Company News for October 12, 2009

• Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced plans to list up to eight Blackstone-owned firms and sell at least five additional companies

• Barclays (NYSE:BCS) reported plans to spin off a $6.35 billion portfolio of complex credit assets as it seeks to clean up its balance sheet

• Phillips Electronics (NYSE:PHG) reported better-than-expected third quarter earnings, helped by cost-cutting measures, although the company said most markets are yet to see recovery

• Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) lifted Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) price target to $67 from $63 and maintained its "buy" rating on the stock, as the analyst noted "Ahead of Tuesdays earnings call we are raising our price target to $67 (prior $63) based on improving comparable multiples, new product approvals, stabilization in the global economy, and FX tailwinds all [of] which should add to earnings in 4Q and next year. We expect management will focus on continued healthy trends in its Medical Device & Diagnostic division, which will be the highlight of Tuesday's earnings meeting"

• Goldman Sachs' (NYSE:GS) removed Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) from its Conviction Sell list in anticipation of optimism after its October 13 analyst day.  Goldman raised its price target on the firm to $20 from $18

Read the full analyst report on BX

Read the full analyst report on BCS

Read the full analyst report on PHG

Read the full analyst report on DB

Read the full analyst report on JNJ

Read the full analyst report on GS

Read the full analyst report on JCI