Buzz Stocks: Alibaba Group, Priceline Group, and ANN

Today's stocks to watch include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA), Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), and Ann Inc (NYSE:ANN)

Josh Selway

May 7, 2015 at 9:10 AM

U.S. stocks appear ready to continue their losing ways, amid an ongoing rise in Treasury yields. Among the equities in focus are e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA), online booking service Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), and women's retailer Ann Inc (NYSE:ANN).

BABA is flying high ahead of the open, up 11.7%, after the company reported a 45% increase in quarterly revenue and named Daniel Zhang as its new CEO. After a strong start following the firm's IPO in mid-September, the last few months have been rough on the shares. Since touching an all-time high of $120 on Nov. 13, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has dropped 33.3%, finishing at $80 yesterday. On the Street, analysts are firm believers in BABA. The stock boasts 21 "strong buy" recommendations, two "buys," and no "holds" or "sells" -- though it was hit with a substantial price-target cut earlier this week.

PCLN is 3.5% lower this morning, as the company's disappointing current-quarter forecast overshadows a first-quarter earnings beat. Priceline Group Inc closed at $1,264.15 yesterday, bringing its year-to-date lead to 10.9%, and options traders continue to place bullish bets. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), PCLN's 10-day call/put volume ratio comes in at 1.46 -- higher than 96% of readings from the past year.

ANN is enjoying an 7.6% pre-market lift, after Reuters reported the company is in talks with Golden Gate Capital, which may buy the retailer at a valuation of about $2 billion. Options traders are likely licking their chops at today's potential price action, given their preference for calls recently. In fact, over the past two weeks at the ISE, CBOE, and PHLX, 995 Ann Inc calls have been bought to open, compared to just 10 puts. Yesterday, the shares settled at $37.36, up 2.4% in 2015.

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