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Today's noteworthy initiations include: AtriCure (ATRC) initiated with a Buy at Dougherty... Bloomin' Brands (BLMN) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) initiated with an Underperform at Credit Suisse... Chipotle (CMG) initiated with an Outperform at Credit Suisse... Crane (CR) initiated with a Hold at Stifel... Darden (DRI) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Del Frisco's (DFRG) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Dunkin' Brands (DNKN) initiated with an Outperform at Credit Suisse... Great Ajax (AJX) initiated with a Buy at Sterne Agee... Jason Industries (JASN) initiated with a Buy at Stifel... L-3 Communications (LLL) initiated with a Buy at Buckingham... McDonald's (MCD) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Noodles & Company (NDLS) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Panera Bread (PNRA) initiated with an Outperform at Credit Suisse... Premier (PINC) initiated with an Outperform at RW Baird... Restaurant Brands (QSR) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Starbucks (SBUX) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse... Tribune Media (TRCO) initiated with a Hold at Gabelli... Ulta Salon (ULTA) initiated with a Buy at Cleveland Research... Wendy's (WEN) initiated with an Underperform at Credit Suisse... Yum! Brands (YUM) initiated with an Underperform at Credit Suisse... Zoe's Kitchen (ZOES) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse.

Vertical Research upgraded Crane to Buy from Hold.

Oppenheimer analyst Suraj Kalia upgraded AtriCure to Outperform from Perform with a $32 price target.

Citi lowered the firm's price target on Yum! Brands to $162 from $166 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares ahead of the Q1 report. The analyst expects Yum continues to voice confidence in 5% unit growth, and its digital initiatives are growing sales for franchisees. The firm views the company's near-term outlook as "shakier" than the long-term.

Check out this evening's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly. HIGHER AFTER EARNINGSCrane... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

Raymond James analyst Brian Vaccaro raised the firm's price target on Chipotle (CMG) to $3,300 from $3,200 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm maintains a selective stance towards its restaurant coverage universe as industry sales have underwhelmed in recent months, causing Raymond James to increasingly favor stocks it view as having "idiosyncratic factors trading at attractive valuations," such as Brinker (EAT), Shake Shack (SHAK), First Watch (FWRG) and Bloomin' Brands (BLMN), the analyst tells investors in a group earnings preview note.

Raymond James raised the firm's price target on Brinker (EAT) to $54 from $50 and keeps a Strong Buy rating on the shares. The firm maintains a selective stance towards its restaurant coverage universe as industry sales have underwhelmed in recent months, causing Raymond James to increasingly favor stocks it view as having "idiosyncratic factors trading at attractive valuations," such as Brinker, Shake Shack (SHAK), First Watch (FWRG) and Bloomin' Brands (BLMN), the analyst tells investors in a group earnings preview note.

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the opening of its first location in Kuwait City in partnership with leading international franchise retail operator Alshaya Group. The restaurant has been operating with adjusted hours since the beginning of the month to account for holidays and training and will hold its official grand opening on April 23. Chipotle's location in Kuwait marks the first time the company has entered a new country in over 10 years. The new restaurant is located at The Avenues, Kuwait's largest shopping mall and a hub for international and local brands with over 1,100 stores and approximately one million visitors per week.