AngloGold (AU) (KWK) (RRC) (RY) (RF) (FITB) (COF) (HBAN) Ratings, Price Targets

AngloGold Ashanti (AU), Quicksilver Resources Inc (KWK), Range Resources (RRC), RBC Capital (RY), Regions Financial Corp (RF), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), Capital One (COF) and Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) had ratings and price targets on them adjusted by analysts.

TheStreet downgraded AngloGold Ashanti (AU) to a "Hold" rating.

Howard Weil downgraded Quicksilver Resources (KWK) from an "Outperform" rating to a "Market Perform" rating.

Societe Generale initiated coverage on Range Resources (RRC). They placed a "Buy" rating on the company..

Bank of America upgraded RBC Capital (RY) from an "Neutral" rating to a "Buy" rating. They have a price target of $65.00 on the company.

Miller Tabak upgraded Regions Financial Corp (RF) from a "Neutral" rating to a "Buy" rating.

Deutsche Bank upgraded Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) from a "Hold" rating to a "Buy" rating.

JPMorgan Chase upgraded Capital One (COF) from an "Neutral" rating to an "Overweight" rating. $70.00

Susquehanna downgraded Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) from a "Positive" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

Harvest (HNR) (KWK) (CRZBY) (NLY) (DB) (WAT) (AMGN) Ratings

Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (HNR), Quicksilver Resources Inc (KWK), Commerzbank AG (CRZBY), Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY), Deutsche Bank (DB), Waters Corporation (WAT) and Amgen, Inc. (AMGN) had ratings on them initiated or adjusted by analysts.

Pritchard upraded Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (HNR) from a "Neutral" rating to a "Buy" rating.

Capital One upgraded Quicksilver Resources Inc (KWK) to a "Neutral" rating.

ING Group downgraded Commerzbank AG (CRZBY) from a "Buy" rating to a "Hold" rating.

Wells Fargo & Co. downgraded Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY) from a "Outperform" rating to a "Market Perform" rating.

ING Group initiated coverage on Deutsche Bank (DB). They placed a "Buy" rating on the company.

Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Waters Corporation (WAT). They placed an "Overweight" rating on the company.

Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Amgen, Inc. (AMGN) from a "Outperform" rating to a "Market Perform" rating.

Thermon (THR) (KWK) (AOS) (AXL) (TSCO) (LMNX) Ratings, Price Targets

Thermon Group (NYSE: THR), Quicksilver Resources Inc. (NYSE: KWK), A.O. Smith (NYSE: AOS), American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AXL), Tractor Supply Co. (NASDAQ: TSCO) and Luminex (NASDAQ: LMNX) ratings and price targets.

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK) was downgraded by Raymond James (NYSE:RJF) from a “market perform” rating to an “underperform” rating.

A.O. Smith (AOS) is now covered by Sidoti. They have a “buy” rating on the firm.

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL) is now covered by Guggenheim. They have a “neutral” rating on the firm.

Thermon Group (THR) had its “buy” rating reiterated by Jefferies Group (NYSE:JEF).

Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO) had its “overweight” rating reiterated by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM). They have a price target of $81.00 on the firm.

Luminex (LMNX) was downgraded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating.

Newfield (NFX) (EOG) (EXXI) (FST) (KWK) (MMR) EPS Estimates Changed

Newfield Exploration Co. (NYSE: NFX), EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG), Energy XXI (NASDAQ: EXXI), Forest Oil Co. (NYSE: FST), Quicksilver Resources Inc. (NYSE: KWK) and McMoRan Exploration (NYSE: MMR) had EPS estimates on them adjusted by analysts.

Newfield Exploration Co. (NFX) had its EPS estimates cut by Jefferies (NYSE:JEF). They have a “Hold” rating and a price target of $43.00 on the company.

EOG Resources (EOG) had its EPS estimates cut by Jefferies. They have a “Buy” rating and a price target of $120.00 on the company.

Energy XXI (EXXI) had its EPS estimates cut Jefferies. They have a “Hold” rating and a price target of $32.00 on the company.

