Analyst Update: Texas Instruments, Amex, SeaWorld

Analysts are weighing in today on semiconductor manufacturer Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN), blue chip American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), and water park SeaWorld Entertainment Inc (NYSE:SEAS). Here's a quick look at today's brokerage notes on TXN, AXP, and SEAS.

• The shares of TXN are 1.8% higher at $55.69, after Raymond James upgraded its rating on the stock to "strong buy." Technically speaking, Texas Instruments Incorporated gapped lower after an earnings miss last week. From a longer-term standpoint, though,  the shares are up 34.3% since notching an annual low of $41.47 on Oct. 13. However, the brokerage bunch has remained unconvinced, as 68% of covering analysts rate TXN a "hold" or worse. What's more, TXN's average 12-month price target of $56.93 is a chip-shot away from current trading levels, suggesting more upgrades and/or price-target hikes could be on the horizon.

   

• Nomura lowered its opinion on AXP to "neutral" from "buy" while slashing its price target to $82 from $91 -- a 6% premium to the shares' current perch of $77.32. At last check, the shares of American Express Company were down 0.9%, putting them nearly 17% in the red for 2015. Options traders have kept the faith, though, as AXP's 50-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) call/put volume ratio of 1.94 ranks in the 94th percentile of its annual range. Elsewhere, short interest decreased by 20.6% over the last reporting period, and now accounts for a scant 1.1% of AXP's available float.

   

• Goldman Sachs raised its rating on SEAS to "buy" from "neutral" while lifting its price target to $26 from $18, sending the shares 5% higher to $22.58. The upgrade comes as little surprise, considering SeaWorld Entertainment Inc's comeback of late -- since hitting an all-time low of $15.11 in mid-December, SEAS gained nearly 50%. Accordingly, options traders have favored calls over puts, as SEAS' 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 29.37 is higher than 93% of all other readings from the past year.