Barrick Gold, Cisco, NetEase Upgraded

Analysts are weighing in on gold miner Barrick Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:ABX), blue chip Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), and tech stock NetEase Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:NTES). Here's a roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on ABX, CSCO, and NTES shares.

Analysts Applaud Barrick Gold Earnings

ABX saw its price target raised at both Credit Suisse and BMO, following last night's upbeat earnings report. As a result, the stock is pointed 2.1% higher pre-market. At $19.32, shares of Barrick Gold Corporation have already advanced nearly 21% in 2017. There's plenty of room for analysts to pile on the bullish bandwagon, too. Just four of 13 brokerage firms consider ABX worthy of a rating better than a "hold."

Cisco Shares Poised For Multi-Year High

CSCO is up 1.3% ahead of the open, following an earnings beat. The brokerage community is reacting positively, with no fewer than 11 analysts boosting their price targets on the Dow stock. Cowen set the highest bar, at $39 -- territory not explored since early 2001. Yesterday, Cisco Systems, Inc. closed at $32.82 after touching a nine-year high of $32.84 -- suggesting the shares will set yet another milestone out of the gate. Options traders should mostly capitalize on the expected upside move, too. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), speculators have bought to open 2.21 calls for every put during the past 10 weeks -- a ratio ranking just 12 percentage points from an annual peak.

NetEase Eyes Post-Earnings Highs

NTES is set to gap 7.8% higher at the open -- and into record-high territory -- following a strong earnings report. Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, and Goldman Sachs all raised their price targets on the encouraging news. Technically speaking, NetEase Inc has been a beast, up nearly 74% year-over-year at $261.85. Option bears could get burned on a stock surge, however. NTES has racked up a 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio of 1.56 -- just 6 percentage points from an annual high.