Buzz Stocks: Marriott International Inc, IHS Inc., and Sherwin-Williams Co

Today's stocks to watch include Marriott International Inc (MAR), IHS Inc. (IHS), and Sherwin-Williams Co (SHW)

Mar 21, 2016 at 10:06 AM

VAL
MRKT
HOT
SHW
MAR
IHS

U.S. stocks are starting the day slightly lower after last week's big win, with traders keeping a close eye on crude oil. Among equities in focus on Merger Monday are hotel stock Marriott International Inc (NASDAQ:MAR), analytics firm IHS Inc. (NYSE:IHS), and paint specialist Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:SHW).

MAR is down 1% at $72.42, after the company upped its buyout bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (NYSE:HOT). The new offer came in at $13.6 billion, and was quickly accepted as it topped Friday's latest bid from China's Anbang Insurance. While the shares are slightly lower today, Marriott International Inc still sits on a 8% year-to-date lead. And it appears option traders are hoping for more upside. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), more than three MAR calls have been bought to open for each put in the last 10 session -- a ratio higher than 77% of all readings in the past year.

IHS will merge with market-data provider Markit Ltd (NASDAQ:MRKT) in an inversion deal that will headquarter the combined company in London. IHS, Inc. shareholders will own about 57% of the new company, once the all-stock deal closes. The shares of IHS are 5.7% higher at $117.00.

SHW will buy fellow paint producer The Valspar Corp (NYSE:VAL) in a $9.3 billion deal, which will increase the company's scope in Asia and Europe. While Sherwin-Williams Co is down 2.8% at $280.63 on the news, VAL is surging 24.5%, as the deal represents a significant premium to Friday's close. Meanwhile, SHW is still ahead 7.9% in 2016, and on Friday touched a year-to-date high of $288.99. As such, short interest on the equity fell by nearly 28% during the last two-week reporting period, and now accounts for less than 2% of SHW's total available float.

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