NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Citing more potential earnings disappointments, PaineWebber slashed its price target for DuPont's stock Friday.
PaineWebber lowered the target on the largest U.S. chemical company
to $55 from $70, saying if the company's management does not meet its looser earnings guidance the stock could plummet to mid-$30 levels.
On Thursday, DuPont (DD: Research, Estimates) said that higher-than-anticipated energy and raw material costs would cause it to miss full-year earnings estimates.
Shares of the Dow component fell $1 to $41.13 in midmorning trading.
Chips still in focus
The chip sector remained under scrutiny with National Semiconductor (NSM: Research, Estimates) receiving praise from a number of analysts after it reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter earnings Thursday.
Bear Stearns said the stock was "dramatically undervalued" and maintained its "buy" rating.
But Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette kept a cautious stance on SpeedFam-IPEC (SFAM: Research, Estimates).
The maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment warned late Thursday it expects to report a first-quarter operating loss of about 23 cents to 27 cents a share due to a delay of tool delivery. Analysts surveyed by First Call were expecting earnings of 12 cents a share.
DLJ reiterated its "market perform" rating on the stock, adding the shortfall was a "company specific" issue and does not reflect an impending downturn for the entire semiconductor industry.
Earlier this week, chip makers Intel (INTC: Research, Estimates) and
Micron Technology (MU: Research, Estimates) saw their ratings slashed by Wall Street analysts.
More 'buys'
In other ratings updates, Credit Suisse First Boston kept "buy" ratings on Internet investment firm CMGI (CMGI: Research, Estimates) and telecom leader Motorola (MOT: Research, Estimates).
And Lehman Brothers raised its 12-month price target on health care services provider McKesson HBOC (MCK: Research, Estimates) to $34 from $30 and also reiterated a "buy" rating.
Shares of McKesson rose 81 cents to $26.25. 
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