Today's noteworthy initiations include: Apollo Investment (AINV) initiated with a Neutral at DA Davidson... Ares Capital (ARCC) initiated with a Buy at DA Davidson... Barrett Business (BBSI) initiated with a Buy at Sidoti... BlackRock Capital Investment (BKCC) initiated with a Buy at DA Davidson... Danaher (DHR) initiated with an Outperform at Leerink... FS Investment (FSIC) initiated with a Buy at DA Davidson... Fossil (FOSL) initiated with a Neutral at Mizuho... Home Bancorp (HBCP) initiated with an Outperform at Raymond James... MEDNAX (MD) initiated with a Buy at Mizuho... MSG Networks (MSGN) initiated with a Hold at Stifel... MaxLinear (MXL) initiated with a Buy at Roth Capital... NanoString (NSTG) initiated with an Outperform at Cowen... On Deck Capital (ONDK) initiated with a Market Perform at JMP Securities... PennantPark (PNNT) initiated with a Buy at DA Davidson... Petrobras (PBR) initiated with an Underperform at Macquarie... Signature Bank (SBNY) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital... Solar Capital (SLRC) initiated with a Buy at DA Davidson... Sterling Bancorp (STL) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital... Valeant (VRX) initiated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill.

Unusual total active option classes on open include: Steel Dynamics (STLD), Gildan Activewear (GIL), Danaher (DHR), Altimeter Growth (GRAB), Childrens Place (PLCE), ASML (ASML), US Bancorp (USB), iShares Barclays 7 to 10 Year Treasury Bond Fund (IEF), AMC Entertainment (AMC), and Abbott (ABT).

HSBC analyst Rajesh Kumar upgraded Danaher to Buy from Hold with a price target of $280, up from $250. HSBC's supply chain analysis suggests the de-stocking effects as well as order books might be on a recovery path for the life sciences tools sector, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm also believes the "geopolitical divide" of biotech funding around the U.S. Biosecure Act might result in a better pricing environment for outsourcers, potentially supporting incremental margins and multiples. It upgrades Danaher as a "quality proxy for the Biotech funding recovery."