Analyst Upgrades: Yahoo! Inc., LinkedIn Corp, and Intel Corporation

Analysts are weighing in Internet giant Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO), social networking firm LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD), and blue chip Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on YHOO, LNKD, and INTC. 

• YHOO is set for a 1.8% pop out of the gate, on news the company has decided not to spin off its Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA) stake, and will instead create a new company to host all its assets but BABA. FBR raised its price target on Yahoo! Inc. to $44 from $39. Regardless, at $34.85, YHOO has still given back over 31% in 2015 -- and is bumping up against resistance in the $36-$37 region -- and could face additional pressure if call players hit the exits. Specifically, the equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) stands at 0.53, higher than 82% of all readings from the past year. 

• After initiating coverage on the stock just last week, Nomura named LNKD one of its top picks for 2016. Now, the shares will look to add to their 25.4% quarter-to-date lead, after closing Tuesday at $238.51. Analysts certainly have high expectations for LinkedIn Corp, as 82% of covering brokerage firms say it's a "buy" or better, with none calling it a "sell." What's more, LNKD's average 12-month price target of $280.17 represents a 17.5% premium to current levels, as well as record-high territory. 

• Nomura also weighed in on INTC this morning, upgrading the stock to "buy" from "neutral," while increasing its price target to $42 from $33. "We think the market is telling us that Intel is a survivor," the analysts wrote. They weren't alone, though, as Maxim also hiked its price target to $47 from $33 -- marking 35.3% upside to last night's close at $34.75, and territory not seen since late 2000. Don't put these gains past Intel Corporation, however. The stock is up 17.8% over the past three months -- thanks to a strong forecast last month -- and could continue to rise if bears keep throwing in the towel. That is, over the past two reporting periods, short interest on INTC fell by almost 18%.