UPDATE: FBR & Co. Downgrades Atmel After Encouraging CES Impressions

In a report published Monday, FBR & Co. analyst Christopher Rolland downgraded Atmel Corporation

to Market Perform from Outperform, raising its price target to $9.25 from 8.25. According to the report, FBR is removing ATML from its Top Picks list, primarily due to valuation. “We were generally encouraged by our impressions at CES, as today, we are raising our 2014/2015 estimates and price target from $8.25 to $9.25,” the report said. “The company gave us incremental details around its gross margin expansion story and highlighted auto/IoT products that should help buoy sales during the next three years. Additionally, we are encouraged by PC touch attach rates that are increasing from approximately 10% in 2013 to the high teens in 2014, an important driver of the recovery in its touch markets. After incorporating these positive developments, at $9.25, ATML trades at 20x our 2014 and 15x our 2015 estimates (EV/NOPAT, including stock compensation expense), well above our coverage universe of 14x 2014.” ATML closed Friday at $8.78 with shares trading up at 5.28 percent.