VMware (VMW) (DXCM) (GEVA) (MSFT) (PODD) (TRIP) (VMW) Get New Coverage

VMware (NYSE: VMW), DexCom (NASDAQ: DXCM), Synageva BioPharma (NASDAQ: GEVA), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD), TripAdvisor (NASDAQ: TRIP) and VMware (NYSE: VMW) getting new coverage from analysts.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on DexCom (DXCM). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $12.50 on the company.

Leerink Swann initiated coverage on Synageva BioPharma (GEVA). They placed a “Market Perform” rating on the company.

Raymond James (NYSE:RJF) initiated coverage on Microsoft (MSFT). They placed an “Outperform” rating and a price target of $34.00 on the company.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on Insulet (PODD). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $24.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) initiated coverage on TripAdvisor (TRIP). They placed a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Evercore Partners initiated coverage on VMware (VMW). They placed an “Overweight” rating on the company.

Microsoft (MSFT) (STLD) (CNX) (DXCM) (GEVA) (VMW) Get New Coverage

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ:STLD), CONSOL Energy (NYSE:CNX), Dexcom (NASDAQ:DXCM), Synageva BioPharma (NASDAQ:GEVA) and VMware (NYSE:VMW) getting new coverage from analysts.

Raymond James (NYSE:RJF) initiated coverage on Microsoft (MSFT). They have a "Hold" rating and a price target of $34.00 on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) initiated coverage on Steel Dynamics (STLD). They have a "Buy" rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) initiated coverage on CONSOL Energy (CNX). They have a "Buy" rating on the company.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on Dexcom (DXCM). They placed a price target of $12.50 on the company.

Leerink Swann initiated coverage on Synageva BioPharma (GEVA). They placed an "Outperform" rating on the company.

Evercore initiated coverage on VMware (VMW). They placed an "Overweight" rating on the company.

Microsoft (MSFT) (OCZ) (OPTR) (JNPR) (LULU) (ODP) Ratings Reiterated

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Ocz Technology Group Inc. (NYSE: OCZ), Optimer Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OPTR), Juniper Networks (NASDAQ: JNPR), Lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) and Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE: ODP) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Nomura (NYSE:NMR) reiterated its "Buy" rating on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT).

Needham & Company reiterated its "Buy" rating on Ocz Technology Group Inc. (OCZ).

Jefferies Group (NYSE:JEF) reiterated its "Buy" rating on Optimer Pharmaceuticals (OPTR). They have a price target of $17.00 on the company.

Wedbush reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Juniper Networks (JNPR).

DA Davidson reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Lululemon (LULU).

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Office Depot, Inc. (ODP). They have a price target of $2.25 on the company.

Microsoft (MSFT) (HFWA) (SMSC) (ROCK) (IDSY) (ISTA) Ratings, Price Targets

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Heritage Financial Co. (NASDAQ: HFWA), Standard Microsystems Co. (NASDAQ: SMSC), Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROCK), I.D. Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: IDSY) and Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ISTA) ratings and price targets.

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) had its “buy” rating reiterated by Nomura (NYSE:NMR).

Heritage Financial Co. (HFWA) was upgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating.

Standard Microsystems Co. (SMSC) had its price target lowered by Wunderlich from $34.00 to $30.00. They have a “buy” rating on the firm.

Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (ROCK) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating.

I.D. Systems Inc. (IDSY) was upgraded by Cowen from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating.

Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISTA) was upgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Nokia (NOK) Will Be Interesting in 2012

With shares of Nokia (NYSE:NOK) lingering below the $5.00 mark, it makes the mobile phone company an interesting company in 2012.

A significant number of those watching the company appear to have put far too much emphasis on the Nokia's first release of a Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone 7 phone in Europe, which has only gained about 2 percent market penetration.

The assumption is the phone has been rejected, when if fact there is no doubt it was more of a trial balloon to get feedback from the market.

That's not to say Nokia wouldn't have loved to have been surprised by the offering, but it was never the purpose.

Until they roll out a few offerings using Windows Phone 7, we won't really know how the market responds to the company. The conclusion of some that the Nokia, Windows partnership has failed is premature, to say the least.

