December 22, 2009 (FinancialWire) (Investrend Research Syndicate) — ValuEngine, Inc. has upgraded five companies, including Hickory Tech Corp (NASDAQ: HTCO), BP Plc (NYSE: BP), Prudential Plc (NYSE: PUK), and McDermott International Inc (NYSE: MDR) to a “5″ rating, the service’s highest.

The ValuEngine Rating is an overall assessment of a stock’s attractiveness. It combines the following five factors: ValuEngine’s proprietary valuation, risk-return tradeoff, momentum, market capitalization and ValuEngine’s proprietary forecasted one-month return.

Also upgraded to a “5″ rating was Noble Corp (NYSE: NE).

Approximately 80 to 85 companies achieve this highest ValuEngine rating out of VE’s total coverage of over 5,000 publicly traded companies.

ValuEngine is a subscription-based business intelligence, market and equity analysis firm that provides exclusive, customized research and analysis solutions directly to companies, investors, investment banks and broker-dealers. A special arrangement between the Investrend Research Syndicate and ValuEngine provides for preferred introductions and complimentary value-added services for those enrolling into ValuEngine programs. For more information write to valuengine@investrend.com. To receive ValuEngine research and commentary news alerts, write to firstalert@investrend.com with “ValuEngine” in the subject line.

The Investrend Research Syndicate (http://www.investrend.com/research/syndicate), a proprietary entity of Investrend Communications, Inc., distributes equity research-related information issued by sources that deemed to be dedicated to unbiased, reliable and transparent analytics. The primary measure for vetting those sources is the “Standards for Independent Research Providers” (http://www.investrend.com/FIRST/standards) as promulgated by the FIRST Research Consortium (http://www.investrend.com/FIRST).

Free annual reports and company filings for companies mentioned in the news are available through the Investrend Information Syndicate (at http://investrend.ar.wilink.com/?level=279). Recently issued reports and filings include F & C Capital & Income Investment Trust PLC (LSE: FCI), Sarantel Group PLC (LSE: SLG), Pharmacyclics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCYC), Niusule Biotech Corp. (OTCBB: NIUS), JPMorgan European Investment Trust PLC (LSE: JFF), Ecofin Water & Power Opportunities PLC (LSE: ECWO), Invesco Property Income Trust Ltd. (LSE: IPI), Hansa Trust PLC (LSE: HAN) (OTC: FSBTF), Perpetual Income & Growth Investment Trust PLC (LSE: PLI), New India Investment Trust PLC (LSE: NII), JPMorgan Fleming Smaller Japanese Companies Investment Trust PLC (LSE: JPS), Edinburgh Investment Trust PLC (LSE: EDIN) (OTC: EHITF), Armour Group PLC (LSE: AMR), Bravo Venture Group Inc. (TSX Venture: BVG), Bellway PLC (London Stock Exchange: BWY) (OTC: BLWYF), Chase Corp. (AMEX: CCF), Continental Materials Corp. (AMEX: CUO), Amcon Distributing Company (AMEX: DIT), Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund (NYSE: EOI), Majedie Investments PLC (London Stock Exchange: MAJE) (OTC: MJENF), Morgan Stanley Income Securities, Inc. (NYSE: ICB), Grainger PLC (London Stock Exchange: GRI) (OTC: GRTGF), Eaton Vance Insured Municipal Bond Fund (AMEX: EIM), PIMCO High Income Fund (NYSE: PHK) and Shaw Communications, Inc. (NYSE: SJR).

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