AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) (CX) (VRSN) (ATI) (SWN) (PCX) (AZO) Upgraded

AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO), Cemex SAB de CV (NYSE: CX), Verisign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI), Southwestern Energy (NYSE: SWN), Patriot Coal Corp (NYSE: PCX) and AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) upgraded by analysts.

Cemex SAB de CV (CX) was upgraded by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) from an “Underperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Verisign, Inc. (VRSN) was upgraded by Credit Agricole from an “Outperform” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) was upgraded by Citigroup (NYSE:C) from a “Sell” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Southwestern Energy (SWN) was upgraded by Robert W. Baird from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $45.00 on the company, down from $47.00.

Patriot Coal Corp. (PCX) was upgraded by Citigroup (NYSE:C) from a “Sell” rating to a “Hold” rating.

AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) was upgraded by Oppenheimer from a “Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $332.00 on the company.

Ex-Dividend for (ATI) (AVA) (GRIF) (MHP) (PVX) is May 24

The ex-dividend date for Allegheny Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ATI), Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA), Griffin Land & Nurseries Inc. (NASDAQ:GRIF), McGraw-Hill Companies Incorporated (NYSE:MHP) and Provident Energy Ltd. (NYSE:PVX) is May 24.

Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) pays a dividend of $0.18 with a yield of 1.05 percent.

Avista Corporation (AVA) pays a dividend of $0.28 with a yield of 4.37 percent.

Griffin Land & Nurseries Inc. (GRIF) pays a dividend of $0.10 with a yield of 1.49 percent.

McGraw-Hill Companies Incorporated (MHP) pays a dividend of $0.25 with a yield of 2.38 percent.

Provident Energy Ltd. (PVX) pays a dividend of $0.05 with a yield of 6.29 percent.

Ratings on (AJG) (ATI) (AVGO) (BCS) (CVS) Upgraded

Ratings on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG), Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI), Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: AVGO), Barclays Capital (NYSE: BCS) and CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) were up graded by analysts.

Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) upgraded Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target $90.00 on the company.

Charter Equity upgraded Avago Technologies (AVGO) from a “market perform” rating to a “buy” rating.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) upgraded Barclays Capital (BCS) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) upgraded CVS Caremark (CVS) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $45.00 on the company. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind the call.

Ratings on (AJG) (ATI) (AVGO) (BCS) (CVS) Upgraded

Ratings on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG), Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI), Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: AVGO), Barclays Capital (NYSE: BCS) and CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) were up graded by analysts.

Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) upgraded Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target $90.00 on the company.

Charter Equity upgraded Avago Technologies (AVGO) from a “market perform” rating to a “buy” rating.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) upgraded Barclays Capital (BCS) from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) upgraded CVS Caremark (CVS) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $45.00 on the company. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind the call.

Dividend Yields for (NEM) (ECL) (AKS) (SIAL) (ATI)

Indicated dividend yields for Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies Newmont Mining Corp (NEM), Ecolab Inc (ECL), AK Steel Holding Corp (AKS), Sigma-Aldrich Corp (SIAL) and Allegheny Technologies Inc (ATI).

These dividend data indicate dividend yields of companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index as of Saturday, April 30. The yield is determined by taking the latest declared dividend, annualized and divided by the price of the stock. Payout ratios are calculated based on latest quarterly dividend paid divided by earnings.

Newmont Mining Corp (SHW) has a dividend yield of 1.36 percent on a declared dividend of $0.20. The payout ratio is 14.4 percent.

Ecolab Inc (ECL) has a dividend yield of 1.33 percent on a declared dividend of $0.17. The payout ratio is 43.4 percent.

AK Steel Holding Corp (AKS) has a dividend yield of 1.23 percent on a declared dividend of $0.05. The payout ratio is 63.0 percent.

Sigma-Aldrich Corp (SIAL) has a dividend yield of 1.02 percent on a declared dividend of $0.18. The payout ratio is 18.5 percent.