That said, 2012 is a crucial year for Nokia, and they need to gain some traction to convince investors they can generate growth going forward.

It'll be very interesting to see how the U.S. market responds when the company releases its first phone there, which will be in early 2012.

If Nokia is able to generate some legitimate interest, the current share price could definitely be considered a bargain.

Microsoft's (MSFT) Time to Rise?

Most of those looking at great stock performers for 2012 are gravitating towards quality companies with proven track records, like Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).

While Microsoft has gotten a bad rap, it remains a solid performer, and is undervalued in most analysts' eyes.

They are rated a "Buy" by S&P, and are held by a significant number of the leading mutual funds.

Microsoft was trading at $26.03, up $0.01, or 0.04 percent, as of 10:28 AM EST.

Intel (INTC) (HPQ) (MSFT) (Dell) Pushing Tech Up

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) are helping the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index trade in positive territory in morning trading.

They was in spite of Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) and eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) trading down.

The market is a little more positive today, as news outlets attempt to spin the economy is improving.

Amazon was down more than most major tech companies on the negative response from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), saying they may miss sales consensus for the fourth quarter, citing comScore data.

Intel was trading at $24.51, gaining $0.28, or 1.18 percent, as of 11:34 AM EST. Hewlett-Packard was at $25.59, rising $0.39, or 1.55 percent. Microsoft was at $25.91, up $0.09, or 0.35 percent. Dell was trading at $14.76, increasing $0.09, or 0.58 percent.

Microsoft (MSFT) (NU) (CAVM) (PMTC) (RDWR) (CFX) Ratings, Price Targets

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Northeast Utilities System (NYSE: NU), Cavium Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAVM), Parametric (NASDAQ: PMTC), Radware Ltd. (NASDAQ: RDWR) and Colfax Co. (NYSE: CFX) ratings and price targets.

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) had its “Buy” rating reiterated by Stifel Nicolaus. They have a price target of $32.00 on the company.

Barclays Capital initiated coverage on Northeast Utilities System (NU). They placed an “Overweight” rating on the company.

Cavium Networks, Inc. (CAVM) had its price target lowered by Mizuho from $29.00 to $27.00. They have a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Parametric (PMTC) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Radware Ltd. (RDWR) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Colfax Co. (CFX) was upgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Microsoft (MSFT) (PCH) (PCTI) (MRX) (AEA) (ASPS) Ratings, Price Targets

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Potlatch Co. (NYSE: PCH), PC-Tel Inc. (NASDAQ: PCTI), Medicis Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: MRX), Advance America, Cash Advance Centers (NYSE: AEA) and Altisource Portfolio (NASDAQ: ASPS) ratings and price targets.

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) had its “Buy” rating reiterated by Stifel Nicolaus. They have a price target of $32.00 on the firm.

Potlatch Co. (PCH) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “Neutral” rating to an “Underperform” rating.

PC-Tel Inc. (PCTI) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Medicis Pharmaceuticals (MRX) had its “Overweight” rating reiterated by Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC). They have a price target of $43.00 on the firm.

Advance America, Cash Advance Centers (AEA) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Altisource Portfolio (ASPS) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Microsoft (MSFT) Has Mixed Outlooks from Analysts

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) hasn't had much movement on its stock for years, and while the company continues to generate a lot of revenue and earnings, investors haven't been convinced the tech giant will be able to sustain that, even though they in fact have year after year.

Even so, Stifel Nicolaus reiterated its "Buy" rating on Microsoft, with a price target of $32.00 on the company.

On the other hand, JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) lowered its price target on Microsoft earlier in December to $28.00.

Goldman (NYSE:GS) maintains a "Neutral" rating on Microsoft, with a price target of $29.00 on them.

Microsoft had its price target lowered by Ticonderoga from $34.00 to $31.00. They have a "Buy" rating on the company.

Microsoft was trading at $25.99, down $0.06, or 0.21 percent.

