Netflix Bandwagon Fully Loaded Ahead Of Q1 Earnings

Joel Elconin is the co-host of Benzinga's #PreMarket Prep, a daily trading idea radio show. Netflix, Inc. NFLX shares were trading higher by $22.00 (5 percent) at $476.57 in Monday's session. One of the catalysts for the rally is an upgrade from UBS from Neutral to Buy, while raising their price target all the way from $370 to $565. This marks the second day in a row the issue has been upgraded by the Street. On Friday, Citigroup raised the issue from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target from $409 to $525. On Thursday, BMO Capital maintained its Market Perform rating but bumped its price target from $400 to $450. Also on Friday, Netflix proposed a huge increase in the number of its authorized shares, "promising a stock split to sweeten the pot. In a proxy statement filed late Friday afternoon, the company proposed boosting authorized shares to 5 billion from 170 million." As a result, Netflix has leaped from its April 8 close ($441.36) to nearly $480 over this period of time. That puts the issue within striking distance of its all-time high, which was made on February 26 ($486.50). All of the activity is taking place just ahead of the results for Q1 earnings that will be announced after Wednesday's close.