Analyst Upgrades: Whiting Petroleum Corp, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

Analysts upwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Whiting Petroleum Corp (WLL), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN), and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)

Dec 12, 2016 at 9:21 AM

Analysts are weighing in on oil-and-gas stock Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE:WLL), biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:REGN), and chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on WLL, REGN, and AMD.

WLL is set to pop 8% at the open, as crude oil prices explore annual-high territory. Also boosting shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp is a price-target hike to $13 from $9 at Wunderlich. The stock is up roughly 29% year-to-date based on last week's settlement at $12.14, and has recently found a solid foothold above the $12 mark. Options traders seem to be eyeing more gains, too. WLL's 10-day call/put volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands at a top-heavy 5.54 -- higher than 91% of all readings from the past 12 months, suggesting calls have been bought to open over puts at an accelerated clip in recent months.
REGN is up 4.1% ahead of the bell, following an upgrade to "neutral" from "sell" at Chardan Capital, which also raised its price target on the stock to $350 from $300. Also creating a boon for REGN is news competitor Ophthotech Corp's (NASDAQ:OPHT) combination treatment for age-related macular degeneration failed to meet its primary endpoint in a late-stage trial. According to an analyst from RBC, the results mean that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc's drug, Eylea, should remain the standard treatment for the disease. It's been a rough year for REGN, though, off 31% to close Friday at $372.83 -- so, it's little surprise analysts have largely been skeptical. In fact, of the 17 brokerage firms tracking the shares, 11 rate them a "hold" or worse.
AMD could make another run at nine-year highs today -- up 1.8% in electronic trading -- after BMO raised its rating on the stock to "outperform" from "market perform" and more than doubled its price target, to $15 from $6. At $10.34, shares of Advances Micro Devices, Inc. have tacked on an incredible 260% in 2016 -- and tagged $10.66 last Thursday, their highest mark since November 2007. And while analysts are slowly beginning to raise their opinions, nearly 12% of AMD's available float remains tied up in short interest. This could create a short-covering situation, which may give the outperforming stock an additional boost.

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