Analysts: Returns Normal, Sales Unknown, & More Apps on the Way

Per a Barron's Tech Trader Daily post, Deutsche Bank analyst Jonathan Goldberg has reiterated a “Buy” rating on shares of Palm (PALM) and raised his price target to $17 from $16. Goldberg was quoted saying, "We think market fears about return rates, weekly order trends and applications development,” for the Pre “are off the mark.  He continued, "Our checks continue to point to solid demand and carrier interest.”

Goldberg also said he expects Palm to show progress with its applications catalog by September.

For a gloomier perspective, we'll point out that BusinessWeek has chimed in with another analyst roundup pegging the numbers of Pre Phones sold somewhere between 300,000 and 500,000.  The even went so far as to call the Pre a "nice product," which is analyst-speak for "doomed."  Obviously, we're a bit more confident, but the Verizon launch can't come soon enough.