Sign in Subscribe
Electric utilities

Stocks Get Boost from Upgrades and Initiations

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

On December 7, 2011, several companies received positive upgrades and initiations from prominent financial institutions. Generac was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs, while Green Plains was initiated at Outperform at Wedbush. Other notable upgrades and initiations included LinkedIn, AON, Cincinnati Financial, Comerica, Comstock Resources, Conceptus, Dollar General, Duke Energy, Given Imaging, Google, Group 1 Automotive, JDS Uniphase, Lithia Motors, Markel, Penske Auto Group, Target, and Varian Medical Systems.

These upgrades and initiations reflect the analysts' positive views on the companies' future performance and growth prospects. The upgrades and initiations from Goldman Sachs, Wedbush, Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital, Wunderlich, Oppenheimer, Cantor, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Cantor, Canaccord Genuity, Keybanc, Jefferies, Keybanc, RBC Capital, Keybanc, UBS, Cantor, and UBS provide a clear indication of the analysts' optimism towards these companies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Generac was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs, indicating a positive outlook from the company's future performance.
  • Green Plains was initiated at Outperform at Wedbush, showing the analyst's confidence in the company's growth prospects.
  • LinkedIn was initiated at Buy at Canaccord Genuity, suggesting a positive view on the company's future performance.
  • AON was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital, indicating the analyst's optimism towards the company's growth prospects.
  • Cincinnati Financial was upgraded to Sector Perform at RBC Capital, showing a positive view on the company's future performance.
  • Comerica was initiated at Buy at Wunderlich, indicating a positive outlook on the company's future performance.
  • Comstock Resources was upgraded to Outperform from Perform at Oppenheimer, suggesting a positive view on the company's growth prospects.
  • Conceptus was initiated at Buy at Cantor, indicating a positive outlook on the company's future performance.
  • Dollar General was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank, showing a positive view on the company's growth prospects.
  • Duke Energy was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs, indicating a positive outlook on the company's future performance.
  • Given Imaging was initiated at Buy at Cantor, suggesting a positive view on the company's growth prospects.
  • Google was initiated at Buy at Canaccord Genuity, indicating a positive outlook on the company's future performance.
  • Group 1 Automotive was initiated at Buy at Keybanc, showing a positive view on the company's growth prospects.
  • JDS Uniphase was initiated at Buy at Jefferies, indicating a positive outlook on the company's future performance.
  • Lithia Motors was initiated at Buy at Keybanc, suggesting a positive view on the company's growth prospects.
  • Markel was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital, indicating a positive outlook on the company's future performance.
  • Penske Auto Group was initiated at Buy at Keybanc, showing a positive view on the company's growth prospects.
  • Target was initiated at Buy at UBS, indicating a positive outlook on the company's future performance.
  • Varian Medical Systems was initiated at Buy at Cantor, suggesting a positive view on the company's growth prospects.

Statistics:

  • Over 5,000 securities were analyzed simultaneously by SmarTrend, providing real-time trend change alerts.
  • The upgrades and initiations were announced in a list by SmarTrend, highlighting the companies' growth prospects.

Sources:

  • SmarTrend(R) Upgrades/Downgrades via COMTEX
  • Theflyonthewall.com
  • MySmarTrend.com
  • Comtex News Network, Inc. 2011

Read more