Shares of NetApp, Inc. (Symbol: NTAP) have recently surpassed the average analyst 12-month target price of $79.65, trading at $89.54 per share. When a stock reaches an analyst target, the logical responses include either downgrading due to valuation or raising the target price higher. Analyst actions may also reflect key business developments that pushed the price upward, potentially signaling a need to increase the target if fundamentals are strengthening.

Seventeen analyst targets from the Zacks coverage universe form this average for NetApp, Inc., though the figure is simply a mathematical mean. Some targets sit below the average, such as one at $63.00, while the highest reaches $100.00. The standard deviation measures $9.38.

Reviewing the average NTAP price target offers insight from combined analyst perspectives rather than any single view. With NTAP now above $79.65 per share, investors may want to reassess whether this marks progress toward an even higher target or if valuation has stretched enough to consider reducing positions. The table below summarizes current analyst ratings for NetApp, Inc.:

Recent NTAP Analyst Ratings Breakdown
»	Current	1 Month Ago	2 Month Ago	3 Month Ago
Strong buy ratings:	6	6	6	6
Buy ratings:	1	1	1	1
Hold ratings:	10	10	10	10
Sell ratings:	1	1	1	1
Strong sell ratings:	0	0	0	0
Average rating:	2.33	2.33	2.33	2.33

The average rating in the final row of the table uses a 1-to-5 scale where 1 represents Strong Buy and 5 represents Strong Sell. This article drew on data from Zacks Investment Research via Quandl.com. Obtain the latest Zacks research report on NTAP at no charge.