Allegheny Technologies Inc (ATI) has a dividend yield of 1.00 percent on a declared dividend of $0.18. The payout ratio is 31.2 percent.

Ratings on (AIZ) (ATI) (CCI) (EQR) (DNB) Reiterated

Ratings on Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI), Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI), Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) and Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB) reiterated by Analysts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated a “neutral” rating on Assurant, Inc. (AIZ). They have a price target of $44 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated a “neutral” rating on Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Equity Residential (EQR). They now have a price target of $56 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Crown Castle (CCI).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Dun & Bradstreet (DNB).

Allegheny Technologies (NYSE:ATI), AK Steel (NYSE:AKS), Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) Move Market Up

Gains in industrials and materials has helped move the market up today, with Allegheny Technologies (NYSE:ATI), AK Steel (NYSE:AKS)and Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) all in the positive.

Speciality metal manufacturer Allegheny Technologies (NYSE:ATI), in the materials sector, is up the most of the three, rising to $60.19, gaining $2.35, or 4.06 percent, as of 1:45 PM EST.

Also in materials, AK Steel Holding moved up to $15.04, up $0.19, or 1.28 percent.

Caterpillar pushed up to $95.88, increasing by $2.31, or 2.47 percent.

FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE), PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL), Allegheny Energy (NYSE:AYE) Pressured by Dark Spread Compression

Citing challenges from dark spread compression in 2011, FBR Capital sees FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE), PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL) and Allegheny Energy (NYSE:AYE) possibly being under pressure next year.

FBR said, "As we look to 2011, we believe the multiyear relative outperformance streak for regulated names could come to an end due to the impact of rising interest rates, and we continue to favor growth-oriented low “duration” names such as PG&E (NYSE:PCG)(Outperform/Top Pick) and SCANA (NYSE:SCG)(Outperform). For integrated names, the worst of the stock price adjustment could be behind us, as they are imputing roughly $4.45/MMBtu natural gas and offer attractive dividend yields compared to regulated utilities. Expectations for power market recovery will likely improve in 2011, driven by EPA regulations, more coal retirements, a promising capacity auction in PJM, and an improved natural gas outlook. Within our integrated coverage universe, we prefer Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR)(Outperform). While it is minimally exposed to power market tightening via coal retirements, it appears oversold, has a secure dividend in our opinion, and could catch a bid from any natural gas price appreciation."

Integrated Utilities Opinion

"Healing process has begun for integrated utilities. The worst of the natural gas and power price adjustments is now likely behind us. However, based on the outlook from our coal and gas teams, dark spread compression could still remain a theme in 2011, pressuring coal-heavy names such as FirstEnergy Corp. (Market Perform) and PPL Corporation (Market Perform). Also in the group is Allegheny Energy, Inc. (Not Rated) (pro forma). However, the rationalization in coal generation has begun, driven by forthcoming Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and dwindling Eastern coal supply. In addition, power prices seem to be ticking up at PJM Interconnection (PJM), perhaps indicating that the higher cost of coal burn is being reflected in power markets. We see no indication in the 2013 PJM forwards that widespread plant retirements are being anticipated."

FirstEnergy was trading at $36.37, up $0.09, or 0.25 percent, as of 12:21 PM EST. PPL Corporation was trading at $26.01, down $0.02, or 0.08 percent. Allegheny Energy was trading at $ 23.75, up $0.08, or 0.34 percent.

Allegheny Technologies (NYSE:ATI) Facing stainless steel Challenges

Even though aerospace looks fairly solid for Allegheny Technologies (NYSE:ATI), the weakness in stainless steel, which accounts for close to 50 percent of their revenue, will put pressure on the stock.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) said, "We remain confident on the medium- to long-term potential of the aerospace cycle, particularly once the Boeing 787 production ramps up. However, we expect stainless steel fundamentals (about 50% of ATI’s revenue) for ATI will remain challenged in the near term."

Goldman maintains a "Neutral" rating on Allegheny, which closed Thursday at $53.95, up $1.75, or 3.35 percent. They raised their price target on them from $49 to $61.