Analyst Upgrades: Apple Inc., Intel Corporation, and The Coca-Cola Co

Analysts are weighing in on tech interests Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), as well as beverage maker The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on AAPL, INTC, and KO.

• AAPL is pointed 1.8% higher before the market opens -- and is looking to reclaim the century mark -- thanks to an upgrade to "buy" from "neutral" at BofA-Merrill Lynch, which said that concerns over iPhone orders are already priced in. In addition, BofA-Merrill Lynch waxed optimistic on AAPL's most recent batch of products, and said the "Longer term China opportunity appears intact, countering 'peak iPhone' worries." Meanwhile, SocGen cut its price target on Apple Inc. to $130 from $140, while Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster lowered his second-quarter estimates for iPhone units. AAPL has been hounded with negative analyst notes lately, but 23 out of 39 brokerages still say the security is a "buy" or better. Some traders are backing off of their bearish positions, too. Short interest on AAPL fell 31.5% during the last two-week reporting period alone.

• INTC is poised to pop 1.7% at the bell, as J.P. Morgan Securities resumed coverage on the stock with an "overweight" rating and $40 price target, citing strength in Intel Corporation's data center and "Internet of Things" business. Mizuho Securities also raised its rating on INTC to "buy" and its price target to $37. The security was on a modest upswing at the end of 2015, but took a dip with the broader equities market at the start of 2016, and is now testing support at its 200-day moving average. Still, option traders have grown increasingly optimistic ahead of earnings on Friday.. On the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) INTC's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 1.52 is higher than 81% of readings from the past year. At Monday's close, INTC landed at $32.06.

• An upgrade to "buy" from "hold" at Stifel has KO headed 1.4% higher this morning. Analysts are split on The Coca-Cola Co, though -- nine give the stock a "buy" or better, and nine give it a "hold" or worse. Like most blue chips, KO had a rough start to 2016, but is now testing a foothold atop its 320-day moving average, closing at $41.58 yesterday. Option bears have been active amid the recent downturn, too. KO's 10-day put/call volume ratio on the ISE, CBOE, and PHLX is 1.57 -- in the 94th annual percentile.