Software stock Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:PLTR) is up 22.9% at $102.94 at last glance, earlier soaring to a fresh record high of $106.91, after the company's impressive fourth-quarter results and 2025 revenue forecast. Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to "equal weight" from "underweight" after the event, while a flood of other analysts lifted their price targets. 

The artificial intelligence (AI) boom played a huge role in the results, and Palantir Technologies' Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar is making headlines as he discusses competition with China, calling it an "AI arms race." Over the last year, PLTR has jumped 533% as AI momentum carries on. 

Analysts, however, are mostly bearish on the equity, leaving plenty of room for upgrades going forward. Of the 18 brokerages in coverage, 16 carry a "hold" or worse rating. 

Unsurprisingly, options traders are blasting PLTR straight out of the gate. Within the first 15 minutes of trading, the stock has seen 6 times the options volume typically seen at this point. The weekly 2/7 110-strike call is the most popular, followed by the 105-strike call in the same series, with new positions being opened at both. 

This marks a shift in sentiment, as options traders were more bearish than usual over the last two weeks amid the stock's already-high valuation. This is per PLTR's 10-day put/call volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which ranks higher than 80% of readings from the past year. 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) is one of the many financial names scheduled to report earnings next week. The bank giant will announce its quarterly results before the open on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in which analysts expect earnings of $7.94 per share, much larger than the $5.48 per share reported this quarter last year. 

Goldman Sachs stock has finished higher after three of its last four 2024 reports, sitting out last October with a minor 0.1% loss despite hitting a fresh peak earlier that day. The stock has averages a 2.1% post-earnings move over the past two years, regardless of direction, yet the options pits are pricing in a 5.1% swing for Wednesday's trading. 

GS has been climbing back toward its Nov. 29 record high of $612.73 since bouncing off $544 in mid-December, with support at its 60-day moving average. In the last year, the stock had added 50.2%. 

Over in the options pits for the past 10 days, the number of puts lines up with the number of calls, which is somewhat rare for Goldman Sachs stock. Specifically, at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), GS' 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.00 ranks higher than 81% of readings from the past year. Should some of this pessimism start to unwind, it could help GS extend its recent climb. 

The latest earnings season has come and gone. Given our headquarters is based in Cincinnati, Ohio we figured it would be fun to honor the local flavor and shed some light on how some of our very own Queen City-based companies that recently stepped into the earnings confessional. 

Starting off with the heaviest hitter, Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) announced its first-quarter results ahead of the open on June 15. The grocer reaffirmed its full-year forecast and reported better-than-expected profits of $1.51 per share, but revenue missed estimates.

Kroger stock dropped to its lowest level since March after the event, but pared most of those losses to close 2.7% lower. The following day, no fewer than six analysts slashed their price targets. Still trading around the same price -- $45.97 at last glance -- KR is up 3% in 2023. 

Cintas Corp (NASDAQ:CTAS) has continued to chop higher since its post-earnings bull gap on March 29, following upbeat fiscal third-quarter results and a raised 2023 revenue forecast. Recently hitting a June 16 record high of $497.70, the equity is up 7.7% year-to-date. 

E W Scripps Co (NASDAQ:SSP) announced slightly narrower-than-expected first-quarter losses per share and a revenue miss before the open on May 5. In response, SSP closed 8% higher for its best day since November. Year-to-date, the security is down 40.7%. 

The shares of Medpace Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:MEDP) soared after the biotech concern's better-than-expected first-quarter results, released after the close on April 24, adding 11.2% the following day. MEDP has been climbing since its mid-March lows, and is up 23.8% in the past three months. 

The latest earnings season has come and gone. Given our headquarters is based in Cincinnati, Ohio we figured it would be fun to honor the local flavor, and shed some light on how some of our very own Queen City-based companies in the earnings confessional. Keep an eye out for part two, featuring Kroger's report -- due out after the close on Thursday, June 15!

Starting off with the heavy-hitter, Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) announced strong fiscal third-quarter results and raised its full-year forecast on April 21. PG closed the day up 3.5%, which still remains its highest single-session percentage gain since March 2022, marking its fifth post-earnings gain over the last eight reports. Year-to-date, the Dow member is currently down 4.4%.  

Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) closed the day 0.6% lower after its disappointing first-quarter report, announced on April 20, though several other regional lenders dipped much further that day following their results, including Zions Bancorp (ZION) and KeyCorp (KEY), as the recent banking crisis weighed. FITB is down 17.1% year-to-date, as bank stocks struggle in the wake of sector-wide headwinds from early 2023. 

Chemed Corp (NYSE:CHE) announced better-than-expected first-quarter results after the close on April 26, however, the stock closed 2.9% lower in its next-day session, which ultimately led to a halted six-week win streak. Since the start of the year, CHE is currently up 6.2%.  

The shares of Macy's Inc (NYSE:M) closed higher after the retailer's mixed first-quarter results on June 1, rebounding from nearly two-year lows despite the company's dour full-year forecast. The security brushed off no fewer than seven price-target cuts the following day as well, adding 12.1% on June 2 and breaking the stock's seven-week losing streak by the end of the week. 

Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE:QSR) is enjoying a post-earnings pop today, up 6.6% at $58.61. The Burger King and Popeye's parent posted second-quarter profits of 82 cents per share, topping analyst expectations of 73 cents, alongside better-than-expected revenue of $1.64 billion. 

QSR is on track for its seventh-straight win -- now just a chip-shot away from its year-to-date breakeven level. Today's positive price action has the stock jumping above the 200-day moving average as well, a trendline that kept a cap on yesterday's gains. 

