Ticker Talk:

Sometimes, there are potholes on the information superhighway. Shares of PNV Inc. (ticker symbol: PNVN) of Coral Springs, Fla., which provides Internet access and Web-based telephone service to truckers, dropped $1.50 from its initial public offering price in its Nasdaq trading debut Wednesday, closing at $15.50.

Meanwhile, among stock rating changes analysts issued Wednesday:

* Pierce Leahy Corp. (PLH; close and change: $33.19, down 44 cents) was downgraded to “neutral” from “buy” by PaineWebber.

* Avon Products Inc. (AVP; $33.50, up $3.44) was raised to “strong buy” from “hold” by Prudential Securities.

* T. Rowe Price Associates (TROW; $37.44, down $1.44) was downgraded to “hold” from “buy” by Putnam, Lovell, de Guardiola & Thornton.

* Pixar Inc. (PIXR; $47, down 31 cents) was downgraded to “neutral” from “strong buy” by Seidler Cos.

* Earthgrains Co. (EGR; $18.38, up 13 cents) was raised to “strong buy” from “accumulate” by Prudential.

* Digital Insight (DGIN; $44.75, down 25 cents) was rated “buy” in new coverage by Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown.

* Amgen (AMGN; $49.44, up $1.88) was downgraded to “maintain position” from “accumulate” by A.G. Edwards & Sons.

* Merck & Co. (MRK; $79.69, up 88 cents) was raised to “buy” from “market perform” by Banc of America Securities.