Buzz Stocks: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, GW Pharmaceuticals PLC, and 3D Systems Corporation

Today's stocks to watch include Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (HOT), GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR (GWPH), and 3D Systems Corporation (DDD)

Mar 14, 2016 at 9:29 AM

MAR
HOT
GWPH
DDD

U.S. stocks are set to follow crude futures lower, bucking the global trend. Among equities in focus are hospitality interest Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (NYSE:HOT), biotech stock GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR (NASDAQ:GWPH), and 3-D printing concern 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD).

HOT is 7.9% higher in pre-market trading, after the company received an unsolicited buyout offer from a consortium led by China's Anbang Insurance Group Co. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc is already in a tie-up deal with Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR), which announced plans to buy HOT for $12.2 billion last November, but Starwood has until this Thursday night to consider other offers. The Anbang-led proposal comes in at $76 a share -- about an 8% premium over HOT's Friday close of $70.42.

Positive results in a late-stage trial of its Dravet syndrome treatment have GWPH surging 109.9% ahead of the bell. GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR said the study showed the cannabis-based product significantly reduced convulsive seizures in children with this rare and severe form of epilepsy -- echoing an encouraging journal article from December. GWPH hit a two-year low of $35.83 just last week, after trending lower for the past eight months, and settled at $38.46 on Friday. And while all six analysts following the stock maintain "buy" or better ratings, short interest is elevated, representing more than 11% of the stock's total float. At GWPH's average pace of trading, it would take over a week to cover all these bearish bets.

DDD is set to pop 13.4% at the open, thanks to a stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings report. 3D Systems Corporation has added nearly 33% already in 2016, as of its Friday close at $11.55, and finally broke through resistance at its 80-day moving average last month. Plus, today's expected rally could put the shares atop their 200-day moving average, which has emerged as a speed bump. Option traders have picked up an appetite for long puts of late, with the stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio on the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) sitting higher than 99% of readings from the last year, at 2.80.

Sign up now for Schaeffer's Opening View newsletter to get a head start on all the major pre-market news!

Follow @Schaeffers

Which of These SUB-$5 Stocks Could 26x From Here? (AD)

He called a rare 11x on Tesla…

Then he called a 26x on Workhorse…

Then an even rarer 35x on Nio Inc…

Now Tim Bohen says these 5 tiny “America First” stocks are next up in 2025.

They’re trading for less than $5 right now.

But thanks to Elon & Trump’s new alliance…

They could be off to the races in Trump’s first 100 days.

And right now for a limited time…

You can get the names & tickers for just $1 here. (AD)

Featured Articles from Trusted Partners:

🚀 One Stock Pick Could Change Everything in 2025
What if one stock pick could define your success next year? Get 10 expert-vetted stocks set for 2025—plus 5 bonus picks to watch now. Get the Report →

🆕 New Options Need New Trading Strategies
Zero-DTE options are the newest (and hottest) options to trade. Professional traders have rushed into the market and are making a mint. Don’t get left behind - learn all about these options, how to trade them, market setups to profit from, plus much more. Download now →

👀 Revealed: 3 Defensive Stocks for Your Portfolio
Worried about the market? This free report reveals 3 under-the-radar defensive stocks for uncertain times in any kind of economy.