Today's noteworthy initiations include: Aimco (AIV) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital... American Eagle Energy (AMZG) initiated with a Sell at Noble Financial... AvalonBay (AVB) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital... BB&T (BBT) initiated with a Buy at Argus... Baker Hughes (BHI) initiated with an Overweight at Stephens... BioDelivery Sciences (BDSI) initiated with a Buy at Cantor... Camden Property (CPT) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital... DealerTrack (TRAK) initiated with a Neutral at BofA/Merrill... Demandware (DWRE) initiated with an Outperform at FBR Capital... Energous (WATT) initiated with a Buy at Roth Capital... Energy Transfer Equity (ETE) initiated with a Conviction Buy at Goldman... Entercom Comm (ETM) initiated with a Neutral at Sidoti... Equity Residential (EQR) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital... Essex Property Trust (ESS) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital... HCP (HCP) initiated with an Underperform at BMO Capital... Health Care REIT (HCN) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital... IGI Laboratories (IG) initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank... Impax (IPXL) initiated with a Hold at Deutsche Bank... Jones Energy (JONE) initiated with a Hold at Noble Financial... LTC Properties (LTC) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital... Magellan Petroleum (MPET) initiated with a Hold at Noble Financial... Memorial Resource (MRD) initiated with a Buy at Global Hunter... Mid-America Apartment (MAA) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital... Midstates Petroleum (MPO) initiated with a Buy at Noble Financial... Miller Energy (MILL) initiated with a Hold at Noble Financial... Monroe Capital (MRCC) initiated with an Outperform at JMP Securities... NMI Holdings (NMIH) initiated with a Buy at BTIG... National Health Investors (NHI) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital... Organovo (ONVO) initiated with a Buy at Cantor... PROS (PRO) initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank... Physicians Realty Trust (DOC) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital... Sagent Pharmaceuticals (SGNT) initiated with a Buy at Deutsche Bank... Sucampo (SCMP) initiated with a Buy at Guggenheim... Surgical Care Affiliates (SCAI) initiated with a Hold at Deutsche Bank... UDR, Inc. (UDR) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital... Ventas (VTR) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital... Verastem (VSTM) initiated with a Buy at H.C. Wainwright... WPX Energy (WPX) initiated with a Buy at KLR Group... Warren Resources (WRES) initiated with a Buy at Noble Financial... Weatherford (WFT) initiated with an Equal Weight at Stephens... Wix.com (WIX) initiated with an Outperform at FBR Capital... Zendesk (ZEN) initiated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill.

IBM (IBM) is nearing a deal to acquire HashiCorp (HCP) for about $35 per share, Ryan Gould and Brody Ford of Bloomberg report, citing people with knowledge of the matter. IBM and HashiCorp could announce the deal as soon as Wednesday, sources told Bloomberg. Shares of HashiCorp are up 9% to $31.81 following the report.

IBM (IBM) is scheduled to report results of its fiscal first quarter after the market close on April 24, with a conference call scheduled for 5:00 pm ET. What to watch... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

BTIG downgraded HashiCorp (HCP) to Neutral from Buy without a price target. The analyst sees a balanced risk/reward after the stock's recent run following takeover speculation. The firm believes the potential takeover by IBM (IBM) has a "lot of merits." HashiCorp is a good strategic asset with strong product capabilities, and deal synergies with a large acquirer such as IBM would be substantial, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Given there is still some uncertainty on a deal being consummated and a typical closing process in the 6-9 month range, BTIG sees limited incremental upside to shares in the near term.

Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.  1... To see the rest of the story go to thefly.com. See Story Here

IBM (IBM) is nearing an acquisition of HashiCorp (HCP) and deal could come together in the coming days, Lauren Thomas and Laura Cooper of Wall Street Journal report, citing people familiar with the matter. A deal for HashiCorp would likely command a premium above where the stock is currently trading, the Journal says. Shares of HashiCorp jumped 7% to $26.37 following the report before halting for volatility. IBM is down 66c to $181.28 in afternoon trade. Reference Link