Up/Downgrades (HPQ, AWAY, IR, PG, LCC, USG, OZRK, ONXX, PNM, SPB, TEVA, TUP, UNM, WBMD)

Published on Thursday, 01 December 2011 08:03 Written by Danny Miller

New York, December 1^st (TradersHuddle.com) – Following are some of the top upgrades and downgrades before the market open.

Upgrades

Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ), the world’s largest PC maker, was upgraded to Sector Perform from Underperform at Pacific Crest.

HomeAway (NASDAQ:AWAY) was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at Pacific Crest.

International Rectifier Corp. (NYSE:IR) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at JMP Securities.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), the global consumer products company, was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.

US Airways (NYSE:LCC), the Phoenix based airline, was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

USG Corp. (NYSE:USG), the maker and distributor of building materials, was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.

Downgrades

Bank of the Ozarks (NASDAQ:OZRK) was downgraded to a Hold from Buy at Wunderlich on valuation basis. The firm set its target price at $28.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ONXX) was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at Bank of America Merrill.

PNM Resources (NYSE:PNM) was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at SunTrust.

Spectrum Brands (NYSE:SPB) was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at SunTrust.

Teva Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:TEVA), the largest generic drug maker in the world, was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at SunTrust.

Tupperware (NYSE:TUP), the multinational direct selling company selling multiple product brands, was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at SunTrust.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM), the disability and special risk insurer, was downgraded to a Neutral from Buy at SunTrust.

WebMD Health (NASDAQ:WBMD) was downgraded to a Neutral from Outperform at Cowen.