Hotel operator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc ( HOT ) saw its price target raised 15% on Wednesday by analysts at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. The analyst said it now sees shares of HOT reaching $46, up from a prior target of $40. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch noted that Starwood’s real estate holdings could be undervalued by as much as 25%, and maintained its “Buy” rating on the stock. Starwood Hotels shares, which had closed at $41.34 on Tuesday, were mostly flat in premarket trading Wednesday. The Bottom Line Shares of HOT have a dividend yield of .48%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $41.34. The stock has technical support in the $35 price area. If the shares can continue to firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $45 price level. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc ( HOT ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Starwood Hotels’ Price Target Raised at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch (HOT)

Healthcare giant Abbott Laboratories ( ABT ) said Wednesday that it will acquire drugmaker Facet Biotech for $450 million in cash, and also announced FDA approval for its latest cataract treatment. In pursuant to the deal, Abbott will pay $27 for each Facet share, which represents a 67% premium over Facet’s Tuesday closing price of $16.21. The total purchase price of the deal will actually be around $722 million, which includes $272 million in Facet’s cash and marketable securities. Back in December, Facet rejected a buyout offer of $17.50 per share from Biogen Idec, saying the bid grossly undervalued the company. In a separate announcement, Abbott said that it has received FDA approval for its Tecnis Multifocal 1-Piece intraocular lens, which was developed for cataract patients with and without presbyopia. The lens is implanted in a patient’s eye after the natural lens has been removed. Abbott shares fell 30 cents, or -0.6%, in premarket trading Wednesday. The Bottom Line We have been recommending shares of ABT since Oct.14, when the stock was trading at $49.65. The company has a 3.21% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $54.80. Abbott Laboratories ( ABT ) is a “recommended” dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Abbott Labs to Buy Facet Biotech; Wins FDA Approval for Cataract Treatment (ABT)

Packaged foods giant Kraft Foods Inc. ( KFT ) saw its price target raised on Tuesday by analysts at Citigroup. The analyst lifted its price target for KFT shares, which had closed at $29.17 on Monday, to $36 from $33, citing bullish sentiment from the Cadbury ( CBY ) acquisition. Citigroup set its 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates for the company at $2.10 and $2.35, respectively, and reiterated its “Buy” rating on the stock. Kraft Foods shares rose 20 cents, or +0.7%, in premarket trading Tuesday. The Bottom Line We have been recommending shares of KFT since May 5, when the stock was trading at $24.26. The company has a 3.98% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $29.17. Kraft Foods Inc. ( KFT ) is a “recommended” dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Kraft Foods’ Price Target Boosted at Citigroup (KFT)

Electronics retailer Best Buy Co., Inc. ( BBY ) on Tuesday saw its price target and earnings estimates lowered by analysts at Goldman Sachs. The analyst cut its price target for BBY shares, which had closed at $39.35 on Monday, to $44. Goldman also lowered its earnings estimates for the company, citing lower expected margins, and maintained its “Neutral” on the stock. Best Buy shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Tuesday. The Bottom Line We removed shares of BBY from our “recommended” list last May 13, when the stock was trading at $37.06. The company has a 1.42% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $39.35. The stock has technical support in the $35 price target. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $43-$45 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Best Buy Co., Inc. ( BBY ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Best Buy’s Price Target, Earnings Estimates Cut at Goldman Sachs (BBY)

Supermarket chain operator The Kroger Co. ( KR ) said Tuesday that its fourth quarter profit fell 27% from last year, despite higher sales, but results still beat analyst estimates. The Cincinnati-based company reported fourth quarter net income of $255.4 million, or 39 cents per share, compared with $349.2 million, or 53 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Sales rose 7% from last year, to $18.6 billion, aided by higher fuel sales as a result of gas discounts for regular customers. On average, Wall Street analysts expected a smaller profit of 34 cents per share, on much lower revenue of $17.73 billion. Kroger shares fell 70 cents, or -3.1%, amid a broad market sell-off in premarket trading Tuesday. The Bottom Line We have avoided shares of KR since our early June 2008 coverage began, when the stock was trading at $27.30. The company has a 1.66% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $22.90. The shares have technical support in the $19-$20 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $25 price level. We would remain on the sidelines. The Kroger Co. ( KR ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Kroger’s Q4 Profit Plunges 27%, Still Beats View (KR)

Steel maker United States Steel Corporation ( X ) caught a big upgrade on Monday from analysts at Goldman Sachs. The analyst raised its rating on X to “Buy” from “Neutral,” and lifted its six-month price target on the stock to $79 from $55. U.S. Steel shares had closed at $58.90 on Friday. Goldman noted that “Raw material prices continue to move up with scrap now in the lead and likely soon to be followed by higher iron ore and coking coal prices, which should provide support for higher steel prices.” U.S. Steel shares rose $1.90, or +3.2%, in premarket trading Monday. The Bottom Line Shares of U.S. Steel ( X ) have a dividend yield of .34%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $58.90. The stock has technical support in the $50 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $65 price level. We would remain on the sidelines for now. United States Steel Corporation ( X ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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U.S. Steel Upgraded to “Buy” at Goldman Sachs (X)

