Analysts’ downgrades for Thursday, August 17th:
Alimera Sciences (NASDAQ:ALIM) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a sell rating. According to Zacks, “Alimera Sciences, Inc., based in Alpharetta, Georgia, is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development and commercialization of prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. The Company is presently focused on diseases affecting the back of the eye, or retina because it believes these diseases are not well treated with current therapies and represent a significant market opportunity. Its product candidate Iluvien(R) is an intravitreal insert containing fluocinolone acetonide, a non-proprietary corticosteroid with demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of ocular disease. Iluvien is in development for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). DME is a disease of the retina that affects individuals with diabetes and can lead to severe vision loss and blindness. “
Alere (NYSE:ALR) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a sell rating. According to Zacks, “Alere Inc., formerly known as Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc., provides products and services, which focus on infectious disease, cardiology, oncology, drugs of abuse and women’s health. Alere is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. “
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (OTCMKTS:ANZBY) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a buy rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Austria and New Zealand Banking’s principal activities are the provision of general banking services, hire purchase and general finance, life assurance, property development, mortgage lending and other financial services. The Group operates within Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. “
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE:ASR) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a buy rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste is a Mexican airport operator with concessions to operate, maintain and develop the airports of Cancun, Merida, Cozumel, Villahermosa, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Huatulco, Tapachula and Minatitlan in the southeast of Mexico. “
AXT (NASDAQ:AXTI) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a buy rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “AXT, Inc., designs, develops, manufactures and distributes high-performance compound semiconductor substrates, as well as opto-electronic semiconductor devices such as high-brightness light emitting devices, and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. “
Sotheby’s (NYSE:BID) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a sell rating. According to Zacks, “Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. is one of the world’s second largest auctioneers of fine arts, antiques and collectibles, offering property in collecting categories, among them paintings, jewelry, decorative arts, and books. Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc is the parent company of Sotheby’s worldwide auction businesses, art-related financing and private sales activities. The Company operates in countries, with principal salesrooms located in New York and London. The company also regularly conducts auctions in other salesrooms around the world, including Australia, Hong Kong, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Singapore. “
Bovie Medical (AMEX:BVX) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a sell rating. According to Zacks, “Bovie Medical Corporation, formerly An-Con Genetics Inc., is engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of a diverse line of medical devices and advanced coating technologies. “
Cabot Microelectronics Corporation (NASDAQ:CCMP) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a hold rating to a sell rating. According to Zacks, “Cabot Microelectronics Corp. is a leading supplier of slurries used in chemical mechanical planarization, a polishing process used in the manufacturing of integrated circuit devices. Chemical mechanical planarization is an important part of the integrated circuit device manufacturing process because it helps manufacturers make smaller, faster and more complex integrated circuit devices. Chemical mechanical planarization slurries are liquids containing abrasives and chemicals that facilitate and enhance the mechanical planarization polishing process. “
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (NYSE:CCO) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Investment Research from a buy rating to a hold rating. According to Zacks, “Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, based in San Antonio, TX, is a global leader in outdoor advertising displays in countries across continents. In the United States, the company operates advertising displays and has a presence of the top DMA regions. It manages a large portion of Spectacular Displays in Times Square as well as Airport, Taxi and Mall advertising worldwide. Adshel is the company’s International street furniture division. “
Telstra Corp. (OTCMKTS:TLSYY) was downgraded by analysts at J P Morgan Chase & Co from an overweight rating to a neutral rating.
