Analyst Upgrades: Abeona, Twitter, and Hewlett Packard

Analysts upwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Abeona Therapeutics Inc (ABEO), Twitter Inc (TWTR), and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (HPE)

Sep 8, 2016 at 10:22 AM

Analysts are weighing in on biotech issue Abeona Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:ABEO), microblogging concern Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), and tech stock Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (NYSE:HPE). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on ABEO, TWTR, and HPE.

ABEO is up 5.2% at $5.04, after Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on the stock with an upbeat "buy" rating and a $21 price target, representing a level the shares haven't seen in more than two years. Also boosting Abeona Therapeutics Inc this morning is news the company has enrolled a fifth patient in its Phase 1/2 trial of its treatment for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) -- which has demonstrated "promising clinical efficacy." The stock has been on a tear since early July, more than doubling in value, and bringing its year-to-date lead to 50%. Analysts are firmly on board, too, with all three brokerage firms tracking the stock maintaining a "strong buy" rating

TWTR received a price-target hike to $23 from $21 at Goldman Sachs, but it's not having the effect a recent batch of options bulls were hoping for. In fact, the stock is off 5.3% at $18.82, as the company prepares for a board meeting today where a sale could be discussed. And though CEO Jack Dorsey's job is not expected to be on the line, sources have said he may have just a few more quarters to turn around Twitter Inc. While the shares have been making a comeback in recent months, TWTR is still down more than 30% year-over-year. It seems analysts don't have high expectations, either, as 22 out of 26 rate the stock a "hold" or worse.

HPE is off 2% at $21.64, despite better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings, and following an announcement it will spin off part of its software business in a deal with U.K.-based Micro Focus International totaling $8.8 billion. The news has been met with a slew of brokerage attention, including no fewer than eight price-target hikes -- including an increase to $27 at Jefferies. However, Wells Fargo broke from the pack, downgrading Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co to "market perform" from "outperform," citing a lack of near-term catalysts. Regardless, the shares are up over 42% year-to-date, and short sellers have been backing off in recent weeks, with short interest falling by 21.4% over the two most recent reporting periods. But these pessimistic positions still account for a week's worth of trading, at HPE's typical daily pace.

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