Banking company Capital One Financial Corp. ( COF ) on Friday saw its rating and price target cut by analysts at Goldman Sachs. The analyst lowered its rating on COF to “Neutral” from “Buy,” citing the company’s exposure to credit card late fees and loan contraction. Goldman also cut its price target on the stock, which had closed at $36.84 on Friday, to $45 from $50. Capital One shares fell 38 cents, or -1%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of COF have a dividend yield of .54%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $36.84. The stock has technical support in the $30-$34 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $40 price level. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Capital One Financial Corp. ( COF ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Capital One Downgraded at Goldman Sachs (COF)

Teen clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ( ANF ) on Friday saw its price target and estimates raised by analysts at Goldman Sachs. The analyst lifted its price target for ANF shares, which had closed at $41.52 on Thursday, to $50 from $40. Goldman also raised its earnings estimates for the company, noting that its domestic business is improving, and maintained its “Buy” rating on the stock. The analyst boosted its 2010, 2011, and 2012 EPS estimates from $1.35 to $1.84, $2.29 to $2.81, and $3.50 to $4.05, respectively. Abercrombie shares rose 28 cents, or +0.7%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line We have been avoiding shares of ANF since our June 2008 coverage began, when the stock was trading at $67.37. The company has a dividend yield of 1.69%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $41.52. The stock has technical support in the $35 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $44-$48 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ( ANF ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Abercrombie’s Target, Estimates Boosted at Goldman Sachs (ANF)

Aircraft maker The Boeing Company ( BA ) on Thursday saw its rating and price target boosted by analysts at UBS. The analyst raised its rating on UBS to “Neutral” from “Sell,” and boosted its price target on the stock to $68 from $50. Boeing shares, which had closed at $64.45 on Wednesday, rose 65 cents, or +1%, in premarket trading Thursday. The Bottom Line We have been recommending shares of BA since Aug.27, when the stock was trading at $47.82. The company has a dividend yield of 2.61%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $64.45. The Boeing Company ( BA ) is a “recommended” dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Boeing’s Rating, Price Target Upgraded at UBS (BA)

Athletic footwear and apparel retailer Foot Locker, Inc. ( FL ) said late Wednesday that it swung to a fourth quarter profit, but results narrowly missed analyst estimates. The New York-based company reported fourth quarter net income of $23 million, or 14 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $125 million, or 81 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding one-time items, adjusted profit was 24 cents per share. Revenue rose less than 1% from last year, to $1.33 billion. On average, Wall Street analysts expected a slightly higher profit of 25 cents per share, albeit on slightly lower revenue of $1.31 billion. Foot Locker shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Thursday. The Bottom Line We removed shares of FL from our recommended list back on Sept.17,2008, when the stock was trading at $17.19. The company has a 4.61% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $13.01. The stock has technical support in the $10-$11 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $15-$16 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Foot Locker, Inc. ( FL ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Foot Locker Swings to Q4 Profit, Narrowly Missing Estimates (FL)

Package delivery giant United Parcel Service, Inc. ( UPS ) saw its stock upgraded on Wednesday by analysts at Goldman Sachs. The analyst added UPS to its prestigious “Conviction Buy” List with a $76 price target. UPS shares had closed at $59.16 on Tuesday. Goldman noted that “UPS offers the highest returns in the industry, has attractive international growth prospects, and faces relatively few significant regulatory headwinds.” UPS shares rose 75 cents, or +1.3%, in premarket trading Wednesday. The Bottom Line We have been recommending shares of UPS since Jan.8, when the stock was trading at $57.41. The company has a 3.18% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $59.16. United Parcel Service, Inc. ( UPS ) is a “recommended” dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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UPS Added to Goldman Sachs’ “Conviction Buy” List (UPS)

Mining equipment maker Joy Global Inc. ( JOYG ) said Wednesday that its first quarter profit fell 11% from last year, but results still easily beat analyst expectations, sending its shares higher. The Milwaukee-based company reported fiscal first quarter net income of $76.2 million, or 73 cents per share, compared with $85.7 million, or 83 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue fell 3% from last year, to $729 million. On average, Wall Street analysts expected much smaller profits of 64 cents per share, on lower revenue of $663.4 million. Looking ahead, the company boosted the lower end of its 2010 forecast. Joy now expects full-year earnings of $2.85 to $3.05 per share, up from prior estimates for $2.65 to $3.05. Joy Global shares rose $1.60, or +3.1%, in premarket trading Wednesday. The Bottom Line We had removed shares of JOYG from our recommended list back on Oct.28, when the stock was trading at $53.52. The company has a 1.35% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $51.67. The stock has technical support in the $45 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $55-$57 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Joy Global Inc. ( JOYG ) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars. Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks , as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here .

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Joy Global Q1 Earnings Beat View; Low End of Forecast Raised (JOYG)