Analyst Downgrades: American Express Company, Skechers USA Inc, and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

Analysts downwardly revised their ratings and price targets on American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), Skechers USA Inc (NYSE:SKX), and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA)

Josh Selway

Jan 22, 2016 at 9:55 AM

Analysts are weighing in on payment services provider American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), footwear firm Skechers USA Inc (NYSE:SKX), and China-based e-tailer Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on AXP, SKX, and BABA.

AXP is off 10.6% this morning at $56.01 -- and earlier hit a three-year low of $55.99 -- following the company's miserable showing in the earnings booth. Analysts were quick to swoop in, as KBW cut the stock to "market perform" from "outperform," and was one of no fewer than 12 brokerages to lower its price target, dropping it to $67 from $95. Put players, on the other hand, are likely delighted by American Express Company's slide. The stock's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio comes in at 2.15 -- just 4 percentage points from an annual high.

SKX has added almost 45% in the past 12 months to trade at $27.74, but Susquehanna isn't impressed. The brokerage firm lowered its outlook to "neutral" from "positive," sending the shares 1% lower today. Still, most analysts remain in the bulls' corner, as 75% call it at least a "buy." This optimism may be reaching short sellers. Specifically, short interest on Skechers USA Inc declined by 10.5% during the most recent reporting period, but still accounts for 10% of the equity's available float. It would take nearly six sessions to cover these remaining bearish bets, at SKX's average daily pace of trading.

BABA has added 1.3% this morning at $71.62, even though Evercore ISI and Nomura each lowered their price targets, to $88 and $91, respectively. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has trailed the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by over 9 percentage points during the past month, and is set to close below its 10-week moving average -- a former layer of support -- for the fourth straight week. However, call buying remains popular in the options pits. For instance, BABA's 10-day call/put volume ratio at the ISE, CBOE, and PHLX stands at 2.15. Looking ahead, the company is slated to reveal earnings next Thursday.

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