Stock Analyst Actions 08-22-11

The day's list of stock analyst actions includes a slew of upgrades of financial institutions by Stifel Nicolaus. The financial sector has taken a beating, and we expect stocks have fallen far from target price valuations, but let's suppose there's legitimate and good reason for it... then what? I have a theory I'll share in a future article regarding why financials have taken such a beating.

You'll note that the day was mainly driven by hope that the Federal Reserve Chairman might have some creative aid coming via his Friday speech in Jackson Hole. You'll also note that the number of upgrades greatly outpaced downgrades today, as analysts and their directors hoped to catch a nice price. However, it may be a falling knife they find in their grasp.

Stock Analyst Actions

UPGRADES

Company	Analyst’s Firm	From	To
Astoria Fin’l (NYSE: AF)	Stifel Nicolaus	Sell	Hold
City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
Dime Com’ty (Nasdaq: DCOM)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
First Com. Banc. (Nasdaq: FCBC)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
First Commonwealth (NYSE: FCF)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
Fulton Fin’l (Nasdaq: FULT)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
Gran Tierra Energy (AMEX: GTE)	BMO Capital	Mtk. Perform	Outperform
Hibbett Sporting (Nasdaq: HIBB)	Needham	Buy	Strong Buy
Investors Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
ManTech (Nasdaq: MANT)	Standpoint Research	Hold	Buy
Murphy Oil (NYSE: MUR)	Howard Weil	Mkt. Perform	Mkt. Outperform
People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
Provident Fin’l (NYSE: PFS)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
SunPower (NasdaqGS: SPWRA)	Auriga	Sell	Hold
Susquehanna Bank (Nasdaq: SUSQ)	Stifel Nicolaus	Sell	Hold
TrustCo. Bank (Nasdaq: TRST)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
Viacom (NYSE: VIA.B)	Caris & Co.	Above Ave.	Buy
Webster Fin’l (NYSE: WBS)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC)	Stifel Nicolaus	Hold	Buy
Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE)	Avian	Negative	Positive

DOWNGRADES

Company	Analyst’s Firm	From	To
Fox Chase Bancorp (Nasdaq: FXCB)	Stifel Nicolaus	Buy	Hold
News Corp. (Nasdaq: NWSA)	Needham	Buy	Hold
Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL)	Stifel Nicolaus	Buy	Hold
Yanzhou Coal (NYSE: YZC)	HSBC Securities	Overweight	Neutral

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