Microsoft (MSFT) (HUM) (HWD) (LQDT) (MBLX) (MCK) (MWE) Price Targets Changed

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Humana (NYSE: HUM), Harry Winston Diamond (NYSE: HWD), Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT), Metabolix Inc. (NASDAQ: MBLX), McKesson Co. (NYSE: MCK) and MarkWest Energy Partners (NYSE: MWE) had price targets on them adjusted by analysts.

Humana (HUM) had its price target raised by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) to $89.00. They have a “Hold” rating on the company.

Harry Winston Diamond (HWD) had its price target lowered by Scotia Capital to $21.00.

Liquidity Services (LQDT) had its price target raised by Oppenheimer from $38.00 to $43.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Metabolix Inc. (MBLX) had its price target lowered by Jefferies (NYSE:JEF0 to $9.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

McKesson Co. (MCK) had its price target lowered by Citigroup (NYSE:C) to $99.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) had its price target lowered by Ticonderoga from $34.00 to $31.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

MarkWest Energy Partners (MWE) had its price target raised by Morgan Keegan to $66.00.

Microsoft (MSFT) (MNI) (MRO) (FNGN) (FOE) (FRED) Ratings, Price Targets

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), The McClatchy Company (MNI), Marathon Oil Co. (MRO), Financial Engines Inc. (FNGN), Ferro Co. (FOE) and Fred’s (FRED) ratings and price targets.

Benchmark Co. reiterated its “Hold” rating on The McClatchy Company (MNI).

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) upgraded Marathon Oil Co. (MRO) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $37.00 on the company, up from $33.00.

Ticonderoga lowered its price target on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) from $34.00 to $31.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Needham & Company initiated coverage on shares of Financial Engines Inc. (FNGN). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $26.00 on the company.

Northcoast Research initiated coverage on Ferro Co. (FOE). They placed a “Neutral” rating on the company.

FBR Capital initiated coverage on Fred’s (FRED). They placed a “Market Perform” rating on the company.

Microsoft (MSFT) (MDRX) (MOS) (EXXI) (FL) (FLOW) Ratings, Price Targets

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (MDRX), The Mosaic Company (MOS), Energy XXI (EXXI), Foot Locker (FL) and Flow (FLOW) ratings and price targets.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) initiated coverage on Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (MDRX). They placed a “Buy” rating on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) downgraded The Mosaic Company (MOS) from an “Overweight” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered its price target on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) to $28.00.

KeyBanc initiated coverage on Energy XXI (EXXI). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $45.00 on the company.

Sterne Agee reiterated its “Buy” rating on Foot Locker (FL). They have a price target of $30.00 on the company.

Northland Securities upgraded Flow (FLOW) from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $4.00 on the company, up from $3.50.

Microsoft (MSFT) (SAI) (SMG) (STI) (LOW) (MMM) Ratings Reiterated

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), SAIC, Inc. (NYSE: SAI), Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG), SunTrust (NYSE: STI), Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) and 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) reiterated its "Buy" rating on Microsoft Corp (MSFT). They have a price target of $33.00 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated its "Neutral" rating on SAIC, Inc. (SAI). They have a price target of $14.00 on the company.

Oppenheimer reiterated its "Market Perform" rating on Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG).

Bank of America reiterated its "Neutral" rating on SunTrust (STI). They have a price target of $19.00 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Lowe’s (LOW). They have a price target of $26.00 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated its "Neutral" rating on 3M Company (MMM). They have a price target of $85.00 on the company.

Microsoft (MSFT) (RAM) (RKT) (MEOH) (MLM) (MWW) Get New Coverage

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Ram Energy Resources (NASDAQ: RAM), Rock-Tenn Company (NYSE: RKT), Methanex Corporation (NASDAQ: MEOH), Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM) and Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW) getting new coverage from analysts.

Barclays Capital initiated coverage on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). They placed a “Positive” rating on the company.

Global Hunter Securities initiated coverage on Ram Energy Resources (RAM). They placed an “Accumulate” rating on the company.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) initiated coverage on Rock-Tenn Company (RKT). They placed a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $61.00 on the company.

RBC Capital initiated coverage on Methanex Corporation (MEOH). They placed a “Sector Perform” rating and a price target of $28.00 on the company.

