in light of design loss. Maintained Underperform rating.

7:35 AM EST

Goldman said it is increasing its target on

NYSE Euronext

(NYX)

to $105 from $95 following solid Q3 results. Note volumes continue to benefit from international diversification, especially European derivatives and equities. Maintained Neutral rating.

7:56 AM EST

FBR said it is raising its 2007 estimates on

USEC

(USU)

by 11 cents to 88 cents a share following strong Q3 numbers.