Oracle (ORCL) (PCX) (PFG) (FR) (GBX) (IART) Downgraded

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Patriot Coal (NYSE: PCX), Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: PFG), First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: FR), Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX) and Integra LifeSciences (NASDAQ: IART) were downgraded by analysts.

Oracle (ORCL) was downgraded by BMO Capital Markets from an “Outperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating. They have a price target of $30.00 on the company, down from $32.00.

Patriot Coal (PCX) was downgraded by Davenport from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) was downgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. (FR) was downgraded by Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Greenbrier (GBX) was downgraded by Longbow Research from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Integra LifeSciences (IART) was downgraded by Argus from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Timken (TKR) (RBN) (ORCL) (PCX) (PFG) (EPB) Ratings, Price Targets

Timken (NYSE: TKR), Robbins & Myers (NYSE: RBN), Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Patriot Coal Corp. (NYSE: PCX), Principal Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: PFG) and El Paso Pipeline Partners (NYSE: EPB) ratings and price targets.

Timken (TKR) is now covered by KeyBanc. They have a “buy” rating and a price target of $53.00 on the firm.

Robbins & Myers (RBN) had its price target raised by BMO Capital Markets to $63.00.

Oracle (ORCL) was downgraded by BMO Capital Markets from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating. They have a price target of $30.00 on the firm, down from $32.00.

Patriot Coal Corp. (PCX) was downgraded by Davenport from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

Principal Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) was downgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

El Paso Pipeline Partners (EPB) was upgraded by Tudor Pickering from a “hold” rating to an “accumulate” rating.

Qualcomm (QCOM) (EMC) (SAP) (AKAM) Among Top Tech Picks for 2012

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), EMC (NYSE:EMC), SAP (NYSE:SAP), Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ:AKAM) and Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) were among the top picks in the tech sector for 2012, as analysts and advisors look to larger and more stable companies at this time.

All of the companies listed are among the market leaders in their respective categories, and that is what is being looked for after the extremely volatile 2011 year, where top lists were hammered throughout 2011.

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) are other top picks for 2012, which along with Oracle, are among the overall favorites of all sectors for 2012.

Akamai Technologies was trading at $32.10, down $0.02, or 0.06 percent, as of 11:10 AM EST. SAP was at $53.05, gaining $0.16, or 0.30 percent. EMC was at $21.82, up $0.23, or 1.07 percent. Qualcomm was at $54.87, rising $0.02, or 0.04. Oracle was at $25.78, down $0.02, or 0.08 percent.

Oracle (ORCL) (PNNT) (RAH) (CFR) (CPL) (CVH) Downgraded

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), PennantPark Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: PNNT), Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RAH), Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE: CFR), CPFL Energia SA (NYSE: CPL) and Coventry Health Care, Inc. (NYSE: CVH) were downgraded by analysts.

Oracle (ORCL) was downgraded by Credit Agricole from a “Buy” rating to an “Underperform” rating.

PennantPark Investment Corp. (PNNT) was downgraded by FBR Capital from an “Outperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (RAH) was downgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) was downgraded by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Underperform” rating.

CPFL Energia SA (CPL) was downgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Sell” rating.

Coventry Health Care, Inc. (CVH) was downgraded by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) from a “Hold” rating to a “Sell” rating.

Oracle (ORCL) Price Target Slashed

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) had its price target slashed by numerous analysts.

Oracle (ORCL) had its price target lowered by BMO Capital Markets from $38.00 to $32.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Oracle had its price target cut by Collins Stewart from $33.00 to $30.00. They have a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Oracle had its price target slashed by Macquarie from $36.00 to $32.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Evercore Partners to $35.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) to $33.00.

Oracle had its price target cut by Morgan Keegan to $33.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) to $35.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Ticonderoga from $38.00 to $34.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) to $29.00.

Oracle had its price target cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) to $38.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) to $34.00.