Sterne Agee initiated coverage on Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $90.00 on the company.

Lazard Capital initiated coverage on Monster Worldwide, Inc. (MWW). They placed a “Buy” rating on the company.

Medicis (MRX) (MSFT) (NEU) (ITC) (LNKD) Ratings, Price Targets

Medicis Pharmaceuticals (MRX), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), NewMarket Co. (NEU), ITC Holdings Corp. (ITC) and Linkedin Co. (LNKD) ratings and price targets.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) reiterated its “Buy” rating on Medicis Pharmaceuticals (MRX). They have a price target of $44.00 on the company.

Barclays Capital initiated coverage on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). They placed a “Positive” rating on the company.

Sterne Agee initiated coverage on NewMarket Co. (NEU). They placed a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Wunderlich raised its price target on ITC Holdings Corp. (ITC) to $77.00.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) upgraded Linkedin Co. (LNKD) from a
“Neutral” rating to an “Overweight” rating. They have a price target of $84.00 on the company.

Microsoft (MSFT) (MLNX) (NCR) (PAA) (PAY) Ratings Reiterated

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MLNX), NCR Corp. (NYSE: NCR), Plains All Amererican (NYSE: PAA) and Verifone (NYSE: PAY) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Barclays Capital reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (MLNX).

Nomura reiterated its "Buy" rating on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT).

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated its "Buy" rating on NCR Corp. (NCR).

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Plains All American (PAA).

Barclays Capital reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Verifone (PAY).

Microsoft (MSFT) (LYB) (MDP) (MTOR) (NANO) (NCIT) Ratings, Price Targets

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), LyondellBasell (LYB), Meredith Corporation (MDP), Meritor (MTOR), Nanometrics Inc. (NANO) and NCI Inc. (NCIT) ratings and price targets.

ThinkEquity initiated coverage on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). They placed a “Hold” rating and a price target of $26.00 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) lowered its price target on LyondellBasell (LYB) to $45.00. They have a “Sell” rating on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated its “Overweight” rating on Meredith Corporation (MDP).

Barclays Capital downgraded Meritor (MTOR) from an “Overweight” rating to an “Equal Weight” rating. They have a price target of $6.00 on the company.

Piper Jaffray reiterated its “Neutral” on Nanometrics Inc. (NANO).

SunTrust (NYSE:STI) downgraded NCI Inc. (NCIT) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Microsoft (MSFT) (EOG) (MUR) (NOV) (ED) (ENR) EPS Changes

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG), Murphy Oil Corp. (NYSE: MUR), National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV), Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED) and Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR) had their EPS estimates adjusted by analysts.

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) had its EPS estimates cut by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS). They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

EOG Resources (EOG) had its EPS estimates raised by UBS AG. They have a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR) had its EPS estimates raised by UBS AG. They have a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $59.00 on the company.

National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NOV) had its EPS estimates raised by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS). They have an “Equal Weight” rating and a price target of $79.00 on the company.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) had its EPS estimates raised by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS). They have a “Sell” rating and a price target of $52.00 on the company.

Energizer Holdings, Inc. (ENR) had its EPS estimates cut by UBS AG. They have a “Buy” rating and a price target of $92.00 on the company.

Microsoft (MSFT) (HGG) (KNXA) (FTR) (GRMN) (GUID) Ratings Reiterated

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), HHGregg (NYSE: HGG), Kenexa Co. (NASDAQ: KNXA), Frontier Communications (NYSE: FTR), Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) and Guidance Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: GUID) had ratings on them reiterated by analyts.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). They have a price target of $29.00 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated its "Neutral" rating on HHGregg (HGG).

Oppenheimer reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Kenexa Co. (KNXA). They have a price target of $30.00 on the company.

Bank of America reiterated its "Underperform" rating on Frontier Communications (FTR).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated its "Underperform" rating on Garmin Ltd. (GRMN).

Benchmark Co. reiterated its "Buy" rating on Guidance Software, Inc. (GUID). They have a price target of $10.00 on the company.