CryoLife (CRY) (EVEP) (HIW) (ILMN) (VRTX) (WLL) Upgraded

CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), EV Energy (NASDAQ: EVEP), Highwoods (NYSE: HIW), Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN), Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX) and Whiting Petroleum Co. (NYSE: WLL) upgraded by analysts.

CryoLife, Inc. (CRY) was upgraded by The Benchmark Company from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $6.50 on the company.

EV Energy (EVEP) was upgraded by analysts at Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Highwoods (HIW) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $38.00 on the company.

Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) was upgraded by Mizuho from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) was upgraded by Citigroup (NYSE:C) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $60.00 on the company.

Whiting Petroleum Co. (WLL) was upgraded by Ticonderoga from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $65.00 on the company.

Ex-Dividend for (FLC) (FWRD) (HIW) (LFUS) (WFS) is May 19

The ex-dividend date for Flaherty & Crumrine-Claymore Total Return (NYSE:FLC), Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD), Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW), Littelfuse Inc. (NASDAQ:LFUS) and LTC Properties Inc. (NYSE:WFS) is May 19.

Flaherty & Crumrine-Claymore Total Return (FLC) pays a dividend of $0.14 with a yield of 8.45 percent.

Forward Air Corporation (FWRD) pays a dividend of $0.07 with a yield of 0.86.

Highwoods Properties (HIW) pays a dividend of $0.43 with a yield of 4.68 percent.

Littelfuse Inc. (LFUS) pays a dividend of $0.15 with a yield of 0.97 percent.

LTC Properties Inc. (WFS) pays a dividend of $0.14 with a yield of 5.76 percent.

Ex-Dividend for (FWRD) (HIW) (LFUS) (LTC) is May 19

The ex-dividend date for Forward Air Corporation (NASDAQ:FWRD), Highwoods Properties (HIW), Littelfuse Inc. (NASDAQ:LFUS) and LTC Properties Inc. (NYSE:LTC) is May 19.

Forward Air Corporation (FWRD) pays a dividend of $0.07 with a yield of 0.86 percent.

Highwoods Properties (HIW) pays a dividend of $0.43 with a yield of 4.77 percent.

Littelfuse Inc. (LFUS) pays a dividend of $0.15 with a yield of 0.99 percent.

LTC Properties Inc. (LTC) pays a dividend of $0.14 with a yield of 5.81 percent.

Bank of America (BAC) Represents CQO in Property Sale

According to people familiar with the situation, Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) is sending out materials to companies of interest concerning the U.S. portfolio held by Charter Hall Office REIT (CQO), which could end up selling for over the $1.7 billion book value of the assets.

Companies reportedly interested in the properties are Blackstone Group LP (NYSE:BX), Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:BAM) and Highwoods Properties Inc. (NYSE:HIW), among others.

According to Orange Capital managing partner Daniel Lewis, “The stated book value here of about $1.7 billion is way off and these assets could trade at a significant premium to book value. We are adamantly opposed to the proposed joint venture and have made our view clear to the board.”

Charter Hall spokeswoman Rachel West said, “We’re exploring interest from a broad range of interested parties and any decision we make as always will be in the best interest of unit holders.”