Today's noteworthy initiations include: Aetna (AET) initiated with a Sector Perform at RBC Capital... Anthem (ANTM) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital... Avago (AVGO) initiated with a Buy at Argus... Baxter (BAX) initiated with a Buy at Goldman... Chemours (CC) initiated with an Underweight at JPMorgan... Cigna (CI) initiated with a Sector Perform at RBC Capital... Humana (HUM) initiated with a Sector Perform at RBC Capital... Interactive Intelligence (ININ) initiated with a Buy at Roth Capital... Intuit (INTU) initiated with a Hold at Stifel... Rocky Brands (RCKY) initiated with a Buy at B. Riley... Sandy Spring Bancorp (SASR) initiated with a Hold at Drexel Hamilton... Southern Copper (SCCO) initiated with a Buy at HSBC... Sphere 3D (ANY) initiated with a Buy at Roth Capital... Third Point Reinsurance (TPRE) initiated with a Buy at Compass Point... UnitedHealth (UNH) initiated with an Outperform at RBC Capital... Vale (VALE) initiated with a Hold at HSBC... Catalyst Pharmaceutical (CPRX) initiated with a Buy at MLV & Co.

Notable gainers among liquid option names this morning include Genuine Parts (GPC) $159.09 +15.03, Globe Life (GL) $66.97 +3.74, Anthem (ELV) $532.10 +23.13, United Continental (UAL) $50.59 +1.84, and UnitedHealth (UNH) $494.80 +15.81.

Unusual total active option classes on open include: Wrap Technologies (WRAP), AstraZeneca (AZN), JetBlue (JBLU), United Continental (UAL), Taiwan Semi (TSM), Nokia (NOK), EBay (EBAY), Maplebear Inc (CART), Airbnb (ABNB), and UnitedHealth (UNH).

RBC Capital analyst Ben Hendrix lowered the firm's price target on UnitedHealth to $555 from $596 but keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The company reported a "better than feared" Q1, but the debate over utilization trends is expected to persist through the first half as excess reserves skew the medical care ratio picture, the analyst tells investors in a research note. RBC also notes that its added caution reflects UnitedHealth's "reduced claims visibility".

Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley raised the firm's price target on Broadcom (AVGO) to $1,500 from $1,405 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares after hosting management for meetings. Broadcom is one of the unique companies that has a comprehensive view of the semis industry while also capable of providing an "intimate look" at the artificial intelligence market via custom silicon, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says management highlighted the company's inroads with the consumer-facing AI world, providing a differing viewpoint versus Nvidia's (NVDA) vision of the world - pointing to a two-part market of consumer and enterprise that could grow to a 50/50 split over time. Barclays came away from the meetings "with a valuable second opinion on the future of AI and a greater appreciation for the company's many ways to win."

Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley raised the firm's price target on Broadcom to $1,500 from $1,405 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The analyst increased the price after hosting management for meetings.