Analysts downwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Mattel, Inc. (MAT), Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc (NGVC), and Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS)
Analysts are weighing in on toy manufacturer
Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT), organic grocer Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc (NYSE:NGVC), and casino stock Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on MAT, NGVC, and INTC.
- Weak Barbie sales contributed to a bigger-than-expected first-quarter loss for MAT -- a change of pace from last quarter. The stock has dropped 8% out of the gate to trade at $30.39 -- unable to match its rival's post-earnings rally -- with Jefferies lowering its price target to $35 from $37. Still, B. Riley raised its price target on the stock to $38 -- annual-high territory -- and it's possible Mattel, Inc. could see support from the round-number $30 level going forward. If the stock does display such technical strength following a tough quarter, it could benefit from a short-squeeze. Specifically, MAT's short-interest ratio stands at 8.80, even after short interest fell by 7% in the latest two-week reporting period.
- Analysts are slashing their expectations on NGVC, after the company announced a lackluster current-quarter forecast. RBC cut its rating on the stock to "sector perform" from "outperform," and was one of four brokerage firms to lower its price target, slashing its target to $16 from $29. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc is down 28% at $14.67 as a result, bringing its year-over-year decline to 45%. There's potential for more bearish notes to pressure the shares, too, since four of the seven brokerage firms that cover NGVC still call it a "strong buy."
- LVS has fallen 10.4% to $46.73, following the company's first-quarter earnings miss. J.P. Morgan Securities this morning downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "overweight," though it also raised its price target by $6 to $52. Meanwhile, Stifel lowered its price target to $56 from $58, while Barclays increased its target to $50 from $45. Even with this pullback, though, Las Vegas Sands Corp. is 6.5% higher in 2016, amid a rapid decline in short interest. Specifically, short interest on LVS dropped by 22.6% in the last reporting period alone -- though these bears still control three days' worth of buying power, at average daily volumes. As such, the stock could rebound quickly if shorts continue to cover.
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