Analyst Update: Intel Corporation, Visa, JetBlue

Analysts are weighing in today on blue chips Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) and Visa Inc (NYSE:V), as well as transportation issue JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU). Here's a quick look at today's brokerage notes on INTC, V, and JBLU.

• INTC hit a fresh 12-year high of $36.46 out of the gate, but was last seen 0.8% lower at $35.66. Earlier, the shares received price-target hikes from no fewer than six analysts -- the most ambitious of which came from Imperial Capital, which upped its target to $40 from $37 and reiterated its "outperform" rating -- on the heels of a better-than-expected 2015 revenue outlook and increased dividend. In the options pits, pessimism toward Intel Corporation has been heavy. The stock's 50-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio of 0.80 is just 6 percentage points from an annual high. Plus, INTC's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.23 sits at a 12-month peak. An unwinding of this skepticism in the face of the security's 37% year-to-date rally could spell tailwinds.


• V hit another record high of $256.56, following a price-target hike to $290 from $250 at Susquehanna, which also reaffirmed its "positive" opinion of the shares. At last check, the stock was still 0.7% higher at $253.33, bringing its year-to-date advance to nearly 14%. The aforementioned bullish brokerage note is par for the course on Wall Street. Twenty out of 24 analysts tracking Visa Inc have doled out a "buy" or better rating, versus just four "holds" and not a single "sell." Plus, the consensus 12-month price target -- while just a chip-shot away from current trading levels -- stands in all-time-high territory, at $258.53.


• JBLU reached its own seven-year peak earlier -- topping out at $13.69 before dropping below breakeven -- after Imperial Capital's price-target cut to $16 from $20 (though the firm also underscored its "outperform" rating). At last check, the equity was down 2.5% at $13.11. This follows yesterday's news that JetBlue Airways Corporation will redeem all of its outstanding convertible debentures. On the sentiment front, short interest represents a lofty 20.7% of JBLU's float, which is 5.5 times the stock's average daily trading volume. In other words, if the shares can resume their uptrend, potential short-covering activity could assist them on their quest for higher highs.