cmvt

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Comcast (CMCSA), Time Warner Cable (TWC), CNet Networks (CNET), Coviden (COV) and I.D. Systems (IDSY) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Banc of America resumed coverage of Comcast (NADAQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) with Buy ratings and $32 and $43 targets, respectively.

• Stanford started CNet (NASDAQ: CNET) with a Buy rating and $10 target, as the company is well positioned to benefit from its developing web properties.

• Bear Stearns expects shares of Covidien (NYSE: COV) to move up, starting shares with an Outperform rating, as the management transforms the company from a cash flow focused conglomerate division into a faster-growing, nimble competitor.

• Merriman said I.D. Systems (NASDAQ: IDSY) is uniquely positioned in the wireless asset tracking market given its focus on industrial machinery and material handling equipment, starting shares with a Buy rating...

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Comverse (OTC: CMVT) was initiated with a Neutral rating at Merriman.

• Lehman started Getty Images (NYSE: GYI) with a Equal Weight rating and ShoreTel (NASDAQ: SHOR) with an Overweight rating.

• Jefferies initiated Harmonic (NYSE: HLIT) with a Buy rating.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc (JBHT), Nvidia Corp (NVDA), International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (IFF), RealNetworks, Inc (RNWK) and Marchex (MCHX) were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Baird upgraded J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc (NASDAQ: JBHT) to Outperform from Market Perform based on strong trends in Intermodel, valuation, and a $500M share buyback.

• Pacific Growth upgraded shares of Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) to Buy from Neutral citing valuation.

• Buckingham upgraded International Flavors (NYSE: IFF) to Accumulate from Neutral following the company's Q1 report.

• RealNetworks Inc (NASDAQ: RNWK) was raised to Buy from Accumulate at ThinkEquity after its Q1 report.

• Susquehanna upgraded Marchex Inc (NASDAQ: MCHX) to Positive from Neutral. Susquehanna has increased confidence that Marchex will be able to increase monetization via Yahoo!'s (YHOO) Panama upgrade, improving 2008 TAC rates and increased value of owned sites following a major upgrade for 2H07.
  

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Jefferies raised Symantec Corp (NASDAQ: SYMC) shares to Buy from Hold with a $21 target.

• JP Morgan upgraded Comverse Technology Inc (NASDAQ: CMVT).

• Raytheon Co (NYSE: RTN) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Lehman Brothers.

• SPX Corp (NYSE: SPW) was raised to Neutral from Underperform at Needham.

• Wachovia upgraded IntercontinentalExchange, Inc (NYSE: ICE) to Outperform from Market Perform.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Although he calls the stock "much-maligned," Mark Skousen has issued a buy on Priceline Incorporated (NASDAQ:PCLN), which he says is "coming back with a vengeance."

The editor of Forecasts & Strategies explains: "There's probably no larger group of stocks that fit the turnaround mode than technology, especially the 'dot com' companies that were decimated by the tech wreck in the early 2000s.

"One such stock is Priceline.com, the online travel agency that allows customers to 'name their own price.' Its service offers retail airline tickets, hotel reservations, car rentals, vacation packages, destination services, cruises trips, and travel insurance.

"And the company's strategy is working. Priceline yesterday reported that its fourth-quarter earnings more than tripled from the prior year. It earned $13.2 million, or 33 cents a share, compared to $3.8 million, or 9 cents a share, in the fourth-quarter of 2005.

"Revenue rose 28% to $260 million in fourth quarter 2006, compared with $203.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Profit margins at Priceline are at 6% and rising."

Skousen recommends buying Priceline.com at market and setting a protective stop of $42. And for those familiar with options and willing to take greater risks, he suggests that you consider buying the July $50 calls.

Steven Halpern's TheStockAdvisors.com provides a free, daily overview of the latest stock ideas from the nation's leading financial newsletters.

Today, Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) and Vodafone Group (NYSE: VOD) announced their collaboration on the development of S60 software on Symbian OS, with the release of the first Vodafone specific software package to all S60 licensees.

Yesterday, Comverse Technology Inc (OTC: CMVT) announced the expansion of its Converged Messaging portfolio with the launch of Comverse Instant SMS, which combines the worlds of SMS and Mobile Instant Messaging, or MIM.

Additionally, Openwave Systems Inc (NASDAQ: OPWV) is launching a whole line of new products.

2007 and 2008 will be the battle between handsets and smartphones, those with the best software will win out. Wireless service providers have been slow to bring PC functionality to handset devices for fear of losing control of the handset. In the PC business, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) make all the money, with little left over for anyone else.

This means industry consolidation in the wireless software market is about to begin. Look for everyone to start making wireless software acquisitions, either acquiring or partnering, with Openwave, Comverse and Symbian. Also look for the big software companies like Microsoft and Sun Microsystems Inc (NASDAQ: SUNW), with its Java platform, to get into the M&A spirit.

As a public service to the devoted readers of BloggingStocks, I've decided to spread my own holiday cheer. Below is a quiz to test your knowledge of recent big business stories that you may have overlooked. If it were up to me, I would give away a really huge prize for getting the answers right, such as your weight in Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK/A) stock or shares of Google (Nasdaq:GOOG) at the IPO price. Alas, there is no prize that I can offer you other than the satisfaction of knowing that you are smarter than the average investor. The correct answers are at the bottom.

1) Heelys (NASDAQ: HLYS) -- As of October 31, how many people worked for the Carrollton, Texas-based maker of wheeled sneakers that have delighted Wall Street, and horrified school administrators and mall managers: a) 38; b) 380; c)3800; d) the number is dwarfed by the millions of annoyed parents shelling out $59 to $99 for a toy that their kids will grow out of and grow bored with in the next few months.

