Apple, Advanced Micro Devices, Twilio Upgraded

Analysts are weighing in on Dow stock Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), and cloud concern Twilio Inc (NYSE:TWLO). Here's a roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on AAPL, AMD, and TWLO.

Apple Explodes on Earnings

AAPL is pointed 4.8% higher pre-market -- and on track for a fresh annual high -- after a rock-solid earnings report was met with positive brokerage attention. Specifically, no fewer than a dozen analysts upped their price targets on the stock, with Raymond James setting the highest bar, at $152. Even heading into the event, the brokerage crowd had very high expectations. Twenty-six of 33 analysts, for example, rated AAPL shares worthy of a "buy" or better, compared to five "holds" and just two "strong sells." Pre-earnings options traders, on the other hand, mostly targeted puts. Yesterday, Apple stock settled at $121.35.

Street Applauds Advanced Micro Devices Earnings

AMD is also poised to jump, up 3% ahead of the open, after closing at $10.37 on Tuesday. Catalyzing the shares is the company's narrower-than-forecast fourth-quarter loss, and a round of at least five price-target hikes. AMD is no stranger to big gains, as the stock has more than quintupled in value on a year-over-year basis. Yet, analysts have been evenly divided on the outperforming shares, with 10 handing out a "strong buy" endorsement, versus another 10 maintaining a lukewarm "hold" recommendation.

JMP Securities Upgrade Boosts Twilio

TWLO saw its rating upped to "outperform" from "market perform" at JMP Securities, ahead of next Tuesday night's earnings report. After settling at $28.83 yesterday, the stock is up 3.2% pre-market -- which would add to its 11% gain since an early January low of $25.98. If short sellers begin hitting the exits, the shares could catch an additional tailwind. After all, almost 30% of TWLO's total float is sold short, meaning there's plenty of pent-up buying power on the sidelines.