** Electronics components distributor Avnet AVT.O and semiconductor maker Diodes DIOD.O rise premarket

** AVT up 1.6% at $68.1, DIOD up 3.1% at $85.65

** Truist Securities upgrades both stocks to "buy" from "hold", says demand strength broadening beyond data centers and AI

** 90% of industry contacts say Q1 results better than expected, and bookings were up shaply - Truist Securities

** Brokerage says respondents report inventories are depleted and vendors raising prices across component types

** Brokerage raises calendar-year 2027 EPS forecast to $7.95 from $6.83 for AVT, and to $3.93 from $2.92 for DIOD

** Lifts AVT PT to $80 from $65, upside of 19.3% to its last close; DIOD's PT to $98 from $67, upside of 18% to its last close

** As of last close, shares of AVT up 39.4% YTD vs 68.4% gain for DIOD