Top Morning News: Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT), Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO), Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE)

Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC) was downgraded by stock analysts at Credit Suisse from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report issued on Tuesday, TheFlyOnTheWall.com reports. They currently have a $3.25 price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of $3.75. Credit Suisse’s price target suggests a potential upside of 25.00% from the stock’s previous close. Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) belongs to Basic Materials sector. Its net profit margin is -19.00% and weekly performance is 5.73%. On last trading day company shares ended up $2.95. Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 8.00%.

Shares of Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE:VLO) are down 4 on Monday in afternoon trading as the selloff in oil continued with little pause into the new year, as U.S. crude futures tumbled below $50 a barrel for the first time since April 2009 on fears of a global supply glut, Reuters reports. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) shares moved down -4.11% in last trading session and ended the day at $48.27. VLO Gross Margin is 9.00% and its return on assets is 7.90%. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) quarterly performance is 8.50%.

Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) Chief’s $47 Million Retirement and America’s 401(k) Gap. Gregg Steinhafel, who stepped down as chief executive officer of Target Corp. in May following a massive credit-card data breach, received retirement plans worth more than $47 million. When he joined Target in 1979, the Minneapolis-based company offered generous retirement programs — so generous for executives that it included a deferred compensation plan that paid a guaranteed 12 percent interest. Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) belongs to Services sector. Its net profit margin is 2.10% and weekly performance is -1.44%. On last trading day company shares ended up $73.98. Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) distance from 50-day simple moving average (SMA50) is 6.67%.

Telecom giant Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has approached web services company AOL Inc. about a potential acquisition or joint venture as part of efforts to expand its mobile-video offerings, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) shares moved down -0.83% in last trading session and ended the day at $46.57. VZ Gross Margin is 62.00% and its return on assets is 7.20%. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) quarterly performance is -5.27%.

Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai on Monday praised employees and partners of the company’s Hollywood movie studio for standing up to “extortionist efforts” of hackers who attacked Sony Pictures Entertainment in November. On 05 January, Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) shares moved down -1.46% and was closed at $20.26. SNE EPS growth in last 5 year was -4.90%. Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) year to date (YTD) performance is -1.03%.