Buzz Stocks: Tekmira, Neuroderm, Petroleo Brasileiro

U.S. stocks are headed for another uninspiring session, weighed down by concerns about crude and Greece. Among the equities in focus are drugmakers Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:TKMR) and Neuroderm Ltd (NASDAQ:NDRM), as well as commodities concern Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR) (NYSE:PBR).

• TKMR -- which manufactures an Ebola drug -- is pointed 3% higher in pre-market action, amid reports of another suspected case of the virus in Scotland. It's been a wild ride for Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation in 2014, with the equity spanning a 24-point range. The shares flirted with the $30 region on a few occasions throughout the year, but since their last peak in early October, have shed more than half their value to sit at $13.86 -- just north of their 80-week moving average, which has supported pullbacks in 2014. Analysts remain upbeat, though, with five out of six offering up "buy" or better ratings, and not a "sell" in sight. Likewise, the consensus 12-month price target of $34.80 stands in uncharted territory for TKMR, and represents more than twice the stock's current price.


• NDRM is set to skyrocket 37% out of the gate today, thanks to encouraging data on its Parkinson's drug. The Wall Street freshman debuted at $9.45 on Nov. 14, and it's been all downhill from there, with the shares landing at $6.18 on Monday. In fact, the equity's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) rests at 32 -- just shy of oversold territory, suggesting a short-term rebound may have been in the cards. Nevertheless, all three analysts following Neuroderm Ltd deem it worthy of a "strong buy," and the average 12-month price target of $20.63 is more than twice NDRM's all-time high, and more than three times the equity's current price.


• Finally, PBR is headed for a 2% gain at the open, after the Brazil-run oil company said it will publish its third-quarter earnings -- already delayed twice amid a corruption scandal -- by the end of January. Yesterday, Aurelius Capital Management LP urged PBR bondholders to declare default due to the delayed earnings, which were required to be filed by Dec. 29 until the recent extension. Meanwhile, Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR) said it has frozen payments on 23 contractors allegedly involved in the aforementioned scandal, which could implicate its employee pension fund. Amid the drama and waning oil prices, PBR shares have surrendered more than 47% in 2014, landing at $7.27 on Monday. In fact, the security has underperformed the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX) by 51 percentage points during the past three months.