Upgrades / Downgrades (ATHR, CDNS, MAR, TK, TNP, CTV, DRH, EXPD, ICE, LCAPA, LSTZA, NAT, SFL, TRV, VLTR, WLP)

Published on Tuesday, 26 October 2010 07:28 Written by Danny Miller

New York, October 26^th (TradersHuddle.com) – Following are some of the top upgrades and downgrades before the market open.

Upgrades

Atheros Communications (NASDAQ:ATHR), the developer of semiconductor system solutions for wired and wireless communications products, was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at William Blair.

Cadence Designs (NASDAQ:CDNS) was upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform at RBC. The firm set its target price at $9.

Marriott (NYSE:MAR), the hotel chain owner and operator, was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein.

Teekay Corp. (NYSE:TK), the marine midstream company, was upgraded to a Buy from Hold at Jefferies. The firm set its target price at $41.

Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE:TNP) was upgraded to a Buy from Hold at Jefferies. The firm set its target price at  $20.

Downgrades

CommScope (NYSE:CTV), the maker of coaxial cables and other high-performance electronic and fiber optic cable products, was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Jefferies. The firm set its target price at $30. Robert W. Baird also downgraded the stock to a Neutral and set its target price at $31, after buy-out offer from The Carlyle Group.

Diamondrock Hospitality (NYSE:DRH) was downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC Capital. The firm set its target price at $11.

Expeditors International (NASDAQ:EXPD), the global logistics company, was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at UBS

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE), the global operator of commodity marketplaces, was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

Liberty Media (NASDAQ:LCAPA), the tracking stock issued by Liberty Media Corporation to track the performance of the Capital Group, was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank.

Liberty Media-Starz (NASDAQ:LSTZA), the owner and operator of cable television channels and Internet businesses, was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank. The firm set its target price at $65.

Nordic American Tanker (NYSE:NAT) was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Jefferies. The firm set its target price at $28.

Ship Finance International (NYSE:SFL) was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Jefferies. The firm set its target price at $20.

Teekay Shipping (NYSE:TK) was downgraded to a Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan. The firm set its target price at $33.

The Travelers (NYSE:TRV), the property casualty insurer, was downgraded to a Sell from Hold at Deutsche Bank. The firm set its target price at $51.

Volterra Semiconductor (NASDAQ:VLTR) was downgraded to a Buy from Strong Buy at Needham. The firm set its target price at $25.

WellPoint (NYSE:WLP), the owner of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield benefits plans, was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Citigroup.