Buzz Stocks: Comcast Corporation, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, and Boeing Co

U.S. stocks fell at the open today, after a round of disappointing big-cap earnings reports and before today's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policy announcement. Among equities in focus today are media conglomerate Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA), food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc (NYSE:CMG), and Dow stock Boeing Co (NYSE:BA). 

• CMCSA initially jumped to a 2016 high of $62.79 -- roughly 2 points short of its all-time peak of $64.99, tagged in July -- but has since dropped 0.6% to $60.72. CMCSA traders are digesting an impressive earnings report and rumors that the media company is mulling a bid of more than $3 billion for Dreamworks Animation Skg Inc (NASDAQ:DWA). Analysts have already adopted a bullish stance on Comcast Corporation, with 18 of 20 rating it a "buy" or better and without a single "sell" in sight. However, Comcast Corporation's 10-day put/call volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands at 4.74, higher than 97% of all other readings from the past year. In other words, option buyers ramped up their bearish bets ahead of earnings.

• CMG is down 5% at $423.54, after reporting its first-ever quarterly loss. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc said its ploy to give away food failed to lure back customers spooked from a string of food-borne illnesses. As a result, no fewer than nine brokerages cut their price targets on CMG, while BTIG downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "buy." Bullish buyers were coming out of the woodwork ahead of earnings, and CMG's 50-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 1.04 is higher than 94% of other readings from the past year.

• Also on the earnings front, BA released its first-quarter earnings report, which fell short of analyst expectations. However, while the shares of Boeing Co initially dropped on the news, the stock has clawed 0.2% higher to $133.50. BA was plagued by doubt ahead of earnings. Short interest in the stock is at a multi-year high, and would take nearly five days to cover, at the equity's average pace of trading. Likewise, BA's 50-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio of 1.40 is in the 76th percentile for the year, as option buyers accelerated their bearish exposure.  

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