U.S. Steel touches 52-week highs after racking up third analyst upgrade

• U.S. Steel (X +1.7%) shoots to another 52-week high, adding to its recent string of gains following its upside earnings surprise and optimistic outlook, buttressed by three analyst upgrades.
• After Deutsche Bank upped its rating yesterday to Buy, KeyBanc followed with a Buy rating of its own and hinting at merger possibilities for U.S. Steel in its sector; earlier this year, KeyBanc raised its rating only to cut it shortly thereafter, but the firm's recommendation now include 2014 and 2015 earnings estimates handily above consensus.
• U.S. Steel may be just a shadow of its former self - the stock traded above $40 in 2010 and 2011, and at more than $100 before to the recession - but the thinking may be that if Alcoa can turn itself around, maybe companies like U.S. Steel can too.