At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock's 50-day put/call volume ratio ranks higher than 96% of readings from the past year. This bearish sentiment is ramped up today, with 2,054 puts and 873 calls exchanged so far. The August 55 put is the most active, followed by the September 60 call. 

Though there has been a bout of short-covering over the past couple weeks, with short interest down 19.1% over that time, it would take nearly eight days to cover bearish bets, at QSR's average pace of trading. 

Analysts have yet to chime in today, though there is plenty of room for optimism. Of the 20 in coverage, eight carry a "buy" or better rating, 10 a "hold," and two a "sell" or worse. Plus, the 12-month consensus price target of $61.13 is a slim 4.3% premium to current levels. 

Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:SBUX) reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of 84 cents on revenue of $8.15 billion after the close yesterday, both of which topped analyst estimates. Strong U.S. sales helped offset lockdowns in China, especially as prices were raised amid inflation. No fewer than five analysts chimed in with minor price-target hikes after the event, with the highest from Deutsche Bank to $93 from $91. At last glance, SBUX is up 1.7% to trade at $85.17. 

Jumping as high as $86.06, SBUX broke above the 150-day moving average for the first time since January earlier today, though the stock has since moved back below. The shares have been moving choppily higher since their May 12 two-year low of $68.39, though the stock is still down 27.6% year-to-date. 

Despite calls outnumbering puts on an absolute basis, the stock's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 0.69 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) is in the elevated 90th percentile of its annual range. This suggests puts being picked up at a much faster-than-usual rate. 

Today, options volume is running at three times the intraday average. So far, 48,000 calls and 31,000 puts have crossed the tape. The weekly 8/5 88-strike call is the most active contract, followed by the August 85 call, with new positions being bought to open at the former. 

Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) announced a strong fiscal third-quarter report and raised its sales forecast before the bell this morning, amid easing supply-chain issues and steady demand for its soups and sauces. The stock is pulling back from its early-morning gains, however. Previously as high as $48.24, CPB is currently down 0.5% to trade at $46.36 as it flip-flops above and below breakeven.

This $48 level appears to be emerging as a ceiling, as it rejected the stock several times at the end of May, with help from the 20-day moving average. Though the stock is struggling to climb back toward its May 9 one-year high of $51.94, the $45 level and 120-day trendline linger below as support. Year-to-date, the equity is up 6.6%. 

Plenty of pessimism has surrounded CPB amongst analysts and options traders. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the security sports a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.43, which is higher than 92% of readings from the past year. 

Plus, all 10 analysts in coverage are bearish, with eight sporting a tepid "hold" rating and two a "sell" or worse. Their 12-month consensus price target of $44.45 is also a 4.5% discount to current levels.

Though analysts have yet to chime in with any bull notes, options bulls seem to be emerging today. So far, 3,124 calls and 2,458 puts have crossed the tape, with calls running at eight times the intraday average. The weekly 6/10 46-strike put and 50-strike call are the most popular, with new positions opening at the latter. 

Meanwhile, though short interest has been unraveling, it still represents 8% of the stock's available float. In other words, it would take over six days to buy back these bearish bets, at Campbell Soup stock's average pace of daily trading. 

Bath & Body Works Inc (NYSE:BBWI) stock is down 7.6% to trade at $39.64, earlier hitting a one-year low of $38.35. Though the retailer's first-quarter results beat estimates, its reduced 2022 outlook is weighing on the stock. Plus, no fewer than five analysts slashed their price targets, including Credit Suisse to $49 from $64, with the firm noting they "struggle to embrace an apparent Covid-beneficiary in a category that consumers likely over-consumed in ’20 and ’21 -- and one that’s no longer beating Street topline estimates materially quarter to quarter." 

Though the brokerage bunch steered clear of downgrades today, there is ample room for a pessimistic shift. Of the 16 analysts in coverage, 15 carry a "buy" or better rating. Plus, the 12-month consensus price target of $76.35 is still a 92.8% premium to current levels. 

Over in the options pits, puts are more than doubling calls midday, with overall options volume running at five times the intraday average. So far, 26,000 puts and 11,000 calls have been exchanged, with the May 40 put seeing the most activity.

It's also worth noting that BBWI has landed on the short sell restricted (SSR) list today.Lastly, short interest makes up 7.9% of the stock's available float, or four days' worth of pent-up buying power. 

Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) is contributing to the Dow's negative price action this morning, down 10.8% at $43.15 at last glance, after the company slashed its 2022 forecast. Earlier hitting an 18-month low of $41.36, today's gap lower has CSCO down 33% year-to-date. 

Supply shortages cut into Cisco's fiscal third-quarter results, as did the war in Ukraine and China's lockdowns, and the networking name's revenue of $12.84 billion missed estimates of $13.34 billion. Earnings of 87 cents per share did beat estimates by one cent, however. 

No fewer than 13 analysts cut their price targets after the event, with the lowest from Citigroup to $40 from $45. The ratings are still the same so far, with the 16 analysts in coverage split toward CSC -- nine carrying a "buy" or better rating, and seven a "hold" or worse.

Meanwhile, in the last two weeks, puts have been exchanged at their fastest pace all year. This is per CSCO's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.18 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which sits higher than all other readings from the past 12 months. 

This penchant for puts is still in place today, with 113,000 puts across the tape so far -- 12 times the intraday average -- in comparison to 79,000 calls. The May 40 and 42 puts are the most popular, with new positions being opened at both. It's also worth noting that Cisco stock has landed on the short sale restricted (SSR) list today.