Analyst Update: Walt Disney, Toll Brothers, Vera Bradley

Analysts adjusted their ratings on Walt Disney Co (DIS), Toll Brothers Inc (TOL), and Vera Bradley, Inc. (VRA)

Aug 18, 2015 at 12:20 PM

Analysts are weighing in today on Dow component Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE:TOL), and fashion firm Vera Bradley, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRA). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on DIS, TOL, and VRA.

DIS is 1.6% lower, trading at $107.28, after a Wells Fargo downgraded the entertainment giant to "market perform" and FBR lowered its price target on Walt Disney Co to $124 from $126. "Advertising is sluggish" for U.S. media stocks, said FBR. Today's drop has DIS resting on support from its 10-month moving average. This trendline has helped usher the shares higher since early 2012. So far this month, DIS has given up 10.6% -- mostly due to a severe earnings reaction. Turning to sentiment, DIS' Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.03 is higher than 86% of the readings taken during the past year, suggesting near-term options traders are more put-heavy than usual.

TOL is more than 2.5% higher this afternoon, trading at $41.77, after Raymond James raised its price target to $44 from $41. Not only is the stock trading higher, but Toll Brothers Inc just hit a new nine-year high of $42.09. There is ample room for other brokerages to follow suit, especially after upbeat housing data. Nine of the 12 analysts tracking TOL rate it a "hold" or worse, which leaves the door wide open for momentum-lending upgrades.

VRA is 8% lower this afternoon at $10.07, after Jefferies cut the fashion firm to "hold" from "buy" and lowered its price target to $11 from $18. This news sent the handbag and accessory producer to a new all-time low of $9.80. Since a rejection around $30 in early May 2014, Vera Bradley, Inc. has shed roughly two-thirds of its value. Option players are onto the poor-performing fashionista, as VRA's SOIR of 4.55 is higher than 98% of the readings taken during the past 52 weeks. Short sellers are also stocking up on bearish bets against VRA, as 25% of the equity's float is sold short. Finally -- and not surprisingly -- five of the seven analysts tracking VRA rate it a "hold" or worse.

For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: Facebook Inc, FireEye Inc, and Juno Therapeutics Inc and Analyst Downgrades: Twitter Inc, SanDisk Corporation, and Urban Outfitters, Inc.

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