Steris (STE) (SUN) (SXL) (CFN) (CHH) (CHK) Downgraded

Steris Co. (NYSE: STE), Sunoco Incorporated (NYSE: SUN), SunoCo Logistics Partners LP (NYSE: SXL), CareFusion Co. (NYSE: CFN), Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH) and Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) were downgraded by analysts.

Steris Co. (STE) was downgraded by CL King from a “Neutral” rating to a “Sell” rating.

Sunoco Incorporated (SUN) was downgraded by Macquarie from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

SunoCo Logistics Partners LP (SXL) was downgraded by Tudor Pickering to a “Hold” rating.

CareFusion Co. (CFN) was downgraded by William Blair from an “Outperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

Choice Hotels (CHH) was downgraded by MKM Partners from a “Neutral” rating to a “Sell” rating. They have a price target of $32.00 on the company, down from $34.00.

Chesapeake Energy (CHK) was downgraded by ISI Group from a “Hold” rating to a “Sell” rating.

Integra (IART) (INHX) (SUN) (TRGP) (OZM) (PRX) Ratings, Price Targets

Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART), Inhibitex (NASDAQ: INHX), Sunoco Incorporated (NYSE: SUN), Targa Resources Investments Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGP), Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC (NYSE: OZM) and Par Pharmaceutical Companies Incorporated (NYSE: PRX) ratings and price targets.

Integra LifeSciences (IART) had its “buy” rating reiterated by Jefferies Group (NYSE:JEF).

Inhibitex (INHX) had its “buy” rating reiterated by MLV & Co. They have a price target of $26.00 on the firm.

Sunoco Incorporated (SUN) was downgraded by Macquarie from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Targa Resources Investments Inc. (TRGP) was downgraded by Tudor Pickering from a “buy” rating to an “accumulate” rating.

Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC (OZM) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) to a “buy” rating.

Par Pharmaceutical Companies Incorporated (PRX) was upgraded by Buckingham Research from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating.

Sunoco (SUN) (MKSI) (MPC) (PANL) (SFY) Get New Coverage

Sunoco Incorporated (NYSE: SUN), MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI), Marathon Petroleum (NYSE: MPC), Universal Display Co. (NASDAQ: PANL) and Swift Energy (NYSE: SFY) getting new coverage from analysts.

Global Hunter Securities initiated coverage on Sunoco Incorporated (SUN). They placed a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Dougherty & Co. initiated coverage on MKS Instruments, Inc. (MKSI). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $33.00 on the company.

Global Hunter Securities initiated coverage on Marathon Petroleum (MPC). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $55.00 on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) initiated coverage on Universal Display Co. (PANL). They placed an “Underweight” rating on the company.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on Swift Energy (SFY). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $54.00 on the company.

Triangle (TPLM) (CONN) (SUN) (CRI) (SLM) Upgraded

Triangle Petroleum (NASDAQ: TPLM), CONN’S, Inc. (NASDAQ: CONN), Sunoco Incorporated (NYSE: SUN), Carter’s, Inc. (NYSE: CRI) and SLM Co. (NYSE: SLM) were upgraded by analysts.

Triangle Petroleum (TPLM) was upgraded by Northland Securities from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $10.50 on the company.

CONN’S, Inc. (CONN) was upgraded by Caris & Company from an “Average” rating to an “Above Average” rating. They have a price target of $10.00 on the company, up from $7.00.

Sunoco Incorporated (SUN) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Sell” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Carter’s, Inc. (CRI) was upgraded by Sterne Agee from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $38.00 on the company, up from $33.00.

SLM Co. (SLM) was upgraded by Barclays Capital from an “Equal Weight” rating to an “Overweight” rating.

EXCO (XCO) (EGP) (AEO) (SUN) (HI) (HRC) (CTS) Declare Dividends

Dividends declared by EXCO Resources INC (NYSE:XCO), EastGroup Properties Inc. (NYSE:EGP), American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE:AEO), Sunoco Inc. (NYSE:SUN), Hillenbrand Inc. (NYSE:HI), Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HRC) and CTS Corp (NYSE:CTS).

The Board of Directors of EXCO Resources INC. (XCO) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.04 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/15/11.

The Board of Directors of EastGroup Properties Inc. (EGP) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.52 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/16/11.

The Board of Directors of American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.11 per share payable 10/7/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/26/11.

The Board of Directors of Sunoco Inc. (SUN) declared a fourth quarter common stock dividend of $0.15 per share payable 12/9/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 11/10/11.

The Board of Directors of Hillenbrand Inc. (HI) declared a fourth quarter common stock dividend of $0.19 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/16/11.

The Board of Directors of Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. (HRC) declared a fourth quarter common stock dividend of $0.1125 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/16/11.
The Board of Directors of CTS Corp (CTS) declared a third quarter common stock dividend of $0.03 per share payable 11/4/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/30/11.

Tyson (TSN) (GM) (TPCG) (IBM) (PNM) (SEE) (SUN) (SYK) Upgraded

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), General Motors (NYSE: GM), TPC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TPCG), IBM (NYSE: IBM), PNM Resources, Inc. (NYSE: PNM), Sealed Air Corp. (NYSE: SEE), Sunoco Incorporated (NYSE: SUN) and Stryker (NYSE: SYK) upgraded by analysts.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN) was upgraded by BMO Capital Markets from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

General Motors (GM) was upgraded by Ticonderoga from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $42.00 on the company.

