Analyst Upgrades: Yahoo! Inc., Intuitive Surgical, Inc., and VMware, Inc.

Analysts upwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO), Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG), and VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW)

Josh Selway

Apr 20, 2016 at 9:56 AM

Analysts are weighing in on tech stock Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO), medical equipment designer Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG), and virtualization firm VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on YHOO, ISRG, and VMW.

YHOO is up 2.8% this morning at $37.36, after the company's better-than-expected first-quarter earnings were met with positive reviews from Wall Street. Specifically, no fewer than 12 brokerage firms raised their price targets on Yahoo! Inc., with Oppenheimer setting the bar the highest at $49. Meanwhile, CEO Marissa Mayer said she understands that executing a proper sale of the firm is the "top priority" for shareholders. YHOO is now 12% higher in 2016, and options traders share analysts' high expectations. Specifically, more than two YHOO calls have been bought to open for every put during the past two weeks at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX).
ISRG's first-quarter earnings topped Wall Street's expectations, while the company also raised its full-year forecast for procedures utilizing its da Vinci robot. The stock has now added 4.3% at $650.23, bringing its 2016 lead to 19%, after tapping a record new high of $654.88. And analysts foresee additional gains in the future. Stifel and Canaccord Genuity were two of at least five brokerage firms to up their price targets, with each setting theirs at $700 -- representing another all-time high. The stock could continue to rally if shorts keep covering, too. Short interest has dropped during the past two reporting periods, but it would still take Intuitive Surgical, Inc. short sellers almost a week to cover their remaining positions, at the equity's average daily volumes.
Lastly, VMW has shot 13.8% higher to $58.55, thanks to strong quarterly revenue and a fresh $1.2 billion share buyback plan. This is a change of pace on the charts for the stock, which was trading above $93 as recently as August. Analysts are certainly impressed, with no fewer than five raising their price targets, including a $70 target from FBN. If VMware, Inc. can sustain today's rally, it could see additional bullish notes in the near term. Specifically, 64% of covering brokerage firms deem VMW just a "hold."

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