Analyst Downgrades: Apple Inc., CalAmp Corp., and Intel Corporation

Analysts downwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), CalAmp Corp. (NASDAQ:CAMP), and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)

Josh Selway

Apr 20, 2016 at 9:13 AM

Analysts are weighing in on blue chip Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), telecom stock CalAmp Corp. (NASDAQ:CAMP), and chipmaker Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on AAPL, CAMP, and INTC.

AAPL is slightly lower in pre-market trading, after Barclays reduced its price target to $131 from $142, but kept its "overweight" rating. The vast majority of analysts are bullish on Apple Inc., but options traders have taken an uncharacteristically bearish approach in recent months. Specifically, AAPL's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 0.68 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) tops 91% of all other readings from the past year. Technically speaking, the stock was gaining ground since its January lows, but has cooled in recent sessions, closing Tuesday at $106.91.

CAMP is set to lose almost 13% when the market opens due to a poorly received earnings report. Analysts were quick to swoop in, with William Blair downgrading the stock to "market perform," while no fewer than four other brokerage firms lowered their price targets. It's already been a disappointing year for CalAmp Corp., with the shares 12.5% lower year-to-date, last seen at $17.43. Short interest has been rising as a result, jumping 14% during the last two reporting periods. Now, almost 12% of CAMP's float is sold short, representing seven sessions' worth of trading, at the stock's typical daily volume.

Along with announcing earnings in line with expectations, INTC said it would be cutting roughly 12,000 jobs, or 11% of its workforce. The move comes as Intel Corporation tries to counter falling PC sales. INTC had been consolidating just above $31 in recent sessions, closing Tuesday at $31.60 -- slightly shy of its year-over-year breakeven mark. Elsewhere on the Street, analysts are trimming their expectations, with Northland Capital cutting its rating to "market perform" from "outperform," and its price target to $35 from $40. Goldman Sachs and Cowen also lowered their respective price targets to $33 and $32 -- though Jefferies raised its target to $42, in 15-year high territory. Most analysts were in the bulls' camp as of last night's close, with 71% calling INTC a "buy" or better. The shares are set to drop 1.8% at the bell.

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