Stock Upgrades And Downgrades

Investing

Douglas A. McIntyre

Published: May 1, 2012 8:32 am

Canaccord maintains its buy rating on Hologic (NASDAQ: HOLX) after it announced a buyout of Gen-Probe for $3.7.

Canaccord also reiterated its buy rating on Watson Pharmaceuticals (WPI: NYSE)

Goldman Sachs upgraded Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH) to neutral.

Bank of America Upgraded AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) to neutral

Deutsche Bank downgraded Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) to hold

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported first-quarter net income fell 19% on 6.6% lower revenue. Earnings were $1.79 billion, or 24 cents a share, compared with $2.22 billion, or 28 cents, in the year-earlier quarter. Adjusted earnings were 58 cents a share compared with 60 cents.

Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI) reported its first-quarter profit was $314 million, or 38 cents a share compared to $250 million, or 30 cents a share a year ago. Revenue rose to $3.654 billion, from $3.3 billion a year ago.

Avon Products Inc. (NYSE: AVP) reported an 82% drop in first-quarter profit to $26.5 million– 6 cents a share, from $143.6 million, or 33 cents, a share in the same quarter last year. Sales fell 2% to $2.53 billion for the quarter, down from $2.59 billion in the year-ago period.

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