Downgrades

CTPARTNERS EXEC (CTP) Downgraded by Zacks to NEUTRAL

Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of CTPARTNERS EXEC (CTP) from OUTPERFORM to NEUTRAL on January 07, 2015, with a target price of $16.80. CTPartners Executive Search LLC operates as an executive research firm engaged in providing for the recruitment and hiring of senior executives, officers and board members. […]

Upgrades

RITCHIE BROS (RBA) Upgraded by Zacks to OUTPERFORM

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of RITCHIE BROS (RBA) from NEUTRAL to OUTPERFORM on January 07, 2015, with a target price of $28.10. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers conduct unreserved public auctions every year at locations throughout North and Central America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. […]

Upgrades

PAC ETHANOL INC (PEIX) Upgraded by Zacks to NEUTRAL

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of PAC ETHANOL INC (PEIX) from UNDERPERFORM to NEUTRAL on January 07, 2015, with a target price of $9.20. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. is currently in the business of marketing ethanol in the Western United States through Kinergy Marketing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the largest West Coast-based marketer of renewable fuels […]

Upgrades

WALGREENS BAI (WBA) Upgraded by Zacks to NEUTRAL

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of WALGREENS BAI (WBA) from UNDERPERFORM to NEUTRAL on January 07, 2015, with a target price of $75.70. Walgreen Company is a national retail pharmacy chain and considered the leader in innovative drugstore retailing. Walgreens pioneered many store features that are becoming standards in the industry. […]

Upgrades

LIBERTY M INT-A (QVCA) Upgraded by Zacks to NEUTRAL

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of LIBERTY M INT-A (QVCA) from UNDERPERFORM to NEUTRAL on January 07, 2015, with a target price of $28.30. Liberty Interactive Corporation, through its subsidiaries, owns interests in video and on-line commerce industries in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company owns interests in home shopping television networks and lifestyle and travel services Internet websites. […]

Mergers & Acquisitions

Genstar Capital Announces Agreement to Acquire Telestream

Genstar Capital Announces Agreement to Acquire Telestream Opportunities Seen for New Products, International Expansion, and Add-on Acquisitions PR Newswire SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 7, 2015 SAN FRANCISCO , Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Genstar Capital, a leading middle market private equity firm that focuses on investments in targeted segments of the financial services, software, industrial technology, and healthcare industries, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Telestream, a world-class provider of live and on-demand digital video tools and workflow solutions. […]

Stock Analysts

Toyota (TM) to Allow Royalty-Free Usage of FCV Patents

Toyota Motor Corporation ( TM ) has decided to share nearly 5,680 of its fuel cell vehicle (FCVs) related patented technologies (including those with pending applications) royalty-free, in an effort to make FCVs more popular. These include 1,970 patent licenses related to fuel cell stacks, 290 patent licenses related to high-pressure hydrogen tanks and 3,350 patent licenses related to fuel cell system control technology. […]

Stock Analysts

Monsanto Posts Upbeat Q1 Earnings, Maintains Outlook

Monsanto Company ( MON ) reported better-than-expected bottom-line results for first quarter of fiscal 2015 (ended Nov 30, 2014). The company reported adjusted earnings of 47 cents per share, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents. However, results came 29.9% below the year-ago earnings of 67 cents. […]

Stock Analysts

Vulcan Materials (VMC): A Strong Buy on Aggregate Strength

We recently upgraded construction materials company, Vulcan Material Company ( VMC ) to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Estimates for the company have been rising ever since it reported better-than-expected third-quarter results on Nov 4. Moreover, strong trends in private construction are boosting aggregates volume growth in Vulcan’s served states. […]

Stock Analysts

Seagate Seven: Slimmest External HDD with 500 GB Storage

Storage solution provider, Seagate Technology Public Limited Company ( STX ) brought technology to a new level with the launch of the slimmest external hard disk drive (HDD) — Seagate Seven — last week. Just 7mm in thickness, the drive can store 500 gigabyte (GB) of data. The company stated despite the size of the device, structural integrity and rigidity has not been compromised. […]