TPC Group, Inc. (TPCG) was upgraded by Macquarie from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

IBM (IBM) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $195.00 on the company.

PNM Resources, Inc. (PNM) was upgraded by Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $16.00 on the company, up from $15.00.

Sealed Air Corp. (SEE) was upgraded by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind the call.

Sunoco Incorporated (SUN) was upgraded by Macquarie from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Stryker (SYK) was upgraded by Rodman & Renshaw from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $56.00 on the company.

AMD (AMD) (EVEP) (SUN) (MSFT) (ESRX) Upgraded by Analysts

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD), EV Energy (NASDAQ: EVEP), Sunoco Incorporated (NYSE: SUN), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Express Scripts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESRX) upgraded by analysts.

EV Energy (EVEP) was upgraded by Wunderlich from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $71.00 on the company.

Sunoco Incorporated (SUN) was upgraded by CRT Capital to a “Sell” rating.

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) was upgraded by Davenport from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Express Scripts, Inc. (ESRX) was upgraded by Maxim Group from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $69.00 on the company.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) was upgraded by Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) from an “Underperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

Price Targets on (SPR) (SUN) (TMH) (TRGP) Updated

Price Targets on Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR), Sunoco Incorporated (NYSE: SUN), Team Health Holdings (NYSE: TMH) and Targa Resources Investments Inc (NASDAQ: TRGP) were updated by analysts.

Barclays Capital raised their price target on Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (SPR) from $25.00 to $28.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Barclays Capital cut their price target on Sunoco Incorporated (SUN) from $58.00 to $55.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised their price target on Team Health Holdings (TMH) from $22.00 to $25.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Barclays Capital raised their price target on Targa Resources Investments Inc (TRGP) from $35.00 to $38.00. They have an “overweight” rating on the company.

Dividend Yields for (MRO) (EQT) (OXY) (MUR) (SUN)

Indicated dividend yields for Standard & Poor's 500 Index companies Marathon Oil Corp (MRO), EQT Corp (EQT), Occidental Petroleum Corp (OXY), Murphy Oil Corp (MUR) and Sunoco Inc (SUN) .

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.

Marathon Oil Corp (MRO) has a dividend yield of 1.85 percent on a declared dividend of $0.25. The payout ratio is 25.1 percent.

EQT Corp (EQT) has a dividend yield of 1.67 percent on a declared dividend of $0.22. The payout ratio is 26.9 percent.

Occidental Petroleum Corp (OXY) has a dividend yield of 1.61 percent on a declared dividend of $0.46. The payout ratio is 26.6 percent.

Murphy Oil Corp (MUR) has a dividend yield of 1.42 percent on a declared dividend of $0.28. The payout ratio is 30.4 percent.

Sunoco Inc (SUN) has a dividend yield of 1.41 percent on a declared dividend of $0.15. The payout ratio is 62.3 percent.

Chevron (CVX), (ALJ) to Crush Estimates Says Barclays (BCS)

Large oil companies appear ready to explode past estimates for the first quarter, according to Barclays (NYSE:BCS) analyst Paul Cheng, citing Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and Alon USA Energy (NYSE:ALJ) as the two oil companies with the most upside.

Among the few oil companies with downside, he believes Sunoco (NYSE:SUN) will miss the most.

Cheng wrote in a note to clients, “We think the current published consensus estimates have not fully reflected the strong Brent price environment as well as the higher light/heavy oil differentials.”

On average, Chen sees the 18 integrated oil companies he covers to post year-over-year EPS increases of 54%, and 35% quarter over quarter.

Alon USA Energy closed Thursday at $14.20, dropping $0.22, or 1.53 percent. Chevron closed at $108.94, gaining $0.28, or 0.26 percent.

Tesoro (TSO), Sunoco (SUN) Crushed Thursday on Refining Cost Concerns

Tesoro (NYSE:TSO) and Sunoco (NYSE:SUN) plunge Thursday on concerns over rising costs of refining.

Stocks extended their losses to a third straight session Thursday as investors continued to fret over turmoil in Libya and how the resulting surge in oil prices might impact the U.S. economic recovery.

However, U.S. stocks pared their declines in the afternoon as crude-oil futures fell amid uncertainty surrounding Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's hold on power. In addition, the International Energy Agency said it is prepared to release its emergency oil stockpiles to cover any shortfalls resulting from the turmoil in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 37.28 points, or 0.3%, to 12068.50. The measure's drop over the past three sessions now amounts to 322.75 points, marking its biggest three-day decline since August.

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index closed down 1.3, or 0.1%, to 1306.10, led by its energy sector, as shares of refiners weighed. Oil is a refinery's largest cost, so rising crude prices can weigh on profits if refiners aren't able to pass those costs on to customers through higher gasoline or heating-oil prices. Tesoro tumbled $1.30, or 5.4%, to $23.01, while Sunoco fell 1.72, or 4%, to 41.30.

"How they make money is on the spread between what they can buy and what they can sell," said King Lip, chief investment officer at Baker Avenue Asset Management. "The input cost in terms of crude has obviously spiked up, but the gas price of what they can sell at has not caught up. Unless gas prices are going to start really ticking upward, the refiners are going to see some pressure."






Full Story