Analyst Update: Boeing, Avis Budget, and Zillow

Analysts are weighing in today on aerospace titan Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), car rental concern Avis Budget Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CAR), and online real estate firm Zillow Group Inc (NASDAQ:Z). Here's a quick look at today's brokerage notes on BA, CAR, and Z.

• BA announced a new $30 million contract to develop laser weapons for the U.S. Navy earlier this week, which may have prompted Sterne Agee to up its price target on the equity by $32 to $196 this morning. The shares of Boeing Co are up over 2.8% this afternoon to trade at $158.18 -- and earlier notched an all-time high of $158.58 -- adding to an impressive 21.7% year-to-date gain. Surprisingly, sentiment in the stock's options pits is nearing a bearish peak, as BA's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio of 1.00 sits just 2 percentage points away from an annual high.


• Following Wednesday night's impressive earnings release, no fewer than three brokerage firms have adjusted their ratings on CAR. Specifically, Credit Suisse raised its price target to $76 from $72 while underscoring an "outperform" rating, J.P. Morgan Securities upped its price target to $70 from $68 while reiterating an "overweight" rating, and Avondale Partners cut its recommendation to "market perform" from "market outperform." Although the shares of Avis Budget Group Inc. are down 2.9% today to hit $62.97, the equity has been trending upwards overall, advancing more than 40% year-over-year. Accordingly, sentiment in the stock's options pits is bullish, as CAR's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 2.97 sits higher than three-fourths of all similar annual readings.


• Z, which acquired Trulia Inc. earlier this week, received attention from Craig-Hallum this morning, which raised its price target to $110 from $100 while reiterating a "hold" rating. Today, the shares are up about 3.4% to reach $125.41, adding to a 19% week-to-date gain. What's more, sentiment in Zillow Group Inc's options pits is bullish, with the equity's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 1.78 standing in the 91st percentile of its annual range. However, outside of the options pits, over half of the stock's available float is sold short, representing nearly 15 sessions' worth of pent-up buying demand, at average trading volumes.