Chesapeake (CHK) (RA) (PLXT) (REXX) (APEI) (COG) Get New Coverage

Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK), RailAmerica, Inc. (NYSE: RA), PLX Technology Inc (NASDAQ: PLXT), Rex Energy (NASDAQ: REXX), American Public Education (NASDAQ: APEI) and Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG) get new analyst coverage.

Morgan Keegan initiated coverage on RailAmerica, Inc. (RA). They placed an “Outperform” rating and a price target of $20.00 on the company.

Wunderlich initiated coverage on PLX Technology Inc. (PLXT). They placed a “Hold” rating and a price target of $3.50 on the company.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on Rex Energy (REXX). They placed a “Hold” rating on the company.

Wunderlich initiated coverage on American Public Education (APEI). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $54.00 on the company.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on Chesapeake Energy (CHK). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $40.00 on the company.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on Cabot Oil & Gas (COG). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $98.00 on the company.

Franklin (BEN) (OIS) (REXX) (SFSF) (RDC) (AMED) Price Targets Changed

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE: OIS), Rex Energy (NASDAQ: REXX), SuccessFactors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFSF), Rowan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: RDC) and Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) price targets adjusted by analysts.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN) had its price target raised by Barclays Capital to $166.00. They have an “Overweight” rating on the company.

Oil States International, Inc. (OIS) had its price target raised by Global Hunter Securities from $97.00 to $109.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Rex Energy (REXX) had its price target raised by Rodman & Renshaw from $16.00 to $20.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

SuccessFactors, Inc. (SFSF) had its price target slashed by BMO Capital Markets from $43.00 to $35.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Rowan Companies, Inc. (RDC) had its price target raised by Barclays Capital to $49.00. They have an “Overweight” rating on the company.

Amedisys, Inc. (AMED) had its price target lowered by FBR Capital from $35.00 to $22.00. They have a “Market Perform” rating on the company.

Anadarko (NYSE:APC), Rex Energy (Nasdaq: REXX), Carrizo (Nasdaq:CRZO), Petroleum Development (Nasdaq:PETD) and QEP (NYSE:QEP) Niobrara Results Anticipated

Anticipation is growing over the Niobrara well results from energy companies like Anadarko (NYSE:APC), Rex Energy (Nasdaq:REXX), Carrizo (Nasdaq:CRZO), Petroleum Development (Nasdaq:PETD) and QEP (NYSE:QEP), who are expected to release findings over the next several months.

Barclays (NYSE:BCS) noted, "The Niobrara could be the next big oil-shale play. The Eagleford and arguably the Bakken and Barnett are the others. Activity in the area has picked up and we expect a slew of new well results (many in untested areas) over the coming months. Chesapeake's (NYSE:CHK) much anticipated JV deal could add to the buzz.

"News flow is expected to increase soon. Anadarko Petroleum, Rex Energy, Carrizo, Petroleum Development and QEP Resources are all due to report results from horizontal wells targeting the Niobrara between now and late January/mid-February. SM has recently completed its second well in Laramie county and NBL is also drilling its first wells in Wyoming. EOG has been monitoring well performance looking for more proof of matrix support and will provide an update in early 2011. Bill Barrett (NYSE:BBG) is testing the prospectivity of its acreage in the Wind River Basin. Continental Resources (NYSE:CLR) and Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) should spud their first wells soon."

Anadarko closed Thursday at $69.07, up $0.43, or 0.63 percent. Rex Energy closed at $12.35, up $0.25, or 2.07 percent. Carrizon ended the session at $30.31, up $1.21, or 4.16 percent. Petroleum Development was at $38.82, up $0.04, or 0.10 percent. QEP Resources ended the day at $37.29, up $0.08, or 0.22 percent.