Analysts adjusted their ratings and price targets on Walt Disney Co (DIS), Valero Energy Corporation (VLO), and Semtech Corporation (SMTC)
Analysts are weighing in on media conglomerate
Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), commodity stock Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO), and semiconductor stock Semtech Corporation (NASDAQ:SMTC). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on DIS, VLO, and SMTC.
- DIS is gaining today, picking up 1.5% to sit at $98.43, after Piper Jaffray raised its opinion to "overweight" and its price target to $120, citing the value in the company's upcoming film slate. What's more, CEO Bob Iger attempted to allay fears surrounding the company's ESPN business at DIS' annual shareholder meeting this morning. On the charts, today's price action is just more of the same from Walt Disney Co, which has added over 14% since its annual low of $86.25 less than a month ago. In fact, the stock is set to close atop its 50-day moving average for the first time since mid-December, and more gains could be on the way if put players hit the exits. Specifically, DIS' Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.39 marks an annual high.
- VLO is up 2.9% at $63.89, thanks to an energy-sector rally and an upgrade to "neutral" at BofA-Merrill Lynch. Bullish attention isn't unusual from analysts, as 11 of 13 deem the shares a "buy" or better. The stock has lived up to this bullish billing recently, gaining more than 20% since last month's low of $52.55. Elsewhere, short sellers are on the way out. That is, short interest on Valero Energy Corporation fell by almost 26% during the two most recent reporting periods.
- Analysts are weighing in on SMTC following the company's upbeat turn in the earnings confessional yesterday. RBC, Raymond James, and B. Riley all raised their price targets on the stock, with the latter setting the bar the highest at $31 -- annual-high territory. The shares have since added 8.5% to sit at $20.89, but they're still down 28.7% year-over-year. This long-term weakness has led analysts to take a skeptical outlook on Semtech Corporation. Specifically, 60% of covering brokerage firms rate it a "hold."
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