Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades (NYSE: PLT) (TSX: SMF)

BMO Capital Markets upgraded SEMAFO Inc (TSX: SMF), a mining company with production and exploration activities in West Africa, to outperform from market perform with a price target of C$ 5.00, indicating an upside potential of 40.4% from the current levels. Recently, SMF announced increased production results from its high-grade Siou zone located approximately 15 kilometers east of the Mana mill.

EVA Dimensions upgraded Poseidon Concepts Corp (TSX: PSN), an oil and natural gas service and supply company, to overweight from hold. Recently, in its third quarter results, PSN reported total revenue of $41.1 million, up 72% from the third quarter of 2011. PSN also announced that its new products and services complementary to its core tank rental business are now active in the field and are generating revenue.

Global Hunter Securities initiated coverage on Luna Gold Corp (TSX: LGC), a mineral exploration, mine development company engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration and development of gold properties in Brazil, with accumulate assigning a price target of C$ 5.00 per share, indicating an upside potential of 49.3% from current levels. Recently, LGC announced operational and financial results for third quarter of fiscal 2012. During the quarter, the company recorded gold production of 19,391 ounces and it expects a target gold production of 125,000 ounces from its Aurizona Gold Mine in 2014.

JP Morgan upgraded Plantronics Inc (NYSE: PLT), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of lightweight communications headsets, telephone headset systems and accessories, to overweight from neutral with a price target of $41.00, indicating 19% potential upside from the current levels. Analyst Paul T Coster believes that some of the company's new products should prove popular helping to increase in revenue and margins.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Walter Investment Management Corp (NYSE: WAC), a business services provider to the residential mortgage industry, to market perform to outperform with a price target of $55.00, indicating an upside of 33% from current levels.

Raymond James initiated coverage on DexCom Inc (NASDAQ:DXCM), a medical device company focused on the design, development and commercialization of continuous glucose monitoring systems, and Insulet Corp (NASDAQ:PODD), a developer of disposable insulin delivery systems, with an outperform rating assigning a 12-month price target of $15.00 and $25.00 respectively indicating an upside potential of 18% and 14% respectively.

IXYS Corp (NASDAQ: IXYS), an integrated semiconductor company, was downgraded to neutral from buy at Sidoti & Company LLC, and the price target was lowered to $9.00 from the earlier target of $14.00 per share.

JPMorgan downgraded Taser International Inc (NASDAQ: TASR), engaged in development, manufacture and sale of electronic control devices (ECDs) designed for use in the law enforcement, military, corrections, private security and personal defense markets, to neutral from overweight with price target to $9.00 per share. Analyst Paul T Coster believes that the shares have reached their fair value and it is unlikely that the company will be able to significantly boost its profitability in the near term.