Analyst Upgrades: Pfizer, Starbucks, United Therapeutics

Analysts are weighing in today on blue chip Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), java giant Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), and biotech United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on PFE, SBUX, and UTHR.

• PFE received a price-target boost to $38 from $37 at Deutsche Bank, which also reiterated its "buy" rating. On the charts, the stock has advanced a solid 8.4% year-to-date to trade at $33.78, and as recently as Feb. 12, touched a 10-year high of $34.97 on the heels of a $5 billion stock buyback from Goldman Sachs. Taking a step back, analysts are firmly planted in Pfizer Inc.'s bullish corner. The technical outperformer has received nine "buy" or better endorsements, compared to five "hold" or worse recommendations.


• RBC bumped its price target on SBUX by $6 to $100 -- in uncharted territory -- and underscored its "outperform" opinion. This bullish note is understandable (and not uncommon), given the shares' nearly 23% year-over-year lead to rest at $92.18 -- just a chip-shot from their late-February record peak of $94.83. In the options pits, though, traders have been buying to open Starbucks Corporation puts over calls at a faster-than-usual clip. The stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio across the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands at 0.69 -- higher than two-thirds of all comparable readings from the last year.


• Following yesterday's positive news from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and subsequent 2.1% pop, UTHR received some positive analyst attention. Specifically, Wedbush upped its price target to $198 from $195, while maintaining an "outperform" rating. Turning to the charts, United Therapeutics Corporation notched a record high of $164.82 yesterday, and has advanced nearly 72% year-over-year to perch at $163.84. Should this momentum continue, short sellers could start hitting the exits. More than one-tenth of UTHR's float is sold short, which would take nearly 12 sessions to cover, at typical daily trading levels -- leaving plenty of room for a potential short-covering rally.