Analyst Upgrades: Pfizer, Starbucks, United Therapeutics

Analysts upwardly revised their ratings on Pfizer Inc. (PFE), Starbucks Corporation (SBUX), and United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR)

Mar 11, 2015 at 9:23 AM

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.

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