Analysts upwardly revised their ratings on Salesforce.com, Inc. (CRM), Allergan PLC (AGN), and Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (ADR) (CTRP)
Analysts are weighing in on cloud computing concern Salesforce.com, Inc. (NYSE:CRM), drugmaker Allergan PLC (NYSE:AGN), and online travel agent Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (ADR) (NASDAQ:CTRP). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on CRM, AGN, and CTRP.
- CRM reported better-than-expected quarterly results last night, and also issued an upbeat outlook, prompting a series of bullish analyst notes. No fewer than 17 brokerage firms boosted their price targets on the stock, with Pivotal Research and Credit Suisse setting the highest bar, at $100. As a result, Salesforce.com, Inc. is poised to pop over 5% at the open -- and into record-high territory -- after settling yesterday at $77.35. This is good news for option bulls, of which there are many. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), CRM has racked up a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 3.78 -- just 1 percentage point from an annual peak. In other words, traders have been buying to open calls over puts at an accelerated clip in recent months.
- Last night, a Bloomberg report said Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is in advanced talks to purchase AGN for as much as $380 per share, building on prior M&A rumblings. Responding to the development, Susquehanna bumped its price target on Allergan PLC to $370 from $350. Nonetheless, the stock is pointed 1.5% lower pre-market, relative to last night's close at $310.80. In the options pits, call buying has been all the rage in recent months. According to data at the ISE, CBOE, and PHLX, AGN has amassed a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 2.10, with calls bought to open more than doubling puts. What's more, this ratio ranks in the 95th percentile of its 52-week range.
- CTRP is up 12% ahead of the open, after the company reported encouraging third-quarter sales results, as well as current-quarter revenue guidance above the Street's consensus estimate. The stock has already more than doubled in value year-to-date, settling at $95.07 yesterday -- and is now on track to notch an all-time high out of the gate, despite a rough start to the week. Adding to the bullish bias, Brean and Oppenheimer both raised their price targets to a lofty $130, while Citigroup, Stifel, and Raymond James also upped their targets. Even before today, the brokerage crowd was extremely optimistic toward Ctrip.com International, Ltd., with all 11 covering analysts handing out a "buy" or better rating.
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