Equity Briefing: Upgrades and Downgrades for July 18th: KMT, LEA, LNC, LNEGY, LPNT, MBFI, MD, MET, MGA, MTOR

A number of stocks were upgraded and downgraded by equities research analysts today, as reported by Analyst Ratings Network and Equity Briefing:

Jefferies Group downgraded shares of Kennametal Inc. KMT from a buy rating to a hold rating.

JPMorgan Chase initiated coverage on shares of Lear Co. LEA. They issued a neutral rating on the stock.

UBS AG initiated coverage on shares of Lincoln National Co. LNC. They issued a buy rating on the stock.

Goldman Sachs upgraded shares of LINDE AG S/SDR LNEGY from a neutral rating to a buy rating.

Susquehanna downgraded shares of Lifepoint Hospitals LPNT from a positive rating to a neutral rating.

Sterne Agee downgraded shares of MB Financial, Inc. MBFI from a buy rating to a neutral rating.

Deutsche Bank downgraded shares of Mednax Services Inc MD from a hold rating to a sell rating.

UBS AG initiated coverage on shares of MetLife, Inc. MET. They issued a buy rating on the stock.

JPMorgan Chase initiated coverage on shares of Magna International Inc. MGA. They issued an underweight rating on the stock.

JPMorgan Chase initiated coverage on shares of Meritor MTOR. They issued a neutral rating on the stock.

Compass Point upgraded shares of NCR Corp. NCR from a neutral rating to a buy rating. Compass Point now has a $30.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $24.00.

MKM Partners upgraded shares of Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. OEH from a neutral rating to a buy rating.

Dahlman Rose initiated coverage on shares of Ocean Rig Udw Inc. ORIG. They issued a buy rating on the stock and set a $24.00 price target.

Jefferies Group upgraded shares of Oshkosh Truck OSK from a hold rating to a buy rating.

UBS AG initiated coverage on shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. PFG. They issued a neutral rating on the stock.

Jefferies Group downgraded shares of Parker-Hannifin Co. PH from a buy rating to a hold rating.

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