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)

by Andrea Kramer

Published on 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.

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