Analysts downwardly revised their ratings on First Solar, Inc. (FSLR), Qualys Inc (QLYS), and Men's Wearhouse Inc (MW)
Analysts are weighing in on alternative energy stock First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), cloud concern Qualys Inc (NASDAQ:QLYS), and retailer Men's Wearhouse Inc (NYSE:MW). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on FSLR, QLYS, and MW.
- FSLR has outperformed the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by over 20 percentage points during the past three months, but the stock is under pressure today following weaker-than-expected guidance for 2016. The shares have given back 8.3% out of the gate to trade at $53.95, as analysts continue to weigh in. So far, Needham has cut its opinion to "hold," while no fewer than four other brokerage firms have lowered their price targets. Conversely, Oppenheimer just boosted its price target to $66 from $61. Today's losses aside, First Solar, Inc. shareholders should feel comforted seeing the stock's 10-month moving average sitting directly below, as the shares bounced from this level just last month. Option traders are likely hoping for a repeat performance, given FSLR's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) call/put volume ratio of 3.12 -- in the 87th percentile of its annual range.
- QLYS held a slim year-to-date lead before today's open, but a downgrade to "underweight" at J.P Morgan Securities has pushed the shares back into the red. Specifically, the stock was last seen 3.2% lower at $36.56. Other analysts on Wall Street are mostly split on Qualys Inc. Six brokerage firms say the security is a "strong buy," while five say it's just a "hold."
- Coming into today, MW had given back nearly 70% in the past six months, with a majority of those losses coming after last month's profit warning. While third-quarter earnings actually registered in line with estimates, the company announced disappointing quarterly sales. As such, Men's Wearhouse Inc was last seen at $14.38, 22.4% lower on the day, and fresh off a six-year low of $13.76. Also pressuring the shares is a downgrade to "hold" from "buy" at Stifel. Now the question is: Did short sellers get out too early? Over the most recent reporting period, short interest on MW dropped by close to 15%.