NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- CHANGE IN RATINGS
Atlas Energy ( ATLS) initiated with a Neutral rating and $40 price target at JP Morgan. 2010 EPS estimate of $2.92. BJ's Wholesale ( BJ) upgraded at Goldman from Sell to Neutral. $43 price target. Activist investor adds the potential of an LBO to the company's thesis. BJ's Wholesale ( BJ) was upgraded to Buy at Jefferies. New equity investor is seeking to unlock value at the company, which could potentially lead to an LBO. $55 price target. BancorpSouth ( BXS) initiated with a Buy rating and $22 price target at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. The southeast regional bank with 285 branches is trading near cyclical lows. Fortune Brands ( FO) was upgraded from Sell to Hold at Citigroup. $41 price target. Valuation call, as the stock is down 20% over the past month. Garmin ( GRMN) was downgraded to Underperform from Buy at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch on weak consumer spending trends and smartphone cannibalization. Price target lowered to $26 from $43. Linn Energy ( LINE) was initiated with a Buy rating and $31 price target at UBS. Company has a scale advantage over its peers. Nisource ( NI) was upgraded from Hold to Buy at Keybanc. $16 price target. Recent underperformance creates a buying opportunity. Nimin Energy ( NNN) initiated with an Overweight rating and $2.50 price target at Thomas Weisel. High growth, heavy oil play, Thomas Weisel said. Nu Star Energy ( NS) initiated with a Neutral rating and $56 price target at JP Morgan. 2010 EPS estimates of $3.97. Southwestern Energy ( SWN) downgraded at Barclays to Equal Weight from Overweight as weak gas prices may lead to disappointing growth. Price target dropped to $44 from $48.STOCK COMMENTS / EPS CHANGES
Ametek ( AME) estimates were increased through 2011 at Keybanc. Haydon purchase should add to earnings. Buy rating and $50 price target. Arena Resources ( ARNA) shares now seen reaching $38, according to UBS. Macro environment has deteriorated since April. Buy rating. CSX ( CSX) price target lowered to $71 from $74 on valuation at Credit Suisse. Maintain Outperform rating. First Solar ( FSLR) estimates were raised through 2011, UBS said. Checks show better pricing, given utility momentum. Neutral rating and $128 price target. Hartford Financial ( HG) estimates were reduced through 2011, UBS said. Company will be hurt by lower equity returns. Buy rating and $42 price target. Juniper Networks ( JNPR) price target reduced to $25 at UBS. Estimates also cut, as routing demand should begin to slow down. Neutral rating. Lincare ( LNCR) estimates were cut through 2012 at Citigroup. Company seeing lower bidding rates for MSAs. Buy rating and $37.33 price target. Monsanto ( MON) 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates raised to $2.57 and $3.08, respectively, on in-line third-quarter results, Barclays said. Equal Weight rating and $55 price target.