UBS upgraded the stock to "buy"
UBS upgraded the shares of chipmaker Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) to "buy" and hiked its price target to $195 from $170. Texas Instruments had already lifted its revenue for cast for 2024 and 2025, adding to UBS' confidence that the semiconductor company should be among the first in its sector to see higher orders amid lesser reliance on distribution.
In response to the bull note, TXN was last seen 3.1% higher at $172.12 and pacing to extend its gains after yesterday snapping five-day losing streak. Today trading at its highest level so far this year, the equity is pacing for its first weekly win in 2024, while also on track to overcome slim year-to-date and year-over-year deficits.
Analysts were unenthusiastic on TXN coming into today, leaving room for more bull notes to roll in. While six covering brokerages rated the equity a "strong buy," 15 said "hold," and three recommended a "strong sell." Meanwhile, the 12-month consensus price target of $165.25 is a slim discount to last night's close.
Options traders, meanwhile, were more optimistic. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Texas Instrument stock's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 1.77 ranks in the 98th percentile of 12-month readings. Unsurprisingly, this bullishness is continuing today. The equity's typically quiet options pits have already seen 2,944 calls traded, or four times the average intraday volume. The most popular contract is the January 172.50 call.