Tech Premarket: Facebook, Cisco, Apple

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Facebook (FB), which hosts a major press event at its headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Tuesday, was a big gainer in premarket trading.

Shares of Facebook rose 1.73% to $32.27 before market open on Monday, as attention focused again on the social networking phenomenon. Facebook was also the most active premarket Nasdaq stocks on share volume of 601,433.

Deutsche Bank upgraded Facebook to buy from hold on Monday, and raised its price target to $40 from $24, citing improving prospects in 2013.

"We still think a 'one quarter at a time' approach is warranted given heightened expectations and all the potential revenue opportunities, but the future looks bright," wrote Deutsche Bank analyst Ross Sandler.

TheStreet will be attending and live-blogging Facebook's press event from 12:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday:

Cisco (CSCO) was another gainer in premarket trading on Monday, boosted by upgrades from Baird Equity Research and William Blair.

Shares of Cisco rose 1.03% to $20.69 after Baird upgraded the company to outperform and raised its price target to $25 from $21.

"Our channel checks indicate that Cisco is executing very well amidst a challenging macro," wrote Baird analyst Jayson Noland, in a note. "We believe the company has emerged stronger post its restructuring efforts, and we see less gross margin downside going forward than experienced in recent years."

Noland added that Cisco is Baird's "best large-cap idea" for 2013.

William Blair upgraded Cisco to outperform from market perform on Monday, noting that the networking giant is moving past its "midlife crisis."

"We believe the company has emerged from a difficult, soul-searching period significantly leaner, focused, and more self-aware," wrote William Blair analyst Jason Adler, in a note. Cisco, he added, has recommitted to its core switching and routing businesses, exited the consumer business, restructured its costs, reduced management bureaucracy and given realistic financial goals to Wall Street. The analyst also pointed to Cisco's decision to join tech's dividend payers as a positive.

HP (HPQ) was another gainer, rising 1.61% to $16.42 after JP Morgan upgraded the No. 1 PC maker to neutral from underweight and raised its price target to $21 from $15.

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