Forest Oil Co. (FST) had its EPS estimates cut by Jefferies. They have a “Buy” rating and a price target of $17.00 on the company.

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK) had its EPS estimates cut by Jefferies. They have a “Hold” rating and a price target of $7.00 on the company.

McMoRan Exploration (MMR) had its EPS estimates cut by Jefferies. They have a “Hold” rating and a price target of $16.00 on the company.

Quicksilver (KWK) (LAYN) (NEE) (SOMX) (TIN) Downgraded

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (NYSE: KWK), Layne Christensen (NASDAQ: LAYN), NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOMX) and Temple-Inland (NYSE: TIN) were downgraded by analysts.

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK) was downgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Layne Christensen (LAYN) was downgraded by Boenning & Scattergood from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) was downgraded by Wunderlich from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating. They have a price target of $57.00 on the company, down from $64.00.

Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SOMX) was downgraded by Oppenheimer from an “Outperform” rating to a “Perform” rating.

Temple-Inland (TIN) was downgraded by UBS AG from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Netflix (NFLX) (FNSR) (GPC) (MGLN) (ZQK) (CRM) Ratings Reiterated

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), Finisar (NASDAQ: FNSR), Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), Magellan Health Services Inc (NASDAQ: MGLN), Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE: ZQK) and Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Merriman Curhan Ford reiterated its "Neutral" rating on Netflix, Inc. (NFLX).

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Finisar (FNSR).

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated its "Sell" rating on Genuine Parts Company (GPC).

Bank of America Merrill Lynch (NYSE:BAC) reiterated its "Underperform" rating on Magellan Health Services Inc. (MGLN).

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) reiterated its "Overweight" rating on Quiksilver, Inc. (ZQK).

Morgan Keegan reiterated its "Outperform" rating on Salesforce.com (CRM).

Quicksilver (KWK) (KELYA) (MCRS) (OVTI) (SKX) (WTS) Price Targets Changed

Quicksilver Resources Inc (NYSE: KWK), Kelly Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA), Micros Systems Inc (NASDAQ: MCRS), OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), Skechers USA, Inc. (NYSE: SKX) and Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS).

Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) had its price target lowered by Citigroup (NYSE:C) to $16.00.

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK) had its price target lowered by Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) to $4.50.

Micros Systems Inc. (MCRS) had its price target lowered by Jefferies to $50.00.

OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (OVTI) had its price target lowered by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) to $36.50.

Skechers USA, Inc. (SKX) had its price target raised by Sterne Agee to $13.00.

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (WTS) had its price target lowered by Wedbush to $32.00.

Ratings on (GBL) (GTXI) (HEOP) (KNDL) (KWK) Upgraded

Ratings on Gamco Investors Inc. (NYSE: GBL), GTx, Inc. (NASDAQ: GTXI), Heritage Oaks Bancorp (NASDAQ: HEOP), Kendle International (NASDAQ: KNDL) and Quicksilver Resources Inc (NYSE: KWK) upgraded by analysts.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) upgraded Gamco Investors Inc. (GBL) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $61.00 on the company.

Lazard Capital upgraded GTx, Inc. (GTXI) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They now have a price target of $8.00 on the company.

Raymond James upgraded Heritage Oaks Bancorp (HEOP) from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating.

Raymond James upgraded Kendle International (KNDL) from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating.

Global Hunter Securities upgraded Quicksilver Resources Inc (KWK) from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating. They have a price target of $17.50 on the company, up from $17.00.

El Paso (EP), Range Resources (RRC), Williams (WMB) Driving Options Interest

Worries abated over another fast surge in the price of oil, but options traders are still betting that turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa will continue to ripple through the energy sector.

Traders accumulated bullish positions in companies that focus on oil-and-gas production, transport or exploration, like El Paso Corp. (NYSE:EP), Range Resources Corp. (NYSE:RRC) and Williams Cos. (NYSE:WMB) Analysts said energy bulls are looking past oil's stabilization to around $98 a barrel and Saudi Arabia's supply assurances.

