Equity Briefing: Upgrades and Downgrades for August 15th: PDCE, PXD, REXX, ROSE, SKS, SM, SPLS, TC, TDG, TJX

A number of stocks were upgraded and downgraded by equities research analysts today, as reported by Analyst Ratings Network (http://bit.ly/arndailyr) and Equity Briefing:

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of PDC Energy Inc (NASDAQ: PDCE). They issued an in-line rating on the stock and set a $28.00 price target.

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD). They issued an outperform rating on the stock and set a $138.00 price target.

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of Rex Energy (NASDAQ: REXX). They issued an in-line rating on the stock and set a $13.00 price target.

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of Rosetta Resources Inc. (NASDAQ: ROSE). They issued an outperform rating on the stock and set a $58.00 price target.

UBS AG  raised their EPS estimates on shares of Saks Inc (NYSE: SKS). They now have a neutral rating and a $12.00 price target on the stock. They previously had issued a $11.00 price target.

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of SM Energy (NYSE: SM). They issued an outperform rating on the stock and set a $58.00 price target.

Deutsche Bank  downgraded shares of Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) from a buy rating to a hold rating.

RBC Capital  lowered its price target on shares of Thompson Creek Metals Co Inc (NYSE: TC) from $3.85 to $3.60. They have a sector perform rating on the stock.

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of Transdigm Group (NYSE: TDG). They issued an outperform rating on the stock and set a $145.00 price target.

UBS AG  reiterated its top pick rating on shares of TJX Companies Inc (NYSE: TJX).

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of Triangle Petroleum (NASDAQ: TPLM). They issued an outperform rating on the stock and set a $8.00 price target.

Citigroup  cut their EPS estimates on shares of Towers Watson and Co (NYSE: TW). They now have a buy rating and a $65.00 price target on the stock. They previously had issued a $75.00 price target.

Goldman Sachs  initiated coverage on shares of Warner Chilcott (NASDAQ: WCRX). They issued a neutral rating on the stock and set a $19.00 price target.

Compass Point  raised its price target on shares of Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corp (NYSE: WMC) from $21.00 to $21.50. They have a buy rating on the stock.

Imperial Capital  initiated coverage on shares of Cimarex Energy Co. (NYSE: XEC). They issued an outperform rating on the stock and set a $80.00 price target.

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