The market opened to the upside, but options expiration related activity reversed many stocks to the downside. We closed the day lower, but off the lows by a bit. There were 5.21 Billion shares traded on the NYSE and shares over 2.83 Billion shares traded on the NASDAQ. There was little out in the way of earnings, but there were several Wall Street downgrades pushing stocks like CVS ( CVS ) and Martin Marietta Materials ( MLM ) down. Best Buy ( BBY ) bucked the trend and traded in the green after Goldman Sachs raised the stock to a buy. Other stocks that performed admirably in a down tape, included Honeywell ( HON ) , Coca Cola ( KO ) and Aetna ( AET ) . Commodity-related stocks led the action to the downside, with Massey Energy ( MEE ) , Schnitzer Steel ( SCHN ) , Potash ( POT ) , and Baker Hughes ( BHI ) . As we look ahead to next week, we will be getting earnings results from the likes of Tiffany ( TIF ) , Darden Restaurants ( DRI ) , Accenture [[ACN], and more. Don’t forget to check out this weekend’s premium articles featuring our various dividend stock watchlists. 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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Market Wrap-Up for Mar.19 (BBY, KO, POT, HON, CVS, more)

Aurizon Mines Seeking Early-stage Acquisitions Aurizon Mines (TSE:ARZ) has let it be known they’re looking for acquistion targets that the early stages of exploration with a goal of generating three times the output over the next five years. In 2009 Aurizon produced close to 159,000 ounces, and by 2014 they’re looking for gold production to increase to 500,000 ounces on an annual basis. With

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Aurizon Mines (TSE:ARZ) Looking for Acquisitions

Drugstore chain operator Walgreen Company ( WAG ) saw its 2010 earnings estimate lowered slightly on Friday by analysts at Credit Suisse. The analyst cut its 2010 EPS to $2.23 from $2.25, while its 2011 estimate has been set at $2.70. Suisse noted that Walgreen’s near-term outlook is challenging, but maintained its “Outperform” rating and $42 price target for WAG. Walgreen shares, which closed at $34.82 on Thursday, were mostly flat in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line We recently removed shares of WAG from our “recommended” list back on Nov.17, when the stock was trading at $39.40. The company has a dividend yield of 1.58%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $34.82. The stock has technical support in the $30-$32 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $38-$40 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Walgreen Company ( WAG ) 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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Walgreen’s 2010 Estimate Cut at Credit Suisse (WAG)

Women’s apparel and beauty products maker Limited Brands, Inc. ( LTD ) on Friday saw its price target and earnings estimates boosted at Barclays Capital. The analyst said it now expects shares of LTD to reach $33, up from a prior target of $26. Barclays Capital also boosted its 2010 and 2011 earnings estimates to $1.63 and $2.00 per share, respectively, citing strong cash flow. The firm also maintained its “Overweight” rating on the stock. Limited Brands shares rose 20 cents, or +0.8%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line We had removed shares of LTD from our “recommended” list back in September, 2008 when the stock traded at $20.35. The company has a 2.42% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $24.75. The stock has near-term technical support in the $18-$20 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $25-$27 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. Limited Brands, Inc. ( LTD ) 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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Limited Brands Target, Estimates Raised at Barclays Capital (LTD)

Electronics retailers Best Buy Co., Inc. ( BBY ) caught a big upgrade on Friday from analysts at Goldman Sachs. The analyst lifted its rating on BBY to “Buy” from “Neutral,” citing “optionality on product cycle recovery, macro recovery, and capital allocation.” Goldman also noted that the stock is trading at a low multiple in relation to its peers, and boosted its price target to $47 from $44. Best Buy shares rose $1.50, or +3.7%, in premarket trading Friday. 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 1.38% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $40.45. 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 Upped to “Buy” at Goldman Sachs (BBY)

Soft drink superpower The Coca-Cola Company ( KO ) saw its coverage initiated with a “Buy” rating on Friday by analysts at Buckingham Research. The analyst also set a $65 price target on KO shares, which had closed at $53.95 on Thursday. That target represents a nearly 21% upside to Thursday’s closing price. Coca-Cola shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line We have been recommending shares of KO since July 30, when the stock was trading at $49.28. The company has a 3.26% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $53.95. The Coca-Cola Company ( KO ) 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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The Coca-Cola Company Started as a “Buy” at Buckingham Research (KO)

