Aratana Therapeutics Inc (PETX), Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc (LL), Ducommun Incorporated (DCO), and Skechers USA Inc (SKX) are all trading higher
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is getting smashed today, as it seems unlikely Greece will get a deal done with its creditors. The blue-chip index was down over 245 points at last check, with all 30 components trading in the red. The Nasdaq Composite (COMP) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are both decidedly lower, as well. Still, some bright spots remain. Let's take a look at how Aratana Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:PETX), Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc (NYSE:LL), Ducommun Incorporated (NYSE:DCO), and Skechers USA Inc (NYSE:SKX) are dodging the broad-market trade-off.
- PETX is one of the top gainers on the Nasdaq today, adding 15.7% to trade at $15.55. The shares are getting a lift after the company announced its drug -- capromorelin -- improved the appetites of dogs in a study, and it will proceed in sending a marketing application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Street is already behind Aratana Therapeutics Inc, with all seven brokerage firms issuing "strong buy" recommendations. However, PETX remains 12.7% lower in 2015.
- LL has added 1.3% today at $21.40, with some crediting short covering as the reason. In the stock's option pits, calls are outpacing puts by a nearly 6-to-1 margin. This goes against Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc's long-term trend, as 1.35 puts have been bought to open for every call during the past four weeks at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). The shares are still 68% lower year-to-date.
- DCO was the leader on the NYSE at last check. The shares are 8.7% higher at $25.93, after the company announced it had entered a new credit agreement. With the jump, the stock has erased all of its 2015 losses. In the option pits, Ducommun Incorporated's short-term option traders have been far more put-skewed than normal. This, according to the equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR), which at 3.71 is only 2 percentage points from an annual high.
- Finally, technical standout SKX is higher once again, picking up 0.2% to hit $111.69. The shares have been relentless, more than doubling in 2015, and hitting an all-time high of $114.79 last week. Analysts are certainly bullish, with all six brokerage firms covering the stock saying it's a "buy" or better. Option traders, though, appear somewhat skeptical. Skechers USA Inc's SOIR of 1.07 is only 1 percentage point from an annual high.