Top Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades (AEO, NLY, CMO, CHKP, CIT, DRYS, FSP, FTR, GPS, HTS, IVR, JBLU, MFA, NTAP, PANW, RSG, SDRL, TGI)

These are some of the top analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations seen in Wall St. research calls this Friday.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) cut to Market Perform at BMO.

Annaly Capital Management Inc. (NYSE: NLY) raised to Outperform at Wells Fargo.

Capstead Mortgage Corp. (NYSE: CMO) raised to Outperform at Wells Fargo.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP) started as Outperform at Wells Fargo.

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) raised to Buy at Nomura.

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) cut to Neutral at boutique firm Global Hunter Securities.

Franklin Street Properties Corp. (NYSEMKT: FSP) named as value stock of the day at Zacks.

Frontier Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: FTR) cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) raised to Hold at Canaccord Genuity.

Hatteras Financial Corp. (NYSE: HTS) raised to Outperform at Wells Fargo.

Invesco Mortgage Capital Inc. (NYSE: IVR) raised to Outperform at Wells Fargo.

JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU) cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.

MFA Financial Inc. (NYSE: MFA) raised to Outperform at Wells Fargo.

NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) raised to Buy at Argus.

Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NYSE: PANW) started as Market Perform at Wells Fargo.

Republic Services Inc. (NYSE: RSG) named Bear of the Day at Zacks.

SeaDrill Ltd. (NYSE: SDRL) raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.

Triumph Group Inc. (NYSE: TGI) named Bull of the Day at Zacks.

JON C. OGG

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Analyst Calls Tagged: AEO, CHKP, CIT, CMO, DRYS, FSP, FTR, GPS, HTS, IVR, JBLU, MFA, NLY, NTAP, PANW, RSG, SDRL, TGI