Satellite television operator DirecTV ( DTV ) saw its rating cut on Friday by analysts at Citigroup. The analyst lowered its rating on DirecTV from “Buy” to “Hold,” but maintained its $38 price target on the stock, which had closed at $34.60 on Thursday. DirecTV shares fell 48 cents, or -1.4%, in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of DTV are trading right near all-time highs. The stock has technical support in the $28-$30 price area. We do not currently rate this non-dividend paying stock, but we do follow the company closely. DIRECTV ( DTV ) does not currently pay a dividend. 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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DirecTV Cut to “Hold” at Citigroup (DTV)

Package delivery giant FedEx Corporation ( FDX ) saw its price target and earnings estimates raised on Friday by analysts at Piper Jaffray. The analyst, which maintained its “Overweight” rating on the stock, boosted its price target to $110 from $100. FedEx shares had closed at $92.67 on Thursday. The firm noted that “Yesterday before the market open FDX reported F3Q10 EPS of $0.76 (144.2% y-o-y growth) above our $0.75 estimate and Consensus $0.72. We’ve raised our calendar 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates roughly 6.5% and 9.4% respectively – 4.0% on average now above Consensus…FDX has strong volume momentum and is focused on improving price which could provide further upside to our margin assumptions moving forward…Core Express and Ground trending well above expectations…Freight (LTL) operating loss materially larger than anticipated.” Jaffray also said that “We’ve raised our calendar 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates roughly 6.5% and 9.4% respectively – 4.0% on average now above Consensus. FDX has strong volume momentum and is focused on improving price which could provide further upside to our margin assumptions moving forward.” FedEx shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Friday. The Bottom Line Shares of FDX have a dividend yield of .47%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $92.67. The stock has technical support in the $81-$82 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $92-$97 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. FedEx Corporation ( FDX ) 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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Piper Jaffray Boosts Target, Estimates for FedEx (FDX)

Yamana Gold and BrazilYamana Gold (NYSE:AUY) has a solid base in Brazil, and in fact solidified and built the company around that base to the strong stock it is today.Many people consider Brazil and other South American countries difficult places to do business, but that’s mostly because of the over-emphasis on some trouble spots which are unique to themselves, and not how it is across most of

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Yamana Gold’s (NYSE:AUY) Success in Brazil

Gold prices going up! For the fourth day in a row gold rose as continuing concerns over the fate of Greece with its sovereign debt crisis pushed prices upward. Even the stronger U.S. dollar couldn’t keep investors from going to gold as their preference for a safe haven against the growing uncertainty on the depth of the crisis Europe and the euro face. Comments by Greece authorities that they

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Gold Futures Up Fourth Straight Day

The market was able to get its legs under it for the most part as we get set for options expiration tomorrow. This event can often times move stocks a bit more than usual. We added another dividend stock recommendation to our list this morning that follows in the criteria of yesterday’s addition. Be sure to check out the link below if you did not read the e-mail alert that was sent out this morning. Commodity-related stocks played the role of spoiler as far as the market being able to build on the late rally, with names like CF Indistries ( CF ) , Mosaic ( MOS ) , Peabody Energy ( BTU ) , Schnitzer Steel ( SCHN ) , and EOG Resources ( EOG ) leading the way lower. Nike ( NKE ) had a nice day as the company blew away estimates last night. Ross Stores ( ROST ) was down after the company reported its quarterly results. 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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Market Wrap-Up for Mar.18 (CF, MOS, ROST, NKE, BTU, more)

HVAC and aerospace products maker United Technologies Corporation ( UTX ) on Thursday saw its price target and earnings estimate boosted by analysts at Barclays Capital. The analyst said it now sees UTX shares, which had closed at $72.19 on Wednesday, reaching $81. Barclays Capital also raised its 2010 earnings estimate to $4.60 from $4.55, citing positive sentiment following the company’s recent analyst day. The firm maintained its “Overweight” rating on the stock. United Technologies shares were mostly flat in premarket trading Thursday. The Bottom Line Shares of UTX have a dividend yield of 2.35%, based on last night’s closing stock price of $72.19. The stock has technical suuport in the $65 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead reistance around the $75-$76 price levels. We would remain on the sidelines for now. United Technologies Corporation ( UTX ) 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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Barclays Capital Raises Target, Estimate for United Technologies (UTX)