Tenaris (TS) (SF) (VVUS) (AGU) (BSX) (CBOE) Downgraded

Tenaris (NYSE: TS), Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF), VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS), Agrium Inc. (USA) (NYSE: AGU), Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) and CBOE Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOE) were downgraded by analysts.

Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “Neutral” rating to an “Underperform” rating.

Tenaris (TS) was downgraded by Simmons to a “Neutral” rating.

VIVUS, Inc. (VVUS) was downgraded by Leerink Swann to a “Market Perform” rating.

Agrium Inc. (AGU) was downgraded by RBC Capital from an “Outperform” rating to a “Sector Perform” rating. They have a price target of $75.00 on the company, down from $90.00.

Boston Scientific (BSX) was downgraded by Mizuho from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $5.40 on the company, down from $7.00.

CBOE Holdings, Inc. (CBOE) was downgraded by Macquarie from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Vivus (VVUS) (BSX) (CBOE) (KBH) (MANH) Downgraded

Vivus (VVUS), Boston Scientific (BSX), CBOE Holdings (CBOE), KB Home (KBH) and Manhattan Associates (MANH) were downgraded by analysts.

Mizuhom downgraded Boston Scientific (BSX) from a "Buy" rating to a "Neutral" rating. They lowered their price target on the company from $7.00 to $5.40.

Roth Capital downgraded Vivus (VVUS) from a "Buy" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

Macquarie downgraded CBOE Holdings (CBOE) from an "Outperform" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

Stifel Nicolaus downgraded KB Home (KBH) from a "Buy" rating to a "Hold" rating.

Benchmark Company downgraded Manhattan Associates (MANH) from a "Buy" rating to a "Hold" rating.

Vivus (VVUS) Rockin' It on QNEXA Results

Shares of Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS) are soaring today after news its drug QNEXA was found to lower weight and reduce blood pressure in trials.

When patients who had been treated with the top dose of QNEXA, results were they sustained a loss of weight of over 10 percent over a two-year period, while also experiencing a loss in blood pressure.

The drug also helped patients cut back on the need to use anti-hypertensive medications, while improving lipid levels compared to a dummy drug.

In 2010 the drug had been rejected by U.S. regulators because of cardiovascular safety concerns.

Vivus was trading at $6.80, gaining $0.49, or 7.77 percent, as of 2:07 PM EDT.

Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS) Shares Plunge on Qnexa Delay

Concerns by the FDA over Qnexa, have resulted in a delay, which has resulted in the share price of Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS) getting hammered today.

Canaccord says, "While the delay is a modest disappointment, our launch projection for 2012 is not significantly affected. Broadly, we believe FDA concerns with Qnexa will ultimately be resolved with REMS and post-approval studies. We would continue to be buyers of the stock, particularly on weakness."

Canaccord Genuity maintains a "Buy" rating on Vivus (VVUS), which was trading at $8.72, plunging $1.71, or 16.40 percent, as of 2:39 PM EST. Canaccord has a price target of $15 on Vivus.

Needham & Company Maintains "Buy" Rating on Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS)

Based on the risk-benefit profile of Qnexa, Needham reiterated their "Buy" rating on Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS).

Needham said, "Vivus submitted a Qnexa Briefing Document to the FDA in December 2010, detailing the company’s plans for a formal NDA resubmission. Vivus is scheduled to meet with the FDA in late January 2011 to discuss the Qnexa Complete Response letter and the adequacy of information in the Briefing Document to support a formal response. We continue to believe the risk-benefit profile of Qnexa is sufficiently attractive for approval by the FDA, potentially in 2H11. Vivus submitted an MAA in the E.U. in December 2010."

Vivus closed Thursday at $10.55, up $0.69, or 7.00 percent. Needham has a price target on them of $15.