NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Shares of Toys 'R' Us rose more than 10 percent on Friday, as investors expected the nation's second-largest toy retailer to post a solid holiday sales next week and an analyst upgraded the stock to "buy."
Starbucks stock also jumped sharply to a six-month high, stimulated by a surprisingly strong December sales report released late on Thursday.
But Conseco stock dropped 16 percent after a Wall Street analyst put a rare "sell" recommendation on the stock and a top executive quit the troubled insurance and loan firm.
Friday's winners
Toys 'R' Us (TOY: up $2.17 to $22.00, Research, Estimates). Midwest Research analyst Todd Kuhrt upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral," because he sees the company's holiday sales coming in above expectations, while its ambitious "Mission Possible" store remodeling program seems to be going well.
Boeing (BA: up $1.61 to $40.36, Research, Estimates). The world's largest maker of commercial airplanes said late Thursday it delivered 144 jets in the fourth quarter, boosting its total for the full year to 527, five more than it projected after the Sept. 11 attacks slashed air travel worldwide.
Starbucks (SBUX: up $1.69 to $22.11, Research, Estimates). The Seattle-based specialty coffee chain said Thursday that sales at stores open at least 13 months rose 3 percent during the five weeks ended Dec. 30.
Sears (S: up $2.11 to $49.65, Research, Estimates). Prudential raised its 2002 earnings per share guidance for the department store operator and said it is likely to top estimates in the fourth quarter. The firm also raised its 12-month price target to $65 from $60.
Weyerhaeuser (WY: up $1.53 to $55.52, Research, Estimates). Shares of the paper products maker were on the rise after rival Willamette rejected its $6.05 billion buyout offer.
Adobe Systems (ADBE: up $2.82 to $35.90, Research, Estimates). J.P. Morgan upgraded the graphic design software maker to "buy" from "long-term buy," saying that there is solid demand for the version 7 release of its popular Photoshop program, due out in May.
BMC Software (BMC: up $2.00 to $20.10, Research, Estimates). Merrill Lynch upgraded the software vendor to "strong buy" from "near-term neutral/long-term buy," saying it believes that BMC represents relative value in the software sector. The firm kept its price target on the stock at $25.
Morgan Stanley (MWD: up $2.82 to $59.64, Research, Estimates). Prudential Securities upgraded the brokerage firm to "buy" from "hold."
Tyson Foods (TSN: up $1.04 to $12.54, Research, Estimates). The No. 1 poultry producer and beef processor said late Thursday that earnings per share for its just-ended fiscal first quarter would be between 34 cents and 36 cents, an improvement on the company's earlier forecast for earnings of 22 cents-to-27 cents, and better than the First Call estimate of earnings of 25 cents per share.
Friday's losers
Conseco (CNC: down $0.69 to $3.56, Research, Estimates). The troubled life insurer was downgraded to "avoid" from "underperform," the lowest rating available from Salomon Smith Barney.
Footstar (FTS: down $2.78 to $28.51, Research, Estimates). The footwear retailer said it will earn 60 cents in the fourth quarter, less than current estimates of 84 cents per share. The company also said December same-store sales fell 5.7 percent.
Willamette (WLL: down $4.21 to $45.75, Research, Estimates). Shares of the paper products plummeted after the company rejected a $6.05 billion buyout offer from rival Weyerhaeuser.
Halliburton (HAL: down $0.69 to $10.22, Research, Estimates). The oil services company extended Thursday's substantial fall as investors continued to worry about the company's mounting asbestos liability - in particular, an expected Texas jury award against the company within the month.
Travelocity.com (TVLY: down $3.05 to $24.39, Research, Estimates). The online travel agent said fourth-quarter revenue will be lower than previous guidance, but that earnings will meet the earlier forecast.
Abgenix (ABGX: down $1.98 to $29.70, Research, Estimates). The drugmaker said Thursday it will not explore use of its antibody-based drug ABX-IL8 as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The company said the drug did not prove effective in a mid-stage clinical trial.
Systems & Computer Technology (SCTC: down $1.13 to $9.30, Research, Estimates). The technology solutions provider said Thursday it expects first-quarter revenue to fall to $75 million from $86 million a year earlier. The company said it sees results for its fiscal first quarter in a range of a 1-cent-per-share loss to a 2-cent-a-share profit.
Mercury Computer Systems (MRCY: down $4.95 to $35.15, Research, Estimates). The maker of real-time digital signal and image processing computer systems warned Thursday it expects its fiscal second-quarter results to miss estimates. The company said it expects earnings between 13 cents and 17 cents a share. Analysts expect 26 cents a share. 
-- from staff and wire reports
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