Hercules (HERO) (PVR) (EVEP) (WLL) (SWX) (APU) Upgraded

Hercules Offshore, Inc. (NASDAQ: HERO), Penn Virginia (NYSE: PVR), EV Energy (NASDAQ: EVEP), Whiting Petroleum Co. (NYSE: WLL), Southwest Gas (NYSE: SWX) and Amerigas Partners Lp (NYSE: APU) upgraded by analysts.

EV Energy (EVEP) was upgraded by Oppenheimer from a “Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $85.00 on the company.

Hercules Offshore, Inc. (HERO) was upgraded by Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) from an “Underperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

Penn Virginia (PVR) was upgraded by BB&T (NYSE:BBT) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Southwest Gas (SWX) was upgraded by Citigroup (NYSE:C) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Whiting Petroleum Co. (WLL) was upgraded by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating. They have a price target of $73.00 on the company.

Amerigas Partners Lp (APU) was upgraded by Wells Fargo & Co. from an “Underperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

Ex-Dividend for (SWX) (TFX) (TXCO) (UMH) on May 12

The Ex-dividend date for Southwest Gas Corporation (SWX), Teleflex Inc. (TFX), Tractor Supply (TXCO), United Financial Bancorp Inc. (UMH) and United Mobile Homes Inc. (UMH) is on May 12, 2011

Southwest Gas Corporation (SWX) pays a dividend of $0.27 with a yield of 2.68 percent.

Teleflex Inc. (TFX) pays a dividend of $0.34 with a yield of 2.16 percent.

United Financial Bancorp Inc. (UMH) pays a dividend of $0.08 with a yield of 2.00 percent.

United Mobile Homes Inc. (UMH) pays a dividend of $0.18 with a yield of 7.07 percent.