NEW YORK ( TheStreet ) -- Windstream Holdings Inc. ( WIN ) was upgraded to "buy" from "neutral" at DA Davidson on Wednesday. The firm said it raised its rating on the advanced network communications provider as the company plans to spin off its telecommunications assets into an REIT, which should boost value. Nomura Holdings ( NMR ) also upgraded its rating on Windstream to "neutral" from "reduce," citing the spin off. Must Read: Warren Buffett's 25 Favorite Stocks STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more. Windstream was upgraded to "neutral" from "sell" at UBS ( UBS ), also based on the spin off, the firm said. Shares of Windstream are up by 0.17% to $11.85 in pre-market trading today.