Analyst Upgrades: Juniper Networks, Skyworks, MBIA

Analysts are weighing in on networking specialist Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR), semiconductor concern Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS), and insurance issue MBIA Inc. (NYSE:MBI). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on JNPR, SWKS, and MBI.

• BofA-Merrill Lynch upped its outlook for JNPR to "buy" from "neutral," and its price target to $34 from $27 -- sending the shares higher ahead of the bell, and on track to take out their annual peak of $27.28 from yesterday. Longer term, the security has put in a strong technical performance, boasting a more than 21% year-to-date lead. A continued rise could prompt more bullish brokerage notes. Currently, 71% of those covering Juniper Networks, Inc. maintain a lukewarm "hold" rating. Additionally, the average 12-month price target for JNPR is $25.56 -- a discount to last night's close at $27.09.


• SWKS saw its price target lifted to $90 from $80 at Barclays overnight, although this still rests below Monday's settlement at $97.03. On the charts, the stock has been enjoying a lift from its 60-day moving average since last October. What's more, this trendline has helped boost SWKS to a more than 33% year-to-date lead, as well as contained a handful of the equity's most recent pullbacks. However -- outside of a rare showing by option bulls last week -- traders have been initiating long puts over calls at a rapid-fire rate in recent months. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), for example, Skyworks Solutions Inc's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 0.51 ranks in the 97th annual percentile.


• BTIG raised its price target on MBI to $13 from $12, representing expected upside of 45.3% to last night's close at $8.95, and a trek into territory not seen since last June. In fact, the shares have been steadily losing ground since topping out at an annual high of $13.25 on June 17, off more than 32%. Option traders have taken a glass-half-empty approach of late -- the stock's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio of 19.95 rests just 7 percentage points from a 52-week peak. Elsewhere, MBIA Inc. unveiled first-quarter earnings after last night's close.