2) Triad Hospitals Inc. (NYSE:TRI) -- Triad Hospitals CEO James Shelton has recently told TPG Axon's Danakar Singh that he's found the hedge fund's recent missives that have criticized the management of the hospital chain to be: a) "productive and useful", b) "way off base")c)"beneath contempt" d) Shelton hasn't responded to Singh's letters.

3) AMC Entertainment -- How long has it been in fiscal years since the movie chain operator, which recently announced plans to go public, was profitable? A) 4; B)9; c)2; d) this company is profitable now.

4) Artes Medical (Nasdaq:ARTE) -- On October 26, the maker of injectable cosmetic products, CEO Dr. Stefan Lemperle got; A) a grant for 10,000 restricted shares; b) replaced because it was in the "best interests" of the company; c) a $10 million loan forgiven; d) a new type of collagen that makes him look 20 years younger.

5) Friendly Ice Cream (Amex:FRN) -- The Lion Fund's Sadar Biglari has vowed that if elected to the Friendly Ice Cream board, he and associate Philip Cooley would be; a) "technically and psychologically independent" b: "Eager to learn the restaurant business from a top-flight management team"; c)"interested in hiring co-founder S. Priestly Blake to run the company;" d) "eager to explore a merger with Applebee's (Nasdaq:APPB), which has also has been targeted by activist investors.

6) Trina Solar Ltd (NYSE:TSL) -- The Chinese-based solar power company said in its recent prospectus that auditors found: a) that its books complied with US and Chinese GAAP; b) That its books complied with Chinese GAAP but not US GAAP; c) that its books didn't comply with either US or Chinese GAAP; d) that its accounting "more than met" applicable standards.

7) Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) -- Lockheed Martin will no longer pick up executive's tab for; a) Country Club memberships; b) Local Town Car service; c) Tickets to sporting events; d) All of the above. (via Footnoted)

8) Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) -- According to the Washington Post, How did Google co-founder Sergey Brin dress when he went to lobby Congress? a) Jeans, silver mesh sneakers and a black t-shirt; b) a three-piece custom tailored suit; c) A tweed sports coat, dress shirt and Chinos; d) A golf shirt with a Google logo, tan Dockers and cowboy boots.

9) Tribune (NYSE:TRB) -- Which of the following rich guys has NOT been reported to be interested in buying one or more Tribune properties; a) David Geffen; b) Eli Broad; c) Jack Welch; d:) Saudi Prince Alwaleed

10) Facebook -- How has Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg driven executives from Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) and other potential suitors crazy, according to the Wall Street Journal. a) Not available for scheduled 8 a.m. conference call because he wasn't awake; b) couldn't do a weekend meeting because his girlfriend was in town; c) A&B; d) Neither

Correct answers: 1) a but d also is acceptable. 2: d; 3:b; 4:B; 5:a; 6:c: 7:d; 8:a: 9) d; 10) c

Jonathan Berr is editor of http://www.desperateinvestors.com

Welcome to the first annual Blogging Stocks Turkey Awards. With this new feature, we'll take a look at executives at companies we follow who most deserve a basting -- not that they necessarily did anything illegal, but just something dumb, thoughtless, or ridiculously silly.

This year, our nominees for the six biggest turkeys of the business world include:

- Patricia Dunn, Hewlett Packard Company's (NYSE:HPQ) erstwhile board chairwoman, who apparently masterminded a corporate spying program against fellow board members -- or at least is taking the fall for it.

- Andrew Young, the former Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) spokesman and long-time civil rights leader, who had to step down from the job after making prejudiced comments against ethnic groups that operate mom-and-pop stores in urban neighborhoods.

I recently wrote a post for BloggingStocks.com about the former CEO of Comverse Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: CMVT), Kobi Alexander. Because of charges for backdating of stock options, Alexander fled the U.S. – until he was caught recently in Namibia.

Well, he must have a smart attorney as he was able to get bail for $1.3 million. But there are some conditions; that is, he must surrender his passport, report to Interpol two times a week and not flee.

Not flee? Isn't that what he already did – running from the FBI and Interpol?

But Alexander understands the power of money. According to an AP report, he has wired about $16 million to Namibia. He has invested in some businesses – even a low-cost housing project.

Oh, and he is living in a $500,000 house at a country club.

So, he better enjoy his freedom. Once he is extradited back to the U.S., prosecutors will have lots of juicy details for the jury to ponder.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and operates InvestorOffering.com.

For much of his career, Kobi Alexander was a very successful entrepreneur. After all, he started a fast-growing tech company, Comverse Technology Inc.

But for the past two months, Alexander has been a fugitive from justice. He allegedly engaged in backdating of stock options while at Comverse and was the subject of federal charges for wire fraud, among other things.

In fact, Alexander was on the FBI's Most Wanted List. Interpol was also looking out for him. In an effort to protect his ill-gained cash, Alexander tried to wire $57 million of his assets to his accounts in Israel. But the FBI was able to put a freeze on things.

Alexander is more than just an businessman. He also served as an intelligence officer for the Israeli military.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say: his father was controversial too. He ran National Oil, where he made payoffs to officials in Africa.

But, according to a Wall Street Journal report today, Alexander was nabbed. He was in the African republic of Namibia. The extradition process will now begin.

Somehow, I think Alexander's two month journey is probably not going to help out his case with the Feds. Although it may make for a good book ...

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and operates InvestorOffering.com.