Buzz Stocks: Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Heron Therapeutics Inc, and Sunedison Inc

Today's stocks to watch in the news include Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS), Heron Therapeutics Inc (HRTX), and Sunedison Inc (SUNE)

Apr 19, 2016 at 9:28 AM

U.S. stocks are set to open higher, thanks to a rebound in crude oil prices. Among equities in focus today are financial firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS), drugmaker Heron Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:HRTX), and solar stock Sunedison Inc (NYSE:SUNE).

GS reported a slump in earnings for the fourth straight quarter, though its per-share profit still topped estimates. Meanwhile, the bank's revenue dropped roughly 40% year-over-year -- to the lowest level in more than four years -- and came up short of the Street's consensus view. The collective news has Goldman Sachs Group Inc ready to steepen its nearly 12% year-to-date deficit, off 0.4% ahead of the bell, after closing at $159.02 last night. Heading into the event, short-term options traders were extremely call-skewed. Meanwhile, short sellers have been heading to the sidelines. During the most recent reporting period, short interest on GS plummeted 43%, and now less than 1% of the stock's float is sold short.

HRTX is ready to explode 16.8% higher out of the gate, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said there were no deficiencies in the biotech's marketing application for anti-vomiting drug Sustol, and added that labeling talks have commenced. Today's expected bull gap will help close Heron Therapeutics Inc's year-to-date hole of 19.5%, which has the stock resting at $21.49. On the sentiment front, analysts are all in on HRTX, as 100% consider the shares worthy of a "strong buy" endorsement.

Activist investor David Einhorn and his hedge fund Greenlight Capital have each slashed their stakes in SUNE, according to recent SEC filings. The news is drilling the stock in pre-market trading, with Sunedison Inc down 3.1% after closing Monday at $0.34. Of course, the shares are no stranger to big losses, losing nearly all of their value over the past few months amid mounting bankruptcy buzz. Meanwhile, short-term options traders have grown extremely put-skewed toward SUNE. The stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) registers at an annual high of 1.64.

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