Analysts upwardly revised their ratings and price targets on AMZN, AAPL, and SWKS
Analysts are weighing in on Amazon stock, iPhone parent Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Apple supplier Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on shares of AMZN, AAPL, and SWKS.
AMZN Stock a BMO "Top Pick"
BMO added AMZN to its "Top Pick" list, and raised its target price to $1,200 from $900 -- in record-high territory, and 35% above AMZN's close of $891.51 on Monday -- citing advertising as a "new significant opportunity." Just yesterday, Amazon stock hit an all-time peak of $893.49, bringing its year-to-date gain to nearly 19%. Given the shares' strong performance on the charts, it's not surprising to see the brokerage crowd bullishly aligned. Of the 28 analysts covering AMZN stock, 25 have doled out a "buy" or better opinion, versus a pair of "holds" and just a single "strong sell."
Apple May Need Tax Reform, Per Pacific Crest
AAPL saw its price target raised to $150 from $140 at Pacific Crest, outstripping the stock's March 30 record high of $144.50. However, while the brokerage firm reiterated an "overweight" endorsement, the analyst added, "we believe tax reform and a subsequent increase to the dividend may be necessary to drive significant upside in AAPL." Separately, Credit Suisse said former Apple supplier Imagination Technologies could generate M&A interest, "especially from China," after its shares were decimated yesterday -- with Jefferies speculating AAPL could be among the companies eyeing a buyout.
Technically speaking, Apple Inc. shares sport a rock-solid year-to-date gain just above 24% to trade at $143.70. Nonetheless, short-term open interest is more put-skewed than usual. AAPL's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.95 ranks just 12 percentage points from a 12-month peak.
Outperforming Skyworks Stock Wins Analyst Applause
SWKS received an upgrade to "overweight" from "sector weight" at Pacific Crest, while Craig-Hallum boosted its price target to $110 from $100 -- waters not charted since mid-2015. Yesterday, the stock settled at $97.72, on a blistering 2017 lead of nearly 31%. A capitulation among bearish options traders could add even more fuel to Skyworks Solutions Inc's fire. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), SWKS has amassed a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.27 -- in the top quartile of its annual range.