Analyst Upgrades: LinkedIn, Radius Health, Sierra Wireless

Analysts are weighing in today on professional network platform LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD), biopharmaceutical firm Radius Health Inc (NASDAQ:RDUS), and mobile communications expert Sierra Wireless, Inc. (USA) (NASDAQ:SWIR). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on LNKD, RDUS, and SWIR.

• LNKD has rallied 73% since hitting an annual low of $136.02 in early May. What's more, the stock tagged a fresh 52-week peak of $243.25 last Friday, and is trading within striking distance of this notable milestone, at $235.23. Analysts at Evercore ISI believe LinkedIn Corp is poised to resume its run higher, and upped their price target on the equity to $270 from $235, while underscoring their "buy" rating. Should LNKD continue this upward momentum, bearish bettors may be forced to capitulate. At present, a healthy 7.8% of the security's float is sold short, representing nearly seven sessions' worth of pent-up buying demand, at average daily trading volumes.


• RDUS received no fewer than three price-target hikes, after the company posted positive late-stage clinical data for its postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment. Specifically, Cantor, Canaccord Genuity, and Jefferies upped their respective price targets to $52, $40, and $45, with all three brokerage firms reiterating their "buy" ratings. Since going public in early June, shares of RDUS have grown nearly fivefold, and last night's close at $37.45 was the loftiest one on record. On the sentiment front, Radius Health Inc could also benefit from a round of short covering. In fact, it would take more than a week to cover all of RDUS' shorted shares, at the equity's average daily pace of trading, meaning there is ample sideline cash available to help fuel the security's fire. Today, though, the equity is consolidating some of yesterday's nearly 17% gain, and was last seen 3.8% lower at $36.06.


• Following news that SWIR has acquired Swedish communications company Wireless Maingate, Canaccord Genuity boosted its price target on the stock to $53 from $36, and maintained its "buy" rating. This upbeat brokerage note runs counter to the general consensus, despite SWIR boasting a nearly 96% year-to-date advance. Of the eight analysts covering the shares, six have levied a "hold" or "strong sell" suggestion, while the average 12-month price target of $38.45 stands at a discount to SWIR's present price of $47.26 -- a new 13-year high. Going forward, the door is wide open for a round of upgrades and/or price-target hikes to provide tailwinds for Sierra Wireless, Inc. (USA).