Buzz Stocks: Lowe's Companies, Inc., Angie's List Inc, and Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

Stocks are getting a lift today, thanks to rising crude futures and upbeat jobs data. Meanwhile, among specific equities in focus are home improvement retailer Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW), consumer service review website Angie's List Inc (NASDAQ:ANGI), and semiconductor concern Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:MRVL).

• LOW will purchase Canada-based Rona in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $2.28 billion, as it looks to expand its presence in the Quebec province. While not having quite the technical success as its sector peer Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD), LOW recently took a sharp bounce off the $67.50 region -- an area that contained the stock's pullbacks in August and September 2015 -- and was last seen near $69.05, down 3.9% on the day. Option traders, meanwhile, have been initiating long puts over calls at an accelerated clip in recent weeks. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Lowe's Companies, Inc.'s 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.86 sits in the 75th annual percentile. 


• ANGI is up 3.6% out of the gate at $8.65, following reports that IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ:IAC) is set to make another bid for the company. In November, Angie's List Inc swiftly rejected IAC's original unsolicited offer. On the charts, ANGI has struggled in recent months -- down 22% from its Nov. 25 annual high of $11.25 -- and today's rally is running out of steam near the stock's 30-day moving average. Against this backdrop, short sellers have been cashing in their winning chips. In the last two reporting periods, short interest declined 15.2% to 3.4 million shares -- or 7% of ANGI's available float.


• MRVL has jumped 3.8% to $9.00, after Starboard Value disclosed a roughly 7% stake in the company -- saying it considers the shares "undervalued." At its current perch, the stock is sitting 44% lower on a year-over-year basis. In the options pits, speculators have rarely bought to open puts over calls at a faster clip in the past 12 months, per MRVL's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio of 1.49 -- in the 99th annual percentile.