Analyst Upgrades: Tesla, Lion Biotech, Skyworks

Analysts are weighing in today on automaker Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), adoptive cell therapy expert Lion Biotechnologies Inc (NASDAQ:LBIO), and semiconductor concern Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on TSLA, LBIO, and SWKS.

• One Credit Suisse analyst waxed optimistic on TSLA earlier, saying he expects strong demand in Europe -- and the note has sent the shares 1.8% higher ahead of the bell. This bullish price action represents a change of pace for Tesla Motors Inc, which has tumbled nearly 16% year-to-date to trade at $187.59. Not surprisingly, short interest has been on the upswing, rising 6.7% during the latest reporting period. Currently, more than one-quarter of TSLA's float is sold short, which represents a week's worth of trading, at typical daily volumes. Similarly skeptical are options traders, who have been buying to open puts over calls at a faster-than-usual clip in recent weeks.


• LBIO is among a number of drugmakers catching our attention this morning, after receiving a pair of bullish notes overnight. Specifically, FBR initiated coverage on the stock with an "outperform" rating and $20 price target, while Jefferies boosted its target to $18 from $12 and underscored its "buy" opinion. Such optimism is warranted, given Lion Biotechnologies Inc's technical track record, up 59.5% year-to-date to trade at $12.55. What's more, the shares are sitting nearly 7% higher ahead of the open. Amid the equity's long-term rally, the brokerage bunch has reached a bullish consensus, with 100% of covering analysts handing out "strong buy" recommendations. If that's not enough, LBIO's average 12-month price target of $16.67 sits in territory not charted since October 2013.


• Brean Capital upped its price target on SWKS to $110 from $92, and also re-affirmed its "buy" rating. This positivity isn't unusual in the least, as 12 analysts have given the shares a "strong buy" endorsement, compared to two "holds" and not a single "sell." However, Skyworks Solutions Inc's consensus 12-month price target of $98.41 rests just 1.6% from Wednesday's close at $96.84. Based on the stock's technicals, it seems additional price-target hikes may be in order. The shares have surged 158% year-over-year, and have outperformed the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX) by nearly 35 percentage points over the last three months. In electronic trading, SWKS is up another 1.1%.