Semiconductor Equipment

Morgan Stanley has upgraded KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) from Equal-weight to Overweight and has established a $50 price target.

Despite an early pop in all major U.S. Indexes on the heels of a better-than-expected jobs report, the market has given up its early gains and has sunk, once again, deep into negative territory. The S&P 500 (SPX), which had traded as high as 1218.11, is currently down 12.82 points (1.1%) to 1...

Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) gained over 18% in the first hour of trading after reporting positive Q2 earnings. Grand Canyon Education (NASDAQ: LOPE) gained over 17% today after positive Q2 earnings ($0.29 vs $0.23 estimate EPS). Piper Jaffray also raised the price target for the company, to $18 per...

Oppenheimer & Co. is out with a research report on Aixtron SE (NASDAQ: AIXG) and is initiating coverage with a Perform rating and a $32 price target on shares. In a note to clients, Oppenheimer & Co. writes, "We are initiating on Aixtron with a Perform rating and $32 price target. Aixtron...

Piper Jaffray is out with its report today on Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN), lowering its PT from $25 to $15. In its report, Piper Jaffray writes, "We lower our price target on RBCN to $15 (previously $25) as we are concerned about eroding fundamentals due to lower sapphire pricing and...

Piper Jaffray has lowered the price target on Rubicon Technology (NASDAQ: RBCN) from $25 to $15 and maintains its Neutral rating.

Gilford Securities reiterated its MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) Hold rating in a research report published today. In the report, Gilford Securities states, "In conclusion, while we remain on the sidelines in terms of fundamentals, we would not rule out a potential bid by a financial buyer...

According to Wunderlich Securities, MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) reported 2Q11 revenue and non-GAAP EPS of $779.6mm and $0.29, respectively, against consensus revenue and non-GAAP EPS estimates of $673mm and $0.06, respectively. Wunderlich said that analysts' non-GAAP EPS estimates had...

Wunderlich Securities lowered its MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) price target from $16 to $13 and reiterated its MEMC Electronic Materials Buy rating in a research report published today. In the report, Wunderlich Securities states, "With the stock trading at 5x P/E and at an 18% discount...

Auriga is out with its report today on MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR), maintaining Buy. In its report, Auriga writes, "While solar wafer business is coping with the expected pricing pressure, semi wafers and SunEdison business have shown operational improvement and will likely gain further...

Jefferies reiterated its Underperform rating on MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR). At the same time, the rating agency reduced its price target on the company's stock from $7 to $6. On Wednesday, WFR closed the day at $6.99.

Jefferies made a number of rating and price target changes in a research report published today. AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) had its rating upgraded from Underperform to Hold. On Wednesday, AZN lost 0.34% of its value to finish the day at $47. Its shares continued to slide in today's pre-market...

This is your Benzinga news summary and traders' outlook for Thursday, August 4, 2011, covering headlines from overnight and Thursday's pre-market session. Today in domestic pre-market trading, U.S. equity futures are set for a weak morning as traders wait for the jobless claims data. At last check...

Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN) was downgraded by Robert W. Baird from "outperform" to "neutral." DNDN's shares closed at $35.84 yesterday. Dendreon's trailing-twelve-month operating margin is -443.81%. JP Morgan downgraded Entropic Communications Inc (NASDAQ: ENTR) from “overweight” to “...

Kraft Foods Inc (NYSE: KFT) rose 4.99% to $36.01 in the pre-market session. KFT reported a 4.2% rise in its second-quarter profit and raised its projections for the year. It also announced its plans to split the company into two units. NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) added 4.03% to $32.50 in the pre-...