Buzz Stocks: Kohl's Corporation, Apollo Education Group Inc, and Baxalta Inc

Today's stocks to watch include Kohl's Corporation (KSS), Apollo Education Group Inc (APOL), and Baxalta Inc (BXLT)

Jan 11, 2016 at 9:55 AM

U.S. stocks are mostly higher this morning, despite another down day in China and lower oil prices. Among the equities in focus are retailer Kohl's Corporation (NYSE:KSS), University of Phoenix parent Apollo Education Group Inc (NASDAQ:APOL), and drugmaker Baxalta Inc (NYSE:BXLT).

KSS is considering going private or breaking up, according to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), sending the shares 2.7% higher to $49.18. KSS was one of the few stocks to start 2016 on a high note, and today's buzz could have a few shorts running scared. Short interest on Kohl's Corporation (NYSE:KSS) grew by 23.4% during the past two reporting periods, and now accounts for 13.8% of the stock's total available float. At KSS' average pace of trading, it would take nearly seven sessions to buy back these bearish bets.

APOL is up 9.7% at $7.23, after the firm reported earnings and said it's exploring strategic options. The stock spent 2015 marking a series of lower highs and lows, and touched a nearly 20-year low of $6.47 on Friday. It's no surprise, then, to see most analysts are wary of Apollo Education Group Inc (NASDAQ:APOL). In fact, not one of the seven brokerage firms covering APOL considers it worthy of a "buy" endorsement.

BXLT is up 0.9% at $40.37, after Shire PLC (ADR) (NYSE:SHPG) surprised no one by announcing plans to buy the firm. Specifically, Shire will pay roughly $32 billion in cash and stock for Baxalta Inc (NYSE:BXLT), which Shire said represents a 38% premium to BXLT's price before its initial early August bid.