Analyst Upgrades: Facebook Inc, Expedia Inc, and GoDaddy Inc

Analysts are weighing in on social network Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), travel website Expedia Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE), and Web domain market GoDaddy Inc (NYSE:GDDY). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on FB, EXPE, and GDDY.

• FB is pointed 5% higher ahead of the bell -- and poised to open at a new record high -- after the company posted better-than-expected quarterly results. Adding to the bullish bias, no fewer than 22 analysts upped their price targets on the stock, with Piper Jaffray setting the highest mark, at $155. This morning's expected bull gap could have Facebook Inc put buyers on edge. During the past 10 weeks at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the equity has amassed a put/call volume ratio of 0.50 -- in the 81st percentile of its annual range. An unwinding of this negativity could create further tailwinds for FB. Last night, the shares settled at $103.94, up 33.2% year-to-date.

• EXPE just announced the purchase of HomeAway, Inc. (NASDAQ:AWAY) for nearly $4 billion in cash and stock, hoping the acquisition will help it compete with AirBnB. Responding to the news, Evercore ISI boosted its price target on Expedia Inc to $155 from $145, while Cowen and Company raised its price target to $180 from $160, setting up the shares to jump 3.6% at the open. In fact, after closing last night at $134.17 -- just below its record high of $139.58 from Oct. 30 -- the stock looks set to make a run at a new technical milestone. This could be fueled by a mass exodus of short sellers. Nearly 11% of EXPE's float is sold short, representing 6.6 days' worth of pent-up buying power, at typical volumes.

• GDDY reported strong quarterly results last night, raised its full-year guidance, and said it expects to be profitable in the fourth quarter, winning the admiration of Wall Street analysts. Specifically, RBC, Piper Jaffray, Citigroup, and Deutsche Bank each boosted its price target on the stock, which has been trending higher of late atop its 20-day moving average, settling yesterday at $27.43. In fact, since hitting its most recent low of $23.39 on Sept. 29, GoDaddy Inc has advanced over 17%. With the shares pointed 7.7% higher pre-market, short sellers may be on pins and needles. An astounding 64% of the stock's float is sold short, which would take over two weeks to buy back, at GDDY's average trading levels.