UPDATE: Stifel Nicolaus Sees Possibility of Bidding War for Alltel (AT)

UPDATE: Stifel Nicolaus comments on the WSJ story suggesting private equity firms are beginning to circle Alltel (NYSE: AT). The firm notes that a buyout has been a key part of their thesis since the spin-off of the company's wireline assets earlier this year. The firm says the company is a very attractive acquisition target for either private equity, or a strategic player such as Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) (NYSE: VOD) or Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S).

The firm said a possibility exists of a potential bidding war between interested parties and believes valuations could climb to as high as $85/share in a competitive bidding environment.

The firm maintains its Buy rating and $68 price target and said the stock remains its top US-based stock.

Private Equity Firms Looking at Alltel (AT) - WSJ

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, private equity firms are looking at Alltel Corp (NYSE: AT) as a possible takeover target. According to the report, the balance-sheet strength would give buyers room to load up debt. The size of the deal would be large - with the currently market value of Alltel at $21.7 billion.

A potential strategic buyer for Alltel could be Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone Group PLC (NYSE: VOD). Link to Article $

Titanium Stocks Higher on Takeover Chatter

Allegheny Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ATI), Titanium Metals Corp. (NYSE: TIE) and RTI International Metals Inc. (NYSE: RTI) are moving higher on takeover chatter. There is is some chatter of a titanium company takeover by Alcan Inc. (NYSE: AL).

Steel Sector Sees Flurry of Activity on M&A

A lot of steel names are higher today following Russian steel maker Evraz Group's deal to buy Oregon Steel Mills (NYSE: OS). The buyout also comes on the heels of reports Friday that Russia's biggest steelmaker OAO Severstal wants to buy U.S. Steel Corp. (NYSE: X). The buyout activity in the sector has been heavy for some time.

Other steel names: Nucor (NYSE: NUE), AK Steel (NYSE: AKS), Allegheny Tech (NYSE: ATI), Carpenter Technology (NYSE: CRS), Steel Dynamics (Nasdaq: STLD), Chaparral Steel (Nasdaq: CHAP), Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (NYSE: SID), IPSCO Inc. (NYSE: IPS), Mittal Steel (NYSE: MT), Reliance Steel & Aluminum (NYSE: RS).