Oracle (ORCL) (HP) (JCI) (GMCR) (RAH) (SKT) Ratings, Price Targets

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP), Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR), Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RAH) and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. (NYSE: SKT) ratings and price targets.

Oracle (ORCL) had its “Buy” rating reiterated by Jefferies (NYSE:JEF).

Helmerich & Payne (HP) is now covered by Johnson Rice. They have an “Overweight” rating on the firm.

Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI) is now covered by Sterne Agee. They have a “Neutral” rating on the firm.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) had its price target cut by Albert Fried & Company to $52.00.

Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (RAH) was downgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. (SKT) was downgraded by Hilliard Lyons from a “Long” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Oracle (ORCL) Ratings, Price Targets

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) ratings and price targets.

Oracle (ORCL) had its price target lowered by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) to $38.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) to $34.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Evercore Partners to $35.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) to $33.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Morgan Keegan to $33.00.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) to $35.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the firm.

Oracle had its price target lowered by BMO Capital Markets from $38.00 to $32.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the firm.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Collins Stewart from $33.00 to $30.00. They have a “Neutral” rating on the firm.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Ticonderoga from $38.00 to $34.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the firm.

Oracle had its price target lowered by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) to $29.00.

Oracle (ORCL) (CFR) (HNT) (CVH) (TDC) (THS) Downgraded

Oracle (ORCL), TreeHouse Foods (THS), Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR), Health Net (HNT), Coventry Health Care (CVH) and Teradata (TDC) and were downgraded by analysts.

Keefe Bruyette downgraded Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) from a "Market Perform" rating to an "Underperform" rating.

Crédit Agricole downgraded Oracle (ORCL) from a "Buy" rating to an "Underperform" rating.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) downgraded Health Net (HNT) from a "Hold" rating to a "Sell" rating.

Deutsche Bank downgraded downgraded Coventry Health Care (CVH) from a "Hold" rating to a "Sell" rating.

Oppenheimer downgraded Teradata (TDC) from an "Outperform" rating to a "Perform" rating.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) downgraded Treehouse Foods (THS) from a "Neutral" rating to an "Underperform" rating.

Norfolk (NSC) (NVTL) (ORCL) (IPXL) (ITUB) (JEF) (LINE) Ratings Reiterated

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC), Novatel Wireless Inc. (NASDAQ: NVTL), Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPXL), Itau Unibanco Holding Sociedade Anonima (NASDAQ: ITUB), Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF) and Linn Energy, LLC (NASDAQ: LINE) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC). They have a price target of $83.00 on the company.

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Novatel Wireless Inc. (NVTL). They have a price target of $3.00 on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Oracle (ORCL).

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its "Hold" rating on Impax Laboratories, Inc. (IPXL).

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Itau Unibanco Holding Sociedade Anonima (ITUB). They have a price target of $18.00 on the company.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated its "Sell" rating on Jefferies Group, Inc. (JEF).

Wunderlich reiterated its "Buy" rating on Linn Energy, LLC (LINE). They have a price target of $44.00 on the company.

Red Hat (RHT) (ORCL) (OSUR) (PLCM) (COH) (NTCT) Ratings, Price Targets

Red Hat (NYSE: RHT), Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSUR), Polycom (NASDAQ: PLCM), Coach (NYSE: COH) and NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT) ratings and price targets.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Oracle (ORCL).

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its "Buy" rating on OraSure Technologies, Inc. (OSUR).

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Polycom (PLCM). They have a price target of $16.00 on the company.

Collins Stewart initiated coverage on Coach (COH). They have a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $67.00 on the company.

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT) had its price target boosted by Wunderlich from $16.00 to $19.00. They have a “Hold” rating on the company.

Red Hat (RHT) had its price target lowered by Citigroup (NYSE:C) to $59.00.

