Stryker (SYK) (POR) (RAX) (RHHBY) (SLM) (SUSQ) (SWFT) Upgraded

Stryker (NYSE: SYK), Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR), Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE: RAX), Roche Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ: RHHBY), SLM Co. (NYSE: SLM), Susquehanna Bank (NASDAQ: SUSQ) and Swift Transportation (NASDAQ: SWFT) upgraded by analysts.

Stryker (SYK) was upgraded by Lazard Capital from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $60.00 on the company.

Portland General Electric Company (POR) was upgraded by Williams Capital from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $27.00 on the company.

Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (RAX) was upgraded by Raymond James (NYSE:RJF) from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Roche Holding Ltd. (RHHBY) was upgraded by RBS from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

SLM Co. (SLM) was upgraded by Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Susquehanna Bank (SUSQ) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Sell” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Swift Transportation (SWFT) was upgraded by Capstone from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Dividend Yields for (FII) (NYX) (BLK) (SLM) (NTRS)

Indicated dividend yields for Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies Federated Investors Inc (FII), NYSE Euronext (NYX), BlackRock Inc (BLK), SLM Corp (SLM) and Northern Trust Corp (NTRS).

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.

Federated Investors Inc (FII) has a dividend yield of 1.36 percent on a declared dividend of $3.73. The payout ratio is 72.6 percent.

NYSE Euronext (NYX) has a dividend yield of 3.00 percent on a declared dividend of $0.30. The payout ratio is 50.5 percent.

BlackRock Inc (BLK) has a dividend yield of 2.81 percent on a declared dividend of $1.38. The payout ratio is 46.4 percent.

SLM Corp (SLM) has a dividend yield of 2.41 percent on a declared dividend of $0.10. The payout ratio isna.

Northern Trust Corp (NTRS) has a dividend yield of 2.24 percent on a declared dividend of $0.28. The payout ratio is 44.9 percent.

SLM Corp.'s (NYSE:SLM) Earnings Potential Starting to Emerge

While they keep their rating and price target level, FBR sees SLM Corp.'s (NYSE:SLM) earnings power starting to increase their momentum.

FBR says, "We reiterate our rating and price target following yesterday's 4Q10 earnings report after the close. Although 4Q10 was another noisy quarter, we believe the true earnings power of the company is beginning to emerge and will provide the necessary upside momentum for investors going forward. Furthermore, recent capital management efforts should provide sufficient breathing room for the company to service its upcoming debt obligations, begin an accretive stock buyback program, and acquire additional FFELP portfolios."

FBR Capital maintains an "Outperform/Top Pick" on SLM Corp. (SLM), which closed Thursday at $14.13, up $0.31, or 2.24 percent. FBR has a price target of $19 on SLM.

SLM Corp.'s (NYSE:SLM) Accretion Potential Should Surpass Expectations Says FBR

SLM Corp. (NYSE:SLM) appears to be in position to exceed expectations in accretion, according to FBR, making the assertion after giving the student loan transactions from The Student Loan Corporation (NYSE:STU) a closer look.

FBR said, "After examining the company's student loan transaction from The Student Loan Corporation (NYSE:STU) in more detail, we believe accretion potential can surpass many investors' expectations, after factoring in additional floor income. In addition, as investors become more and more comfortable with the sustainability of Sallie Mae's earnings trajectory through restructuring savings, credit improvement, M&A deal accretion, and general improvement in the overall financing market for private student loans, we believe the stock still has considerable upside potential."

FBR Capital maintains an "Outperform/Top Pick" on SLM Corp., which closed Friday at $13.53, gaining $0.29, or 2.19 percent. FBR has a price target of $19 on SLM.

Short Term Doubts Weigh on SLM (NYSE:SLM)

SLM Corp. (NYSE:SLM) has to prove to shareholders and investors that they can reach beyond the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), which it was dropped, and generate earnings growth through other means, while maintaining their dividend.

Barclays (NYSE:BCS) noted, "As SLM transitions its business model to private lending and government loan servicing after the elimination of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), investors are wondering if management can generate earnings growth and return cash to shareholders in the near future. Despite large debt maturity hurdles through 2014, we estimate that SLM has sufficient liquidity and cash flow to meet its obligations and pay a regular dividend or commence a share buyback program in 2011. We also believe that the company should be able to grow earnings over the next few years (mostly from lower opex and provisions), and we view $1.50 as a potential floor for core EPS even if earnings shrink in later years (post-2015) due to FFELP loan run-off or increased competition in the private student loan market."

"We are also raising our full-year 2010 core EPS estimate to $1.81 to reflect higher than expected debt repurchase gains and FFELP loan spread in 4Q10, and are increasing our 2011 EPS estimate to $1.57, primarily due to expectations for lower credit costs and opex."

Barclays reiterates an "Equalweight" on SLM Corp., which closed Thursday at $12.03, down $0.02, or 0.17 percent. They have a price target of $15 on them.