Equity Brief: Ratings Changes for November 20th: ISRG, JNJ, JOY, KEP, LOW, LPI, MDCO, MDRX, MDT

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

Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ISRG. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Johnson & Johnson JNJ. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Joy Global Inc. JOY from an underperform rating to a market perform rating. BMO Capital Markets now has a $64.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $49.00.

Zacks reiterated its neutral rating on shares of Korea Electric Power Corp KEP. They have a $13.00 price target on the stock. Zacks' analyst wrote, "Korea Electric Power Corporation is the dominant player in Korea's electricity sector. It continues to be well-positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities in this market and to benefit from the industry restructuring initiatives of the Korean government. Higher electricity tariff rates, higher electricity volume sales, an improving overseas business and a recent regulatory approval for the fuel cost pass-through mechanism will all add to the growth story. However, we are taking a conservative and cautious view on the stock given the scenario of foreign currency valuation loss, escalating fuel costs, the increased price of purchased power and uncertainty surrounding pending regulatory cases. As such, we maintain our Neutral recommendation on Korea Electric Power. "

Argus raised its price target on shares of Lowe's LOW from $35.00 to $38.00. They have a buy rating on the stock.

BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Laredo Petroleum Holdings Inc (LPI) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating. Their analysts now have a $22.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $27.00.

Oppenheimer initiated coverage on shares of The Medicines Compan (MDCO). They issued an outperform rating on the stock and set a $35.00 price target. They wrote, "Our positive stance is based on our view that Angiomax, MDCO's key commercial asset, is worth ~$19/share alone, suggesting the market is attributing little/no value to MDCO's pipeline, which consists of two potentially promising Phase III assets. We look for Phase III data from antiplatelet-agent Cangrelor by YE12/early 2013, and data from two Phase III studies of antibiotic asset Oritavancin, being developed to treat ABSSSI, in 1H13, which we anticipate could serve as significant positive catalysts for the stock. Our $35 PT is based on the average of our sum-ofthe-parts and DCF analysis."

Zacks reiterated its neutral rating on shares of Allscripts Healthcare Solutions (MDRX). They have a $13.00 price target on the stock.

Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Medtronic, Inc. (MDT). They issued a hold rating on the stock.

Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on shares of Millennial Media, Inc. (MM). They issued a buy rating on the stock.

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