Top 10 Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades, Initiations (AOL, CBS, BEN, MYL, NWS, ORCL, RIMM, SFLY, VIA, DIS)

These are ten of the most important analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen from Wall Street research calls this Thursday morning.  You will probably notice a substantial focus on media-related shares:

AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) Started as Sell at Merriman Curhan Ford.
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS) Started as Buy at Needham.
Franklin Resources Inc. (NYSE: BEN) Started as Hold at Jefferies.
Mylan Labs (NASDAQ: MYL) Started as Buy at SunTrust.
News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS) Started as Buy at Needham.
Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ: ORCL) Reiterated Buy/$27 and raised 2010-12 estimates at Goldman Sachs.
Research-in-Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) Target cut to $120 from $150 at RBC.
Shutterly, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFLY) Raised to Buy at Janney.
Viacom (NYSE: VIA) Started as Buy at Needham.
Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) Started as Hold at Needham.

You can join our open email distribution list to hear more news on key analyst calls, top day trader alerts, mergers and acquisitions, Buffett and other investment gurus, IPOs, secondary offerings, private equity, and more.

JON C. OGG