Amgen (AMGN) (ASH), (AWK) (CHKP) (DNDN) (EPD) Ratings Reiterated

Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN), Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), American Water Works Co Inc (NYSE: AWK), Check Point Software ((NASDAQ: CHKP), Dendreon Co. (NASDAQ: DNDN), Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) ratings reiterated by analysts.

Amgen, Inc. (AMGN) rating reiterated an “overweight” by at Piper Jaffray.

Ashland Inc. (ASH) rating reiterated a “neutral” by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM).

American Water Works Co Inc (AWK) rating reiterated a “neutral” by Ladenburg Thalmann.

Check Point Software (CHKP) rating reiterated an “outperform” by Oppenheimer.

Dendreon (DNDN) rating reiterated a “hold” by Citigroup (NYSE:C). They have a price target of $36.00 on the company.

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) rating reiterated a “buy” by Wunderlich. They have a price target of $48.00 on the company.

Dividends on (ACE) (ANF) (APA) (ASH) (BDC) Declared

ACE Limited (NYSE:ACE), Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF), Apache Corp. (NYSE:APA), Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) and Belden Inc. (NYSE:BDC) declare dividends.

The Board of Directors of ACE Limited (ACE) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.35 per share payable 7/21/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 6/30/11.

The Board of Directors of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.175 per share payable 6/14/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 5/27/11.

The Board of Directors of Apache Corp. (APA) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.15 per share payable 8/22/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 7/22/11.

The Board of Directors of Ashland Inc. (ASH) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.175 per share payable 6/15/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 6/2/11.

The Board of Directors of Belden Inc. (BDC) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.05 per share payable 7/6/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 6/2/11.

Biggest Winners (FMC) (LO) (ASH) (HLF) (APA) on May 6

Among the winners on Friday, May 6, as measured by share price increases, were FMC Corp. (FMC), Lorillard Inc (LO), Ashland Inc. (ASH), Herbalife Ltd (HLF) and Apache Corp. (APA).

FMC Corp. (FMC) was up $1.40, to close at $84.71, a gain of 1.68 percent.

Lorillard Inc (LO) jumped $1.38 on the day to close at $108.62, an increase of 1.29 percent.

Ashland Inc. (ASH) rose $1.38 to close at $62.13, a boost of 2.27 percent.

Herbalife Ltd (HLF) soared $1.37 to close the session at $104.84, a gain of 1.32 percent.

Apache Corp. (APA) surged $1.37 to end the day at $124.21, climbing 1.12 percent.

Price Targets on (AKAM) (ARW) (ASH) (BA) (BDC) Changed

Price Targets on Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW), Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and Belden (NYSE: BDC) changed by analysts.

FBR Capital cut their price target on Akamai Technologies (AKAM) from $44.00 to $40.00. They have a “market perform” rating on the company.

Longbow Research analysts raised their price target on Arrow Electronics, Inc. (ARW) from $49.00 to $54.00. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Hilliard Lyons raised their price target on Ashland Inc. (ASH) from $70.00 to $75.00. They have a “long-term buy” rating on the company.

RBC Capital raised their price target on Boeing Company (BA) from $83.00 to $90.00. They have an “outperform” rating on the company.

Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Belden (BDC) from $42.00 to $44.50. They have a “buy” rating on the company.

Ashland's (NYSE:ASH) Low Valvoline Margins Lowering Earnings

Ashland (NYSE:ASH), like many companies, are dependent on a sustainable and legitimate recovery to grow in the future, and pressures from their low Valvoline margins will have the company struggling, even as other segments in the company do well.

Jefferies has lowered their earnings estimate on the company, while maintaining their "Buy" rating.

Jefferies said, "While near-term margin pressure in Valvoline may balance recoveries in other segments, we reiterate our Buy rating based on Ashland's significant operating leverage to a recovery and robust free cash flow."

EPS estimates were lowered for full year 2011 from $4.05 to $3.95 and from $4.65 $4.60 for full year 2012.

Revenue estimates for full year 2011 were increased from $5.5 billion to $5.6 billion and for full year 2012 from 5.79 billion to $5.89 billion.

Ashland closed Wednesday at $52.44, gaining $1.43, or 2.80 percent.

Ashland (NYSE:ASH) Earnings Lowered on Sale of Distribution

Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) earnings will be under pressure based on sale of Distribution, according to Jefferies.

They said, "We estimate the sale of Distribution will result in roughly $50m in stranded costs. We expect roughly half will be covered by transition services revenue in fiscal 2011. We expect Ashland to absorb uncovered stranded costs of $8m in Q1, $7m in Q2, $6m in Q3, and $4m in Q4 of 2011."

Earnings per share was cut to $4.05 for full year 2011, a drop of $0.15, and earnings for full year 2012 was lowered to $4.65, a decrease of $0.05.

Ashland closed Thursday at $53.12, gaining $1.26, or 2.43 percent. A price target of $68 is on the company, along with a "Buy" rating.