Analyst Upgrades: Cisco, Salesforce.com, American Eagle Outfitters

Analysts upwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), salesforce.com, inc. (NYSE:CRM), and American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO)

Karee Venema

May 19, 2016 at 9:27 AM

Analysts are weighing in on tech stocks Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) and salesforce.com, inc. (NYSE:CRM), as well as retailer American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on CSCO, CRM, and AEO.

CSCO is set to pop 5.1% out of the gate -- and move into the green on a year-to-date basis -- after the tech company's strong earnings report and upbeat current-quarter guidance was met with applause from analysts. Among those weighing in was Barclays, which boosted its price target to $31 from $29. Additionally, the brokerage firm said CSCO has been its "supertanker" pick, given "its strength as a 'picks-and-shovel' provider to the cloud." Leading up to last night's results, options traders were optimistic toward Cisco Systems, Inc., which closed at $26.72. This glass-half-full approach is evident elsewhere, too, with short interest accounting for less than 1% of CSCO's available float.

CRM also received a bevy of bullish brokerage attention, after the cloud company reported earnings above the consensus estimate and boosted its full-year forecast. Several analysts are projecting a move into triple-digit territory, including Credit Suisse, which upped its price target for salesforce.com, inc. to $115 from $100. Against this backdrop, CRM stock is 6.1% higher in electronic trading -- after closing at $77.87 last night -- and could take aim at its Nov. 19 record high of $82.90. Options traders, meanwhile, are more put-heavy than usual toward CRM. The stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.75 rests in the 86th annual percentile.

While a number of retail stocks have struggled this earnings season, AEO is set to jump 15.7% at the open -- and possibly log its best day in four years -- after the company posted better-than-expected first-quarter earnings. What's more, the stock received no fewer than three price-target hikes, with Cowen and Company -- which lowered its outlook earlier this week -- offering up the most optimistic target of $18. Stifel, meanwhile, cut its price target to $18 from $20. AEO could certainly use a boost on the charts, considering the shares have surrendered nearly 22% since hitting a March 21 year-to-date high of $17.13 to trade at $13.39. Today's projected price action could have some of the weaker bearish hands calling it quits. Short interest on American Eagle Outfitters edged up 2.9% in the most recent reporting period, and now accounts for more than 23% of the stock's available float.

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