Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives initiated VMware (VMW) with an Outperform rating and $185 price target and added the stock to the Best Ideas List. In a research note to investors, Ives says he believes VMware has a number of tailwinds heading into FY19 including a healthy ELA renewal cycle, strong customer interest around its vSphere solution as more enterprises aggressively embrace the cloud, and incremental growth from its NSX segment that we believe in particular could be a major growth driver for the coming years. With the current bid for Dell Technologies tracking stock (DVMT) undervaluing the inherent value of this stock, Ives believes an investor showdown is on the horizon as the Street joins forces in its battle vs. Michael Dell/Silver Lake in this path to take Dell public again and thus represents a potential wild card for VMware and its investors looking ahead.