Credit Suisse analyst John Pitzer reminded investors in a research note that he previously argued that three levers Broadcom could pull to unlock value include using excess free cash flow for share repurchases, report earnings per share inclusive of SBC and hosting an analyst day at least once every other year. Pitzer said Broadcom pulled the first lever, announcing a $12B share repurchase authorization on Thursday, and sees further potential for "lever two" and "lever three" to be pulled throughout 2018. Pitzer noted that Broadcom has not hosted an analyst day since 2012, but that holding one would allow the company to showcase the breadth and depth of its product porfolio as well as its "much stronger" bench of management than most appreciate.

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.