Analyst Upgrades: Netflix, Monster, Yamana Gold

Analysts are weighing in today on streaming giant Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), energy drink issue Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ:MNST), and commodity concern Yamana Gold Inc. (USA) (NYSE:AUY). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on NFLX, MNST, and AUY.

• NFLX received price-target hikes from Barclays (to $450) and Cantor (to $500) overnight, with the latter residing in never-before-seen territory. However, the stock has put in an impressive performance in 2015, and based on last night's close at $425, is 24.4% higher on the year. On the sentiment front, short-term traders are more put-heavy than usual toward Netflix, Inc., as evidenced by the equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.28, which ranks in the 80th annual percentile.


• BMO raised its price target on MNST by $10 to $150 -- matching the equity's average 12-month price target. Although the security has yet to trade north of $143.90, this all-time peak was reached as recently as Feb. 27, thanks to a well-received earnings report. Longer term, the shares have more than doubled over the past 52 weeks, and settled last night at $137.94. Should the equity continue to linger near record-high territory, more bullish brokerage notes could be on the horizon. Currently, 54% of covering analysts maintain a lukewarm "hold" recommendation on Monster Beverage Corp, leaving the door wide open for a round of upgrades.


• Since hitting a six-year low of $3.33 on March 11, AUY has been on the mend, thanks to a bounce in gold -- up 22% at $4.05. TD Securities thinks there's more room to run, and boosted its price target on the stock to $6 from $5, as well as raising its rating to "buy" from "hold." Options traders have also taken an optimistic stance toward Yamana Gold Inc. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), AUY's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 19.51 ranks in the 92nd percentile of its annual range.