NBC -- whose parent company is NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) -- cut ties with Donald Trump
NBC -- whose parent company is NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) -- announced earlier it is
ending its relationship with Donald Trump over "derogatory statements" Mr. Trump made "regarding immigrants." While Trump had already said he would not return to do another season of "The Celebrity Apprentice" due to
his presidential bid, the broadcaster said it will no longer air the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants, which are a joint venture by the two.
In response, Trump said, "Whatever they want to do is ok with me. I've had a lot of great relationships with NBC, I think as far as ending the relationship, I have to do that, because my view on immigration is much different than the people at NBC."
CMCSA, meanwhile, is down 1.5% today at $60.12 -- but more likely due to
pressure from the broader equities market or a quick consolidation, considering the stock hit a record high of $61.64 on Friday. Regardless, today's decline has been contained by the round-number $60 mark, an area that had previously served as resistance since March.
Meanwhile, on the sentiment front, option traders have shown a preference for
calls over
puts in recent weeks. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), CMCSA's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 2.22 ranks in the 63rd annual percentile.
This glass-half-full approach has spilled outside of the options arena, as well. Of the 20 analysts covering the shares, 17 maintain a "buy" or better rating, with not a single "sell" to be found. Plus, a low 1.2% of Comcast Corporation's (NASDAQ:CMCSA) float is sold short, and would take less than three sessions to cover, at average daily trading volumes.