"The view is that the spike in crude oil will help the industry over time, [that] demand for things like drilling or oil-related services will remain strong," WhatsTrading.com analyst Frederic Ruffy said.

The activity came after similar moves in options to buy shares in Brazil's Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), GMX Resources Inc. (NYSE:GMXR), Quicksilver Resources Inc. (NYSE:KWK), Petrohawk Energy Corp. (NYSE:HK) and Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (AMEX:KOG) earlier last week.





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Gildan Activewear (NYSE:GIL), Quiksilver (NYSE:ZQK), Volcom (Nasdaq:VLCM) Most Exposed to Cotton Prices Says FBR

Commenting on the price of cotton, Chinese tightening, and the effect on companies, the most exposed in the view of FBR Capital are Gildan Activewear (NYSE:GIL), Quiksilver (NYSE:ZQK), Volcom (Nasdaq:VLCM). Also considered as having strong exposure to cotton are VF Corp (NYSE:VFC) and Hanesbrands Inc (NYSE:HBI).

FBR said, "The potential for tightening China monetary policy, European sovereign debt risk, and, more recently, the conflict in Korea have conspired to drive a strengthening U.S. dollar and popping of the commodity bubble, including cotton. As a result, apparel vendors who had chosen to wait to lock in cotton for 2H11, may (depending on buying/hedging strategies) be getting somewhat bailed out, but it is all relative in our opinion. Over the last few weeks, cotton prices are off -30% (March 2011 contract now at $1.17/lb, down from peak of $1.51/lb on November 9). While a technical reversal could continue over the near term (although in recent days it has flattened), we still believe the underlying supply/demand imbalance still holds (see the latest USDA report suggesting supply is tightening further) and will take time to be neutralized, supporting elevated cotton pricing over the intermediate term (supply from India will be worth monitoring). Pricing power will still be critical in looking to offset not only cotton, but other product cost inflation in labor and freight. If the air continues to get let out of the bubble, many apparel vendors may be able to lock in at more favorable rates (or, should we say, less worse rates), somewhat minimizing the risk to 2H11 estimates, and therefore mitigating the near-term cautious stance on the group and some of the select names we have highlighted. Although, it is worth noting that because supply is so tight, getting hands on cotton may be easier said than done. Also, while "apocalyptic" cotton risk may be off the table, most companies will still bear higher year-over-year cotton costs (cotton was $0.60s/lb on average in FY10) and other product cost inflation in labor/freight still exists, so consensus expectations for flat gross margin in FY11 still don't make much sense to us (unless you assume everyone can raise prices to offset). The potential exists for inverse correlation trading to continue—cotton pricing down, stocks up—including some of the names we've highlighted as the most exposed to cotton costs - Gildan Activewear, Quiksilver, and Volcom - as well as others that are perceived as having high exposure, including Hanesbrands Inc and VF Corp."

Gilden was trading at $30.79, rising by $0.71, or 2.36 percent as of 12:42 PM EST. Quiksilver was at $4.38, gaining $0.08, or 1.86 percent. Volcom traded at $18.37, increasing $0.37, or 2.06 percent. VF Corp stood at $84.65, up $1.77, or 2.14 percent. Hanesbrands Inc rose to $27.57, gaining $0.42. or 1.55 percent.

Goldman (NYSE:GS) Says Quicksilver (NYSE:KWK) Good Buyout Target

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) upgraded Quicksilver Resources (NYSE:KWK) saying they are an attractive buyout candidate.

Quicksilver, a natural gas company focusing on the North American market, was upgraded from "Sell" to "Neutral."

"We upgrade KWK and raise our 6-month target price to add an M&A component to our new price target methodology with a potential M&A ranking of 1 (high probability, 30%-50%) within our M&A framework...Key risks include commodity price volatility, drilling results, costs, gov’t pronouncements," Goldman said.

Quicksilver closed Monday at $14.75, dropping by $0.18, or 1.21 percent. A price target of $15 was placed on them by Goldman Sachs, increasing it from $13 a share.