Food Stocks: Dow member McDonald's (MCD)

InitiationsFood Stocks: Dow member McDonald's (MCD) is begun with a Buy at Lazard Capital Markets, as is Starbucks (SBUX), while Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) is a new Neutral.
Energizer (ENR): ENR is a new Buy at Standpoint Research, which has a $90 price target.
AEterna Zentaris (AEZS): The stock is initiated with an Outperform at Oppenheimer, which says they are the innovator behind perifosine, a drug which is currently in Phase III studies in late-stage colorectal cancer and multiple myeloma by US partner Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (KERX). For related content, see June Catalysts for Biotech and Drug Stocks.
Healthcare Stocks: Stryker (SYK) and Zimmer (ZMH) are new Neutrals at Gleacher.
Vail Resorts (MTN): MTN is a new Market Perform at Rodman & Renshaw.
Semiconductor Stocks: SanDisk (SNDK) gets started with a Buy at Goldman Sachs, which has a Neutral on STEC Inc (STEC) and a Sell on Micron (MU). RF Micro Device (RFMD) is initiated with a Buy at Cantor Fitzgerald, as is TriQuint Semiconductor (TQNT).
UpgradesSymantec (SYMC): The stock is upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Cowen.
Xilinx (XLNX): The stock gets lifted to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.
Juniper Networks (JNPR): JNPR is now Overweight from Equal Weight at Evercore Partners.
Colonial Properties Trust (CLP): CLP is put on the Top Picks list at FBR Capital.
Corn Products (CPO): CPO is sharply higher before the bell after being boosted to to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank.
BE Aerospace (BEAV): BEAV is added to the Conviction Buy List at Goldman.
VCA Antech (WOOF): WOOF is upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at First Analysis.
DowngradesCitrix Systems (CTXS): The stock is downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
Essex Property Trust (ESS): ESS is removed from the Top Picks list at FBR Capital.
Sprint Nextel (S): S is downgraded to Sell from Hold at Stifel Nicolaus.

TradersHuddle.com Stock Recommendations April-18-2011

New York, TradersHuddle.com – Following are some of the top upgrades and downgrades before the market open.
Upgrades
A123 Systems (NASDAQ:AONE) was upgraded to a Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
CA, Inc. (NASDAQ:CA) was upgraded to a Neutral from Sell at Goldman Sachs.
Cbeyond, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBEY) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Cowen.
Cyberonics (NASDAQ:CYBX) was upgraded to a Neutral from Reduce at SunTrust.
Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:H) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at FBR Capital. The firm set its target price at $49, noting shares have sold off nearly 20% over the past two months. FBR believes the company now represents an attractive buying opportunity.
KB Home (NYSE:KBH), the homebuilder, was upgraded to a Neutral from Underperform at Credit Suisse.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC), the railroad operating primarily in the Southeast, East, and Midwest of the United States, was upgraded to a Buy from Hold at BB&T. The firm set its target price at $80.
PG&E Corp. (NYSE:PCG) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
Southern Copper (NASDAQ:SCCO) was upgraded to a Buy from Hold at Societe Generale.
Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:THC) was upgraded to a Buy from Gradually Accumulate at Soleil.

Downgrades
BMC Software (NYSE:BMC), the system and service management software solutions provider was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
Celanese (NYSE:CE), the global industrial chemicals company specializing in acetyl products, was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at UBS.
Chimera Investment (NYSE:CIM) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette.
Commvault Systems (NASDAQ:CVLT) was downgraded to a Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:ESLR) was downgraded to a Sell from Hold at Citigroup.
Gap (NYSE:GPS), the owner and operator of specialty retailers like Banana Republic and Old Navy, was downgraded to a Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Genco Shipping & Trading (NYSE:GNK) was downgraded to a Sell from Hold at Citigroup.
Iron Mountain (NYSE:IRM), the records management services provider, was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Citigroup.
ManTech (NASDAQ:MANT) was downgraded to Underperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
Marvell (NASDAQ:MRVL), the maker of integrated circuits for communications-related markets, was downgraded to a Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna.
QuinStreet (NASDAQ:QNST) was downgraded to a Buy from Strong Buy at Needham. The firm lowered its target price to $24 from $26.
Total S.A. (NYSE:TOT), the France based energy giant, was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.

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http://www.shareslink.com/rec.htm

Credit Suisse Positive on VLO September-17-09 $20.61

Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) shares surged 7.7%, making it the biggest advancer on the S&P 500, after Credit Suisse said U.S. oil demand could stage a rally before year-end, "led principally by distillate consumption." Analyst Mark Flannery said he expects "a big bounce in U.S. oil demand should spark an immediate revival of interest in U.S. refining stocks." Shares in refiner Tesoro Corp. (TSO) gained 4.2%, while Sunoco Inc. (SUN) gained 2.8%.
$20.61 +1.38 (7.18%) 52Wk Range: 13.64 - 35.10

Malcolm Polley, CIO of Stewart Capital Advisors FNM FRE Worthless

Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) shares were up big on unusually heavy volumes Friday, even though few sane people believe the stocks have much value.
"I think they're worth zero," said Malcolm Polley, CIO of Stewart Capital Advisors, a $900 million money manager near Pittsburgh. "It's the same with AIG (AIG Quote). It's ridiculous that people are allowed to trade in these securities. They're being treated as lottery tickets."
http://www.thestreet.com/_aol/story/10594877/1/fannie-freddie-shares-rise-on-big-volume.html?cm_ven=AOL&cm_cat=Free&cm_pla=Feed&cm_ite=Feed

THOMAS WEISEL UPGRADES EXIDE TECH. (XIDE) TO OVERWEIGHT FROM MARKET WEIGHT $7.65

THOMAS WEISEL UPGRADES EXIDE TECH. (XIDE) TO OVERWEIGHT FROM MARKET WEIGHT
S&P Marketscope
SNPMarketScopeViewsNews
2009-08-21 14:26:41.00
(XIDE EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES
Matthew Morrow THOMAS WEISEL UPGRADES EXIDE TECH. (XIDE) TO OVERWEIGHT FROM MARKET WEIGHT
Analyst Dilip Warrier tells salesforce he recently spent time with XIDE mgmt on the road, came away impressed with its willingness to go thru with tough but necessary restructuring efforts. Expects payback to be in form of significantly improved gross margins, adj. EBITDA in back half of FY 10 (Mar.). Also impressed with strong positioning exiting FY 10 should economic recovery trigger a pickup in demand in FY 11 now that demand appears to have bottomed out.
Narrows $1.18 FY 10 loss est. to $0.91 loss, sees $0.58 FY 11 EPS.
Has $11 target
$7.65 +1.34 (21.24%) 52Wk Range: 3.03 - 7.75

Brokers Recommendations August-11-09

Bond insurer MBIA Inc. tumbled 78 cents, or 12.6 percent, to $5.39 after J.P. Morgan Securities cut its rating on the stock over concerns the company could face steep losses from bad debt.