UPDATE: Stifel Nicolaus Upgrades Dean Foods Company to Buy on Upside Outlook

Stifel Nicolaus raised its rating on Dean Foods Company

from Hold to Buy and established an $18 price target. Stifel Nicolaus noted, "We are upgrading the shares of Dean Foods to Buy from Hold and establishing an $18 target price. We are particularly attracted to the near-term value creation flowing from the announced split-up of the company. … WhiteWave is due to be spun-off in an IPO around year-end 2012, the company confirmed it is seeking a buyer for its Morningstar division (roughly $1 billion in gross value by our estimate), and the dairy business, while likely to be challenged by higher milk prices over the next six months or so, maintains a very low implied valuation based on the current stock price." Dean Foods Company closed at $14.65 on Thursday.