Ratings On (SMSI) (SVNT) (UN) Downgraded

Ratings on Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI), Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVNT) and Unilever NV (NYSE: UN) downgraded by analysts.

Merriman Curhan Ford downgraded Smith Micro Software, Inc. (SMSI) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

JMP Securities downgraded Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SVNT) from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) downgraded shares of Unilever NV (UN) from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating.

Ratings on (SMSI) (SUNH) (TMH) Downgraded by Analysts

Analysts downgraded ratings on Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI), Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNH) and Team Health Holdings (NYSE: TMH) today.

Needham & Company downgraded Smith Micro Software, Inc. (SMSI) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) downgraded Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (SUNH) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $12.00 on the company, down from $17.00.

Citigroup downgraded Team Health Holdings (TMH) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating. They have a price target of $23.00 on the company, up from $20.00. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind its call.

Ratings on (RAH) (SFD) (SMSI) (UN) Downgraded by Analysts

Analysts downgraded ratings on Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: RAH), Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE: SFD), Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI) and Unilever (NYSE:UN) today.

SunTrust (NYSE:STI) downgraded Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (RAH) from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating.

BB&T (NYSE:BBT) downgraded Smithfield Foods, Inc. (SFD) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Canaccord Genuity downgraded Smith Micro Software, Inc. (SMSI) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS) downgraded Unilever (NYSE:UN) from "neutral" to "underperform."

Smith Micro Software (NASDAQ:SMSI) Continues to Defend Position Among Key Customers

Questions on the ability of Smith Micro Software (NASDAQ:SMSI) to defend its position among key customers of its data connectivity software have been raised recently, and Brigantine believes the company still has the edge among the top U.S. network operators.

Brigantine says, "We are reiterating our rating on the heels of a recent report that questioned Smith's data connectivity software position among key customers. By our understanding, Smith remains the dominant connectivity software provider for the top network operators in the U.S., and while competition always remains a threat, Smith has rebuffed encroachment on its competitive position by providing significant value over multiple past years. Most important are the prospects before Smith where new solutions bolster product offering while leveraging carrier relationships."

Brigantine Advisors maintains a 'Buy' rating on Smith Micro Software (SMSI), which closed Wednesday at $12.96, gaining $0.68, or 5.54 percent. Brigantine has a price target on Smith Micro of $18.

Smith Micro Software (NASDAQ:SMSI) Has Short-Term Risk Says Needham

With revenue weighting expected to come more in the second half of 2011, Needham & Company sees the probability of short term risk for Smith Micro Software (NASDAQ:SMSI).

Needham says, "SMSI is a direct play on the growth of mobile broadband services and smart phones. We expect SMSI to be a significant beneficiary of the nascent rollout of the LTE/4G services by Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and AT&T (NYSE:T) (both N/R), especially as the company’s new Hotspot manager ramps later in 2011. That said, we think the company’s revenue profile is likely to be materially more 2H-weighted than current Street consensus, which could put some near-term pressure on the shares as Street models are adjusted...Taking our typically conservative tact relative to management guidance, our new 2011 estimates are $148MM/$0.86 vs. our prior $147MM/$0.85."

Needham & Company reiterates a "Buy" rating on Smith Micro Software, which closed Wednesday at $15.70, down $0.43, or 2.67 percent. Needham has a price target of $18 on SMSI.

Cisco (Nasdaq:CSCO), Juniper (Nasdaq:JNPR), NetApp (Nasdaq:NTAP), QUALCOMM (Nasdaq:QCOM), Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL) Among Tech Top Picks for Canaccord

Canaccord Genuity remains bullish on most segments of the tech segment going into 2011, and among their many top picks are Cisco (Nasdaq:CSCO), Juniper (Nasdaq:JNPR), NetApp (Nasdaq:NTAP), QUALCOMM (Nasdaq:QCOM) and Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL).

"We remain positively disposed across most of technology. Sustainability of the 2010 momentum trade comes into greater question however, leaving stock picks gravitating to product cycles and GARP – particularly into stiffening first half comparables. Wireless, cloud infrastructure (SaaS) and New Media are expected to be sources of the most attractive secular growth, helping shape downstream opportunities in communications," said Canaccord.

Other 2011 stock picks include Smith Micro (Nasdaq:SMSI), Sierra Wireless (Nasdaq:SWIR), GeoEye (Nasdaq:GEOY), Constant Contact (Nasdaq:CTCT), Pegasystems (Nasdaaq:PEGA,) DigitalGlobe (Nasdaq:DGI), TeleNav (Nasdaq:TNAV), Trimble (Nasdaq:TRMB), Real Networks (Nasdaq:RNWK), Rovi (NYSE:ROVI), Atmel (Nasdaq:ATML), Atheros (Nasdaq:ATHR), Intersil (Nasdaq:ISIL) and (Nasdaq:NVDA)

Cisco was trading at $19.58, down $0.04, or 0.20 percent, as of 12:16 PM EST. Juniper was at $37.23, up $0.24, or 0.65 percent. NetApp was at $55.36, up $0.01, or 0.02 percent. QUALCOMM was trading at $49.85, up $0.41, or 0.83 percent. Apple was at $323.78, up $1.57, or 0.49 percent.