Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD) (NICK) (ARG) (SFNC) (UBSI) (ESP) (EAT) Declare Dividends

Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD), Nicholas Financial Inc. (NASDAQ:NICK), Airgas Inc. (NYSE:ARG), Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ:SFNC), United Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI), Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corp (AMEX:ESP) and Brinker International Inc. (NYSE:EAT)declare dividends.

The Board of Directors of Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.11 per share payable 10/14/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/30/11.

The Board of Directors of Nicholas Financial Inc. (NICK) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.10 per share payable 9/20/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/13/11.

The Board of Directors of Airgas Inc. (ARG) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.32 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/15/11.

The Board of Directors of Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.19 per share payable 10/3/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/15/11.

The Board of Directors of United Bankshares Inc. (UBSI) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.30 per share payable 10/3/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/9/11.

The Board of Directors of Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corp (ESP) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.225 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/9/11.

The Board of Directors of Brinker International Inc. (EAT) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.16 per share payable 9/29/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/9/11.

SunPower (SPWRA) (FULT) (UBSI) (GTE) (UA) (HIBB) Upgraded

SunPower Co. (NASDAQ: SPWRA), Fulton Financial (NASDAQ: FULT), United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (NYSE: GTE), Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE: UA) and Hibbett Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIBB) upgraded by analysts.

SunPower Co. (SPWRA) was upgraded by Auriga from a “Sell” rating to a “Hold” rating. They have a price target of $14.00 on the company.

Fulton Financial (FULT) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $11.50 on the company.

United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $22.00 on the company.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (GTE) was upgraded by BMO Capital Markets from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Under Armour, Inc. (UA) was upgraded by Capstone from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Hibbett Sports, Inc. (HIBB) was upgraded by Needham & Company from a “Buy” rating to a “Strong Buy” rating. They have a price target of $47.00 on the company, up from $45.00.

Dell (DELL) (UBSI) (STRA) (DV) (AIXG) (AYR) Get New Coverage

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL), United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), Strayer Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA), DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV), Aixtron AG (NASDAQ: AIXG) and Aircastle Limited (NYSE: AYR) getting new analyst coverage.

BB&T (NYSE:BBT) initiated coverage on United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI). They placed a “Hold” rating on the company.

Ticonderoga initiated coverage on Dell Inc. (DELL). They placed a “sell” rating and a $9.25 price target on the company.

Wunderlich initiated coverage on Strayer Education, Inc. (STRA). They placed a “Hold” rating and a price target of $110.00 on the company.

Wunderlich initiated coverage on DeVry Inc. (DV). They placed a “Hold” rating and a price target of $52.00 on the company.

Ticonderoga initiated coverage on Aixtron AG (AIXG). They placed a “Buy” rating on the company.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) initiated coverage on Aircastle Limited (AYR). They placed a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Gildan (GIL) (FFIV) (UBSI) (EW) (EXAS) (FDO) Upgraded

Gildan Activewear (NYSE: GIL), F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV), United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW), EXACT Sciences Co. (NASDAQ: EXAS) and Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FDO) upgraded by analysts.

F5 Networks (FFIV) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Sell” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $94.00 on the company.

United Bankshares, Inc. (UBSI) was upgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) was upgraded by Rodman & Renshaw from an “Underperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating. They have a price target of $66.00 on the company.

Gildan Activewear (GIL) was upgraded by FBR Capital from an “Underperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating. They have a price target of $27.00 on the company.

EXACT Sciences Co. (EXAS) was upgraded by Rodman & Renshaw from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $12.00 on the company, up from $7.00.

Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $60.00 on the company.

Dividends on (FORTY) (ALL) (UBSI) (NDSN) Declared

Formula Systems (1985) Ltd. (NASDAQ:FORTY), Allstate Corp (NYSE:ALL), United Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI) and Nordson Corp (NASDAQ:NDSN) declare dividends.

The Board of Directors of Formula Systems (1985) Ltd. (FORTY) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.71 per share payable 6/16/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 5/31/11.

The Board of Directors of Allstate Corp (ALL) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.21 per share payable 7/1/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 5/31/11.

The Board of Directors of Astro-Med Inc (ALOT) declared a second quarter common stock dividend of $0.30 per share payable 7/1/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 6/10/11.

The Board of Directors of Nordson Corp (NDSN) declared a third quarter common stock dividend of $0.105 per share payable 6/14/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 6/1/11.