Analyst Upgrades: Palo Alto Networks Inc, Yelp Inc, and Kinross Gold Corporation

Analysts are weighing in on cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks Inc (NYSE:PANW), online review site Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP), and gold miner Kinross Gold Corporation (USA) (NYSE:KGC). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on PANW, YELP, and KGC.

• Unlike what some option traders expected, PANW is set to open to the upside, gaining 2.9% in electronic trading, following a better-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue, as well as a promising current-quarter forecast. It's already been a great 2015 for the shares, which have added over 40% on a year-to-date basis to trade at $172.02. Analysts have jumped aboard following Palo Alto Networks Inc's strong quarterly report, with no fewer than 10 raising their price targets on the stock. Barclays was the most ambitious of the bunch, setting its target at $220 -- all-time-high territory for PANW. Bullish attention from the Street isn't unusual, though. Twenty of 26 covering analysts say the security is a "buy" or better, with not a single "sell" to be found. 

• YELP will look to make up some of its 45% year-to-date decline today, with the help of a price-target hike at MKM Partners to $30 from $25. Unfortunately for shareholders, the stock could meet resistance in the $31-$32 area, site of its late-July bear gap, after settling at $29.86 on Monday. If Yelp Inc continues to struggle on the charts, a reversal in option trader behavior could act as a headwind. The equity's 10-day call/put volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands at an eye-popping 7.68 -- only 3 percentage points from an annual bullish peak. 

• At $1.75, KGC has lost almost 38% in 2015. Still, RBC upgraded the stock's rating to "sector perform" from "underperform," and lifted its price target to $2.50 from $2.25. As such, short sellers may be pleased with their recent decision to hit the exits. During the most recent two-week reporting period, short interest on Kinross Gold Corporation fell by over 31%, and now accounts for less than 1% of its total float. Ahead of the bell, the shares are 3.7% higher.