New Analyst Ratings (COLB, GSIC, HFWA, HME, JAG, RGR)

Published on Friday, 27 August 2010 07:31 Written by Danny Miller

New York, August 27^th (TradersHuddle.com) – Following are some of the new analyst ratings before the market open.

Research Firms Initiate or review:

Columbia Banking (NASDAQ:COLB) was initiated with a Buy at Wunderlich and a target price of $21 saying with two FDIC-assisted acquisitions completed in early 2010 and capital ratios that are among the highest of any publicly traded bank in the U.S.

GSI Commerce (NASDAQ:GSIC), the developer and operator of electronic commerce businesses, was initiated with a Buy at Citigroup and a target price of $29.

Heritage Financial (NASDAQ:HFWA) was initiated with a Buy at Wunderlich and a target price of $18. The firm said they view the company as a solid, well-run community bank with the long-term potential to become a more meaningful financial services provider in the Pacific Northwest.

Home Properties (NYSE:HME), the REIT with operations in selected Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic markets in the United States, was initiated with a Buy at Janney Montgomery Scott.

Jaguar Mining (NYSE:JAG), the gold miner operating in Brazil, was initiated with a Neutral at JP Morgan.

Sturm Ruger (NYSE:RGR) was initiated with a Neutral at Merriman saying they believe the company is well positioned to participate in the continued growth of the domestic firearms industry with solid market share positions within both the commercial long gun and handgun segments. However, given their expectations for flat revenue and EPS growth in 2011 along with the shares' high premium valuation compared to Smith & Wesson, they would prefer to wait for a pullback in the shares.