Analysts upwardly revised their ratings and price targets on QUALCOMM, Inc. (QCOM), F5 Networks, Inc. (FFIV), and eBay Inc (EBAY)
Analysts are weighing in on tech stocks
QUALCOMM, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) and
F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV), as well as online auctioneer
eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on QCOM, FFIV, and EBAY.
- QCOM's better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings and strong current-quarter forecast was met praise from the brokerage bunch. Goldman Sachs, for instance, added the stock to its "conviction list" and boosted its price target to $70 from $64, saying the chipmaker is at the start of "an upward estimate revision cycle." No fewer than 12 other analysts also raised their price targets. After closing last night at $55.82, QCOM stock is up 7.6% ahead of the bell -- and poised to break out above recent resistance. Options traders, meanwhile, have been buying to open puts over calls at a faster-than-usual clip. QUALCOMM, Inc.'s 10-day put/call volume ratio of 0.74 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) ranks in the 72nd annual percentile.
- FFIV received a bevy of price-target hikes, after the company reported fiscal third-quarter earnings above consensus estimates. The most optimistic outlook came from MKM, which boosted its fair value on FFIV to $133 -- a 9.5% premium to last night's settlement at $121.47, and just a chip-shot away from the equity's July 31, 2015, annual high of $135.20. The stock has surged more than 41% off its mid-February two-year lows near $86, most recently amid rumors it could be another takeover target for private-equity firm Thoma Bravo. Nevertheless, 85% of covering analysts maintain a "hold" or worse recommendation toward F5 Networks, Inc. Should FFIV continue its uptrend, another round of bullish brokerage notes could propel the shares even higher.
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The brokerage bunch was quick to chime in on EBAY, after the firm unveiled stronger-than-forecast second-quarter earnings and added $2.5 billion to its stock buyback program. Among the onslaught of price-target hikes the stock received was one from Bernstein to $36 from $32 -- in all-time-high territory. Against this bullish backdrop, shares of eBay Inc are up 6.5% in electronic trading. Longer term, the stock has surged 21% off its late-June lows, and closed last night at $26.99. Short-term options traders, meanwhile, have rarely been as put-skewed toward the stock as they are now. EBAY's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.91 rests 8 percentage points from a 52-week peak.
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