Equity Briefing: Upgrades and Downgrades for August 22nd: AAPL, AAUKY, ACOR, ADI, AEM, AZPN, BBY, BMR, BMRN

A number of stocks were upgraded and downgraded by equities research analysts today, as reported by Analyst Ratings Network (http://bit.ly/arndailyr) and Equity Briefing:

Needham & Company  raised its price target on shares of Apple, Inc AAPL from $620.00 to $750.00. They have a buy rating on the stock.

JPMorgan Chase  downgraded shares of Anglo American plc AAUKY from a neutral rating to an underweight rating.

Leerink Swann  reiterated its outperform rating on shares of Acorda Therapeutics Inc. ACOR.

Canaccord Genuity  raised its price target on shares of Analog Devices, Inc. ADI from $42.00 to $45.00. They have a buy rating on the stock.

Jefferies Group  reiterated its hold rating on shares of Analog Devices, Inc. ADI.

Nomura  reiterated its neutral rating on shares of Analog Devices, Inc. ADI.

Global Hunter Securities  downgraded shares of Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited AEM from a buy rating to a neutral rating. They noted that the move was a valuation call.

Canaccord Genuity  reiterated its buy rating on shares of Aspen Technology, Inc. AZPN.

Wedbush  downgraded shares of Best Buy Co., Inc. BBY from a buy rating to an underperform rating. Their analysts now have a $14.50 price target on the stock.

Jefferies Group  reiterated its hold rating on shares of BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. BMR.

Robert W. Baird  reiterated its outperform rating on shares of Biomarin Pharm BMRN.

Citigroup  downgraded shares of Coca-Cola HBC S.A. CCH from a neutral rating to an underweight rating.

Deutsche Bank  downgraded shares of CNOOC CEO from a buy rating to a hold rating.

Oppenheimer  raised its price target on shares of Church & Dwight Co Inc CHD from $58.00 to $63.00. They have an outperform rating on the stock.

RBC Capital  downgraded shares of Clearwire CLWR from a sector perform rating to an underperform rating. Their analysts now have a $1.00 price target on the stock.

Wells Fargo & Co.  upgraded shares of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. CNP from a market perform rating to an outperform rating. They noted that the move was a valuation call.

Feltl & Co.  initiated coverage on shares of Cirrus Logic, Inc. CRUS. They issued a buy rating on the stock and set a $46.00 price target.

Lazard Capital  upgraded shares of Canadian Solar Inc. CSIQ from a sell rating to a neutral rating.

Credit Suisse  upgraded shares of Cemex SAB de CV CX from a neutral rating to an outperform rating. Credit Suisse now has a $10.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $7.69.

Scotia Capital  upgraded shares of Cemex SAB de CV CX from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating. Scotia Capital now has a $10.80 price target on the stock, up previously from $8.00.

Barclays Capital  initiated coverage on shares of Caesars Entertainment Co. CZR. They issued an underweight rating on the stock and set a $8.00 price target.

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