Analysts adjusted their ratings on Citrix Systems, Inc. (CTXS), Panera Bread Co (PNRA), and VASCO Data Security International, Inc. (VDSI)
Analysts are weighing in today on software provider Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS), bakery chain Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ:PNRA), and IT security firm VASCO Data Security International, Inc. (NASDAQ:VDSI). Here's a quick look at today's brokerage notes on CTXS, PNRA, and VDSI.
- CTXS is up 9.3% at $76.09 -- and earlier touched a nearly two-year high of $76.70 -- after the company made a series of announcements. For starters, CEO Mark Templeton is retiring, as the company enters into an agreement with financial firm Elliott Management Corporation. On top of this, Citrix Systems, Inc. announced second-quarter earnings and a promising full-year outlook. Analysts have been quick to re-evaluate their positions. No fewer than six brokerage firms raised their price targets on the shares, with Baird upping its opinion to "outperform." The majority of options traders seemingly already had a bullish outlook. CTXS' Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.72 is only 10 percentage points from an annual low. Plus, during the past 10 days at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), traders have bought to open nearly four calls for every put.
- After reporting second-quarter earnings and strong current-quarter same-store sales figures, PNRA was on the receiving end of some positive analyst attention. Both Barclays and Piper Jaffray raised their price targets to $215 and $208, respectively. The latter mark actually represents the stock's intraday -- and all-time -- high. On last glance, Panera Bread Co was 8.7% in the black at $203.18, and it could move higher if other brokerage firms decide to upgrade their opinions. Eleven of the 20 analysts tracking PNRA still say it's only a "hold" -- even though it's added roughly 34% in the past 12 months.
- VDSI is the outcast of this bunch -- having an even worse day than Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) -- with the shares last seen 20.6% lower at $21.07, and on pace for their largest one-day drop since October 2012. After a poorly received turn in the earnings confessional, VDSI has seen Dougherty lower its price target to $30 from $35. VASCO Data Security International, Inc. has already trailed the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by over 13 percentage points in the past 20 sessions, and is now on the verge of closing below its 10-month moving average for the first time since March 2014. This may have been the downside move short sellers were waiting for. More than 37% of VDSI's float is sold short, which would take over nine sessions for bears to buy back, at the stock's normal trading pace.
For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Buffalo Wild Wings, and FireEye Inc, plus Analyst Downgrades: Yelp Inc, Akamai Technologies, Inc., and Peabody Energy Corporation.