Specialty Chemicals

According to J.P. Morgan, Nalco (NYSE: NLC) is downgraded to Neutral. J.P. Morgan said that it is downgrading Nalco shares from Overweight to Neutral following the announcement of its merger with Ecolab (ECL). “We are increasing our 2011E EPS from $1.60 to $1.65 to adjust for the preliminary Q2:11...

JP Morgan has downgraded Nalco (NYSE: NLC) from Overweight to Neutral and has raised the price target from $33 to $38.

JP Morgan has raised the price target on Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) from $56 to $58 and maintains its Overweight rating.

Deutsche Bank has raised the price target on Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) from $54 to $55 and maintains its Hold rating.

Citi Downgraded Nalco (NYSE: NLC) to Hold from Buy.

Jefferies & Company has changed the price target on the following companies: Hansen Natural Corp. (NASDAQ: HANS) Buy, PT from $85.00 to $90.00 Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) Buy, PT from $31.00 to $33.00 Nalco Holding (NYSE: NLC) Hold, PT from $30.00 to $38.80 Northern Trust (NASDAQ: NTRS) Hold...

Deutsche Bank made a number of updates in a research report published today. Tractor Supply Co. (NASDAQ: TSCO) had its rating reiterated at Buy. At the same time, its price target was raised from $70 to $80. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) had its rating reiterated at Hold...

Stocks trading at or near 52-week highs and lows provide excellent trading opportunities, as volatility tends to increase at such levels. The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Wednesdays's trading session (listed from highest total volume to lowest): 1) Nalco Holding (NYSE: NLC): Shares...

Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI) announces its next round of earnings this Monday, July 25, 2011. Here's Benzinga's essential guide to Baker Hughes' second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting a positive EPS reading of 91 cents per share and revenues of $4.53 billion. We...

FMC Technologies (NYSE: FTI) releases its next round of earnings this Monday, July 25, 2011. Here's Benzinga's advanced look at FMC's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting a positive EPS reading of 39 cents per share and revenues of $1.19 billion. We'll...

Riverbed Tech (NASDAQ: RVBD) is trading over 22% lower after the company's revenue missed estimates. Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) is trading over 21% lower after releasing earnings. Lufkin Industries (NASDAQ: LUFK) is trading over 20% lower after reducing 2011 output forecast. Hanesbrands (NYSE: HBI...

By 10:33 am, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 9.61 points, or 0.08%, to 12,577.81, while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index had gained 0.14 points, or 0.01%. The NASDAQ composite index fell 7.93 points, or 0.28%. Some of the narrow based indexes that are supporting the markets...

Shares of Nalco Holding Company (NYSE: NLC) are higher on the session by 24.66%, trading at $35.99. Overall put volume is now running at 19.04x the daily average, with 42% of all puts traded being purchases on the offer. 1,085 contracts have traded on the session so far. Nalco Holding Company...

According to Oppenheimer, Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) announced that it is acquiring Nalco (NLC) for $38.80/share, or $8.1B FV, with 70% being paid in ECL stock and 30% in cash. Oppenheimer said that ECL expects, “1) the deal to be immediately accretive to both '11E and '12E EPS; 2) the combined entity to...

Nalco Holding Company (NYSE: NLC) climbed 28.75% to $37.17 at 9:50 am. Ecolab Inc (NYSE: ECL) announced its plans to buy Nalco Holding for around $5.4 billion. TESSCO Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: TESS) shares gained 27.59% to $15.40. TESS reported its Q1 net income at $4.6 million, up from $2.1...