Today's stocks to watch include DuPont (DD), Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (CLDX), and Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (MRVL)
U.S. stocks are
slightly lower this morning, despite rising crude oil futures. Among equities in focus are chemical giant
DuPont (NYSE:DD), drugmaker
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDX), and semiconductor stock
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:MRVL).
- CLDX decided to halt the Phase 3 study of its brain cancer vaccine, Rintega, on the recommendation of an independent panel. As a result, the stock has lost over half its value out of the gate to trade at $3.89, and earlier hit a roughly four-year low of $3.70. The shares have now fallen over 86% in the past 12 months, bringing short sellers to the table -- as short interest now represents over one-fourth of Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.'s float. If bullish analysts continue to throw in the towel, even more losses could be in store. This morning, Guggenheim lowered its opinion to "neutral" from "buy," while Oppenheimer downgraded its rating to "perform" from "outperform."
- MRVL has popped 2.4% out of the gate to $9.98, after The New York Post reported the company is open to selling itself. After spending several months bouncing mostly between $8 and $9, the shares have broken out to the upside, gaining 35% since their three-year low of $7.40 on Jan. 20. Marvell Technology Group Ltd. could extend this rally if bearish sentiment unwinds in the options pits. MRVL's 10-day put/call volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands at 1.08 -- just 2 percentage points from an annual high.
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