Analyst Update: Intel Corp, Assured Guaranty, Macy's

Analysts are weighing in today on tech giant Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), insurance issue Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE:AGO), and retailer Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M). Here's a quick look at today's brokerage notes on INTC, AGO, and M.

• INTC is 0.5% lower today at $30.88, after Pacific Crest lowered its price target to $35 from $37. The shares have been battling back since hitting an annual low of $29.31 in late March, but option traders have been betting on downside. Intel Corporation's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio stands at 1.09 -- higher than 69% of all other readings from the past year. This bearish outlook has spilled outside the option pits, as well. Over the two most recent reporting periods, short interest on INTC increased 16.2%. Should the stock bounce back, an unwinding of this negativity could result in tailwinds.


• AGO is down 12.8% today at $23.92, after Puerto Rico's governor said the territory's debt was "unpayable." With the drop, the stock has now given back all of its year-over-year gains, something option traders are likely happy to see. Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio of 9.63 ranks in the 82nd percentile of its annual range. Brokerage firm BTIG is similarly bearish. The firm lowered its outlook on AGO to "neutral" from "buy" this morning, and also removed its price target.


• Deutsche Bank weighed in on M this morning, cutting the stock's rating to "sell" from "buy," and lowering its price target by $8 to $63. The brokerage firm cited concerns with the company's same-store sales, and increasing cost pressure in health care, shipping, and retirement. The shares are now 2.4% lower at $68.15, though they've outperformed the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by almost 8 percentage points in the past 40 sessions. Most analysts are on the skeptical side. Of the 16 brokerage firms with coverage on Macy's, Inc., nine rate it a "hold" or worse. Plus, the equity's average 12-month price target of $68.53 is in line with its current perch.