Analyst Upgrades: Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., Horizon Technology Finance Corp, and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Analysts are weighing in on video game maker Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), investment firm Horizon Technology Finance Corp (NASDAQ:HRZN), and biotech Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:LXRX). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on TTWO, HRZN, and LXRX.

• Analysts continue to wax optimistic on TTWO, with Ascendiant Capital raising its price target to $42 from $37 -- in uncharted territory. Nevertheless, the stock is 0.3% lower at $32.88 this morning, but remains 17% higher year-to-date. Meanwhile, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.'s 50-day put/call volume ratio of 1.93 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands higher than 95% of all other readings from the past 12 months. This reveals a stronger-than-usual appetite for put buying over call buying of late. An unwinding of pessimism in the options pits could fuel TTWO even higher.

• HRZN is up 2.4% at $11.12, after Raymond James raised its opinion to "outperform" from "market perform." This is a change of pace for the shares, as just two out of six covering analysts offer up "buy" or better ratings. Horizon Technology Finance Corp has shot higher during the past few sessions, and now sits in overbought territory, according to its 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 74. What's more, the stock is set to end atop $11 for the first time since mid-August.

• LXRX is still enjoying some upbeat analyst attention, following Friday's announcement of a collaboration with Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY). This morning, Wedbush chimed in, bumping its price target to $26 -- twice LXRX's current price of $13.14. Despite a 5% dip today, the stock has been on fire recently, outperforming the SPX by more than 25 percentage points over the past three months. One group of traders is likely kicking themselves, though. That is, short interest on Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. surged by over 48% during the two most recent reporting periods, and now represents 13 days' worth of buying power, at the stock's normal trading volume.