UPDATE: Benchmark Upgrades The McGraw-Hill Companies to Buy on Attractive Valuation and Break-Up Value

Benchmark raises its rating on The McGraw-Hill Companies

from Hold to Buy and establishes a $53 price target. Benchmark notes, "We upgrade shares of McGraw-Hill (MHP) from Hold to Buy with a $53 price target to reflect strong growth prospects of McGraw-Hill‘s financial operations and the stock's discount to estimated break up value following separation of McGraw-Hill Education from McGraw Hill's financial operations. Our estimates remain unchanged for 2012." MHP closed at $43.89 on Wednesday.