UPDATE: Bank of America Upgrades SunCoke Energy Ahead of 2014 Catalysts

In a report published Friday, Bank of America analyst Timna Tanners upgraded the rating on SunCoke Energy (NYSE: SXC) from Neutral to Buy, and raised the price target from $20.00 to $25.00.

In the report, Bank of America noted, “We believe SXC is well-positioned to grow through its MLP into 2014. Its Sunoco tax-sharing agreement expires Jan 18, giving it more flexibility to either drop down assets or divest its underperforming coal business. Dropping down take-or-pay coke assets to its MLP would provide attractive returns through its 58% stake in the MLP. Essentially SXC becomes a way to benefit from an attractive yield for those that can't own MLPs. We had been perhaps overly concerned the parent would retain more volatile assets but with Indiana Harbor challenges behind and coal mining a small part of its portfolio, we look ahead to attractive growth via the MLP.”

SunCoke Energy closed on Thursday at $21.29.