Spring is finally here, which means it's time to break out the broom and dustpan for some spring cleaning.

But your home isn't the only thing that requires constant maintenance -- your portfolio does too.

And what better time than spring to get a fresh start by cleaning out the stocks that are sitting around collecting dust rather than making you money?

Analyst Upgrades

• Auriga upgraded Computer Programs & Systems (CPSI) to hold from sell after channel checks indicated Q1 could be the bottom for stagnation of new system sales. The firm raised its target for shares to $38 from $32.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Tetra Tech (TTEK) to buy from neutral due to valuation. The firm has a $26 price target on the stock.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) to buy from hold and raised its target for shares to $40 from $27.
• Best Buy (BBY) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.
• Mariott (MAR) was raised to buy from sell at Societe Generale.
• Telus (TU) was upgraded at TD Newcrest to action list buy from buy.

Palm (PALM) got hit in yesterday's after-hours session after announcing its third-quarter earnings report to Wall Street. According to BusinessWeek, an adjusted loss of 61 cents per diluted share was recorded on the bottom line. Analysts thought the loss wouldn't be so severe; they projected red ink of 42 cents per share.

Shares of Palm were down over 15% in extended trading. That's enough to scare any shareholder into rethinking the investment thesis with this business.

Sony (SNE) closed at $36.75. SNE April put option implied volatility is at 29, July is at 30, and October is at 31; below its 26-week average of 34, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Goldman Sachs (GS) closed at $169.84. March put option implied volatility is at 31, April is at 32, versus its six-month average of 33, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Three stocks with IV rise on March 5; Ciena (CIEN) +11%, Palm (PALM) +9%, Best Buy (BBY) +2%, according to IVolatility.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) posted a big loss and warned it may require additional assistance.
• Athenahealth (ATHN) shares sank after it delayed earnings and its annual report, and warned of restatements.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) Q3 sales jumped on popularity of the Nook reader but same-store sales declined.
• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) disappointing report and guidance caused a sell-off in shares.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) acquisitions and better-than-expected earnings may not be enough to stop shrinking market share.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) rose after it beat earnings estimates, raised its dividend and announced stock buybacks.

Palm (PALM) was the talk of the town back about a year ago when its vaunted Palm Pre smartphone won all kinds of awards and was hailed as the savior of the once-powerful technology company. After the Palm Pre was released last June and was followed up by the Palm Pixi wireless handset, the turnaround started but never really revolutionized the company as many thought would happen.

Analyst Upgrades

• JPMorgan upgraded Lamar Advertising (LAMR) to overweight from neutral following the company's Q4 results. The firm has a $36 price target on shares.
• Canaccord upgraded St. Mary Land & Exploration (SM) to buy from speculative buy based on the company's business model transformation. The firm has a $45 target on shares.
• Jefferies upgraded Rosetta Stone (RST) to buy from hold following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $29 target on shares.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and AstraZeneca (AZN) were upgraded to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• China Unicom (CHU) was upgraded to buy from sell at Deutsche Bank.
• Repsol (REP) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Google (GOOG) closed at $526.42. Three GOOG executives were convicted of violating Italian privacy laws on February 24, the first case to hold the company's executives criminally responsible for the content posted on its system. March and June option implied volatility of 22 is below its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Palm (PALM) closed at $6.53 after announcing its sees FY2010 revenue well below prior $1.6B-$1.8B view. March call option implied volatility is at 86, puts at 89, versus its 26-week average of 72 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded CME Group (CME) to buy from hold to reflect valuation and the company's improving trends. The firm raised its target price for shares to $325 from $320.
• JPMorgan upgraded Big Lots (BIG) to overweight from neutral. The firm believes the company's stabilizing comps and accelerating square foot growth should drive multiple expansion and raised its target price for shares to $38.
• Soleil upgraded PacWest Bancorp (PACW) to buy from hold as it views the company's bulk loan sale positively. The firm has a $24.50 target on the stock.
• Clean Harbors (CLH) was upgraded to buy from neutral at BofA/Merrill.
• Skilled Healthcare (SKH) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Leerink.
• FARO Tech (FARO) was upgraded to buy from hold at Needham.

Palm (PALM) closed at $8.20. Palm is expected to report Q3 EPS on March 19. March call option implied volatility is at 86, puts at 94, May calls are at 73, puts are at 85, versus its 26-week average of 70, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement. Puts are more expensive than calls because PALM is difficult to borrow.

TiVo (TIVO) closed at $9.64. TIVO is expected to report Q4 EPS on March 2. Call option volume of 14,764 contracts compares to put volume of 1,427 contracts. March put option implied volatility is at 118, May is at is at 101, August is at 89, versus its six-month average of 84, according to Track Data, suggesting larger near-term price movement.

Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Analyst Upgrades

• Sterne Agee upgraded American Public Education (APEI) to buy from neutral following the Q4 report and guidance. The firm has a $50 target on the stock.
• Jefferies upgraded Lamar Advertising (LAMR) to hold from underperform citing valuation and the improved ad market. The firm raised its target $30 from $22.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Wilmington Trust (WL) to neutral from sell following the company's $250M stock offering and raised its target price on shares to $13 from $10.
• AeroVironment (AVAV) was upgraded to buy from neutral at SunTrust.
• Scripps Networks (SNI) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• TheKnot (KNOT) was raised to buy from hold at ThinkEquity.