Analyst Update: Micron Technology, Inc., Tilly's Inc, and L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

Analysts are weighing in on semiconductor stock Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU), retailer Tilly's Inc (NYSE:TLYS), and tech stock L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LLL). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on MU, TLYS, and LLL.

• MU is up 6.5% at $16.52, a new year-to-date high, after a price-target hike to $20 from $16 -- in annual-high territory -- by Nomura, which said the semiconductor firm "has potential to boost margins sustainably above its historical median." Micron Technology, Inc. is up 16% year-to-date, and has enjoyed support from its 50-day moving average since early May. Option players have been especially bullish towards the stock over the past 10 weeks -- amid recurring M&A speculation -- with MU's 50-day call/put volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) showing 4.63 calls bought to open for every put, which ranks in the 95th percentile of MU's annual range. 

• TLYS is up 8.1% at $7.65, and is one of the best performers on the New York Stock Exchange today, after last night's earnings beat. B. Riley subsequently raised its rating on the retailer to a "buy," and issued a price-target hike to $9.50 from $8 -- in territory not charted in a year. Mizuho and SunTrust Robinson also issued price-target hikes, to $7 and $8, respectively. Tilly's Inc is up more than 30% so far this quarter, and has recovered almost 40% from its all-time low of $5.49, touched in early July. TLYS is currently on track to close above its 50-week moving average for the first time since May 2015. Option players were especially call-heavy heading into earnings, with 74.4 calls bought to open for every put over the past 10 days on the ISE/CBOE/PHLX. 

• LLL is sitting 1.7% higher at $149.25, after being named the top defense pick at J.P. Morgan Securities, which upgraded the stock to "overweight" from "neutral" and issued a price-target hike to $182 from $158 -- in uncharted waters for LLL. L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. shares are up by almost 25% so far in 2016, and are now testing a foothold atop their 10-week moving average, which ushered the stock to an all-time high in late July. Short-term option buyers have been getting a bargain on their bets, with LLL's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 16% sitting lower than 98% of all other annual readings from the past year, indicating near-term options have been pricing in historically low volatility expectations.