Analyst Upgrades: Cisco Systems, FireEye, TripAdvisor

Analysts are weighing in today on network equipment producer Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), cyber security concern FireEye Inc (NASDAQ:FEYE), and online travel company Tripadvisor Inc (NASDAQ:TRIP). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on CSCO, FEYE, and TRIP.

• Thanks to strong fiscal second-quarter earnings , CSCO is up 7.3% in electronic trading, and could hit new multi-year highs. The stock has received a flurry of positive analyst attention, with no fewer than 12 brokerage firms upping their price targets. Cowen and Company has the highest expectations for Cisco Systems, Inc., moving its price target to $35 from $33, as Bernstein and SunTrust Robinson each set their targets at $34. In CSCO's options pits, calls have been favored over puts among options that expire in three months or less, according to the equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR). This reading of 0.43 reveals that short-term speculators have only been more call-skewed 8% of the time in the past year. On the charts, CSCO has been a long-term star, adding almost 18% in the past 52 weeks to settle at $26.93 yesterday.


• FEYE is also getting a boost from a well-received earnings report, as its fourth-quarter revenue skyrocketed 150%. Ahead of the bell, the shares are up 6.4%, and so far, seven brokerage firms have increased their price targets. Stifel, for example, raised its price target by $3 to $48, keeping its "buy" opinion, and Piper Jaffray moved its price target up $5 to $45, while deeming the stock "overweight." The bullish attention should help FireEye Inc add to its 13% gain in 2015, with the stock landing at $35.69 yesterday. Interestingly, sentiment in the stock's options pits has been bearishly skewed. FEYE's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio of 0.42 sits higher than 69% of all such readings from the past year, indicating puts have been bought to open over calls at an accelerated clip in the past two weeks. A reversal of sentiment in the face of the security's recent success could spell tailwinds.


• Finally, TRIP is set for a 14.5% jump out of the gate, after its earnings report topped expectations, and thanks to some sector-wide M&A. This price action will propel the equity well past its 10-week moving average and into positive year-to-date territory. Analysts foresee more gains to come, as four of the five brokerage firms that raised their price targets this morning predict the stock to conquer $80. In fact, Deutsche Bank boosted its price target to $108 from $95, signifying a 60% premium to Tripadvisor Inc's closing price of $67.27 yesterday. This might not be the last we hear from analysts in regards to TRIP. Currently, 14 of the 20 covering brokerage firms give the equity a "hold" or worse rating. If the shares can extend their momentum, future analyst upgrades could be on the horizon.