Oracle (ORCL) (HOV) (IEX) (JAKK) (JDSU) (KNSY) (LINTA) Ratings Reiterated

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Hovnanian Enterprises (NYSE: HOV), IDEX Corp (NYSE: IEX), JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK), JDS Uniphase Co. (NASDAQ: JDSU), Kensey Nash Co. (NASDAQ: KNSY) and Liberty Media Corp. (NASDAQ: LINTA) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Compass Point reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Hovnanian Enterprises (HOV). They have a price target of $1.00 on the company.

Brean Murray Carret & Co. reiterated its "Buy" rating on IDEX Corp (IEX).

KeyBanc reiterated its "Buy" rating on JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (JAKK).

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on JDS Uniphase Co. (JDSU). They have a price target of $10.00 on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated its "Hold" rating on Kensey Nash Co. (KNSY).

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Liberty Media Corp. (LINTA). They have a price target of $16.00 on the company.

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Oracle (ORCL). They have a price target of $31.00 on the company.

Oracle (ORCL) (NRG) (OVTI) (NVLS) (NWS-A) (CMA) Ratings Reiterated

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG), OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), Novellus Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS), News Corp. (NASDAQ: NWS-A) and Comerica (NYSE: CMA) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated its “Overweight” rating on Oracle (ORCL). They have a price target of $36.00 on the company.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) reiterated its “Buy” rating on NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) .

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its “Buy” rating on OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (OVTI).

Needham & Company reiterated its “Buy” rating on Novellus Systems, Inc. (NVLS). They have a price target of $51.75 on the company, up from $40.00.

Needham & Company reiterated its “Hold” rating on News Corp. (NWS-A).

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reiterated its “Overweight” rating on Comerica (CMA).

Oracle (ORCL) (QCOR) (THQI) (GIII) (GILD) Price Targets Changed

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOR), THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI), G-III Apparel (NASDAQ: GIII) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) had price targets on them adjusted by analysts.

Oracle (ORCL) had its price target raised by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) to $33.00.

Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (QCOR) had its price target raised by Oppenheimer from $45.00 to $53.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

THQ Inc. (THQI) had its price target lowered by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) to $1.50.

G-III Apparel (GIII) had its price target raised by Brean Murray from $28.00 to $31.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) had its price target raised by Oppenheimer to $47.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Oracle (ORCL) (HSNI) (OXLC) (PBNY) (HEES) (HERO) Ratings, Price Targets

Oracle (ORCL), HSN, Inc. (HSNI), Oxford Lane Capital Corp. (OXLC), Provident New York Bancorp (PBNY), H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (HEES), and Hercules Offshore, Inc. (HERO) ratings and price targets.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) raised its price target on Oracle (ORCL) to $33.00.

Zacks Investment Research upgraded HSN, Inc. (HSNI) from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Ladenburg Thalmann initiated coverage on Oxford Lane Capital Corp. (OXLC). They placed a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Zacks Investment Research downgraded Healthstream Inc (HSTM) from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc initiated coverage on Provident New York Bancorp (PBNY). They placed a “Market Perform” rating on the company.

Zacks Investment Research upgraded H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (HEES) from a “Neutral” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) initiated coverage on Hercules Offshore, Inc. (HERO). They placed a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Apple (AAPL) (ORCL) (PSMT) (RAI) (MMM) (NUAN) Ratings Reiterated

Apple, Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT), Reynolds American, Inc. (NYSE: RAI), 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) and Nuance Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Sterne Agee reiterated its "Buy" rating on Apple, Inc. (AAPL). They have a price target of $500.00 on the company.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated its "Buy" rating on Oracle (ORCL).

Benchmark Co. reiterated its "Buy" rating on PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT). They have a price target of $87.00 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated its "Equal Weight" rating on Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI). They have a price target of $38.00 on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) reiterated its "Buy" rating on 3M Company (MMM). They have a price target of $90.00 on the company.

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its "Buy" rating on Nuance Communications Inc. (NUAN). They have a price target of $30.00 on the company.

