While VMware (VMW: sentiment, chart, options) options traders have piled into bullishly oriented calls recently, the analyst community has had few nice things to say about the company. In fact, Caris & Co. initiated coverage on the shares this morning with a "below average" rating. The brokerage firm also listed a target price of $18 per share for VMW - a 9.4% discount to the stock's close of $19.88 yesterday.

Caris & Co. isn't alone in its bearish assessment of the shares, as Zacks.com reports that 20 of the 22 analysts following VMW rate the shares a "hold" or worse. However, there is room for price-target cuts on the shares, as Thomson Financial reports that the average 12-month target for VMW rests at $27.33 - a 37% premium to yesterday's close.

Technically speaking, the equity has done little to inspire optimism. The shares are off more than 76% since the beginning of the year, and have recently pulled their 10-day and 20-day moving averages into a bearish cross. The stock is struggling to maintain support at the round-number 20 level, bouncing back above this psychologically important region in today's trading. However, any weakness or bearish activity from Wall Street analysts could send VMW down for a retest of support at the 18 level.