Why GoPro Inc's (GPRO) Gains May Be Short-Lived

GoPro Inc (NASDAQ:GPRO) is having a rare day in the sun, up 1.6% at $36.29. This, despite one Citigroup analyst saying sales of the company's new Hero4 action camera are off to a "slow start," and could contribute to a third-quarter earnings miss. Longer term, of course, GPRO has plummeted 44.5% since hitting its most recent high of $65.49, on Aug. 10.

Amid this downtrend, short sellers have been piling on. During the latest reporting period, short interest on GPRO soared 36.3%, and currently accounts for more than one-fifth of the stock's float.

However, not everyone's bearish on the underperformer. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), GPRO has racked up a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 2.00 -- with long calls doubling puts (though some of this could be the work of short sellers hedging). Moreover, this ratio registers in the 68th percentile of its annual range.

Outside of the options pits, analysts remain in the bulls' corner. Specifically, nine of 13 brokerages rate GPRO a "buy" or better, with not a single "sell" recommendation to be bound. In fact, even the aforementioned Citi analyst reiterated a "buy" opinion, as well as a $90 price target -- 148% above current trading levels.

Suffice it to say, GoPro Inc's (NASDAQ:GPRO) technical performance and the general opinion on Wall Street don't line up. This may leave the stock vulnerable to headwinds, as bullish traders and brokerages begin to hit the exits.