Analyst Update: EMC Corporation, Intel Corporation, and Monster Beverage Corporation

Analysts are weighing in on tech stocks EMC Corporation (NYSE:EMC) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), as well as energy drink maker Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on EMC, INTC, and MNST.

• EMC saw its rating cut to "market perform" from "outperform," but is up fractionally at $27.56. Of course, a bigger move could be in store, with EMC Corporation scheduled to report earnings after the close. In the options arena, expectations are extremely high ahead of the event. In the last 10 days across the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), traders have bought to open 9.19 EMC calls for every put -- a ratio that ranks in the 95th annual percentile. Technically speaking, the stock is up over 7% on the year -- but remains stuck beneath this key trendline.

• INTC received price-target hikes at RBC (to $36) and Canaccord Genuity (to $40). At last check, though, the chip stock is off 0.1% at $35.05 -- failing to capitalize on sector-related tailwinds -- ahead of Wednesday night's earnings report. Bullish analyst attention is nothing new for Intel Corporation. Nineteen brokerage firms rate the shares a "buy" or better, compared to nine "holds," one "sell," and two "strong sells." Technically speaking, INTC is just a stone's throw away from its annual high of $35.59, touched in late December.

• MNST has sunk 3.7% at $155.59, after Wells Fargo lowered its opinion to "market perform" from "outperform." However, the stock -- which has picked up more than 4% year-to-date -- may have found a foothold at its 50-day moving average. Options traders have been betting on extended losses for Monster Beverage Corporation in recent weeks. The stock's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio checks in at 1.68, in the top quartile of its annual range.

For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: Groupon Inc, Transocean Ltd, and Twilio Inc and Analyst Downgrades: 3D Systems Corporation, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, and Merck & Co., Inc.