Oracle (ORCL) (NVLS) (OI) (OPEN) (PDCO) (PETD) (PKG) Get New Coverage

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Novellus Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS), Owens-Illinois (NYSE: OI), OpenTable Inc. (NASDAQ: OPEN), Patterson Companies Inc. (NASDAQ: PDCO), Petroleum Development Co. (NASDAQ: PETD) and Packaging Co. of America (NYSE: PKG) getting new coverage from analysts.

Credit Agricole initiated coverage on Novellus Systems, Inc. (NVLS). They placed an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) initiated coverage on Owens-Illinois (OI). They placed an “Outperform” rating and a price target of $30.00 on the company.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) initiated coverage on OpenTable Inc. (OPEN). They placed a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $38.00 on the company.

Barclays Capital initiated coverage on Oracle (ORCL). They placed an “Overweight” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) initiated coverage on Patterson Companies Inc. (PDCO). They placed a “Hold” rating and a price target of $31.50 on the company.

Brean Murray initiated coverage on Petroleum Development Co. (PETD). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $46.00 on the company.

Credit Suisse initiated coverage on Packaging Co. of America (PKG). They placed a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $27.00 on the company.

Oracle (ORCL) (OFIX) (CXPO) (OPTR) (CWST) (CWTR) Ratings Reiterated

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Orthofix International (NASDAQ: OFIX), Crimson Exploration (NASDAQ: CXPO), Optimer Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OPTR), Casella Waste Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST) and Coldwater Creek Inc. (NASDAQ: CWTR) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Oracle (ORCL).

Piper Jaffray reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Orthofix International (OFIX). They have a price target of $42.00 on the company.

Rodman & Renshaw reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Crimson Exploration (CXPO). They have a price target of $3.50 on the company.

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

Wedbush reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Casella Waste Systems Inc. (CWST).

Piper Jaffray reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Coldwater Creek Inc. (CWTR). They have a price target of $1.50 on the company.

NetApp (NTAP) (NTES) (ORCL) (PETM) (PM) (SBH) Price Targets Changed

NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP), Netease.com Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES), Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Petsmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM), Philip Morris (NYSE: PM) and Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SBH) had their price targets adjusted by analysts.

NetApp Inc. (NTAP) had its price target lowered by Needham & Company from $51.00 to $47.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Netease.com Inc. (NTES) had its price target raised by Oppenheimer from $55.00 to $60.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Oracle (ORCL) had its price target raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) to $40.00.

Petsmart Inc. (PETM) had its price target raised by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from $53.00 to $55.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Philip Morris (PM) had its price target raised by Stifel Nicolaus from $75.00 to $80.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. (SBH) had its price target raised by RBC Capital from $19.00 to $22.00. They have a “Sector Perform” rating on the company.

NetApp (NTAP) (SPW) (STT) (NTES) (NXTM) (ORCL) Ratings, Price Targets

NetApp Inc. (NTAP), SPX Corp (SPW), State Street Co. (STT), Netease.com Inc. (NTES), Nxstage Medical (NXTM) and Oracle (ORCL) ratings and price targets.

Collins Stewart downgraded NetApp Inc. (NTAP) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $40.00 on the company, down from $52.00.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) reiterated its “Buy” on SPX Corp (SPW). They have a price target of $75.00 on the company.

SunTrust downgraded State Street Co. (STT) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Piper Jaffray raised its price target on Netease.com Inc. (NTES) to $66.00.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) initiated coverage on Nxstage Medical (NXTM). They placed an “Overweight” rating and a price target of $24.00 on the company.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) raised its price target on Oracle (ORCL) to $40.00.

Oracle (ORCL) (FTNT) (HBHC) (ILMN) Ratings Reiterated

Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL), Fortinet, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTNT), Hancock Holding (NASDAQ: HBHC) and Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Morgan Keegan reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Oracle (ORCL). They have a price target of $35.00 on the company.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated its "Equal Weight" rating on Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT).

Wunderlich reiterated its "Buy" rating on Hancock Holding (HBHC).

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) reiterated its "Hold" rating on Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). They have a price target of $30.00 on the company.