Buzz Stocks: Ford Motor Company, Priceline Group Inc, and Valeant Parmaceuticals Intl Inc

U.S. stocks are down this morning, after the Bank of Japan announced its surprising decision not to expand the stimulus program and first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) estimates indicated a slowdown. Among equities in focus today are car maker Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), travel services company Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), and biotech Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX).

• F is up 3.6% at $14.15 -- a new year-to-date high -- after humbling analyst expectations with record profit margins. Ford Motor Company credited success to a stronger economy, cheap gas prices, and a higher demand for SUVs and trucks both domestically and internationally. The stock has been heavy with bearish sentiment of late, with Ford Motor Company's 50-day put/call volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) of 0.81 in the 98th percentile of its annual range. Likewise, its Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) sits in the 94th percentile at 1.53, confirming short-term options traders are more put-heavy than usual right now.

• PCLN is down 0.4% to $1,348.45, after news that CEO Darren Huston resigned amid a cloud of scandal. An investigation found that Huston had an improper relationship with an employee not directly under his supervision, violating the Priceline Group Inc code of conduct. PCLN reached its year-to-date high of $1,369.03 just 10 days ago, and since a post-earnings bull gap in February has enjoyed the support of its 200-day moving average. Short interest for the stock has declined by 16.5% over the last two reporting periods, though Priceline Group Inc currently has a 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 0.77, which is in the 74th percentile of its annual range. In other words, option traders have ramped up their bullish betting of late.

• VRX is up 2.8% at $35.86, amid reports that Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc could name four new board members as early as tomorrow. Late yesterday, outgoing CEO Michael Pearson and activist investor Bill Ackman appeared before the Senate to discuss drug prices, with the latter saying his first priority is trying to make sure VRX doesn't go bankrupt. When asked if they could find "one drug that Valeant didn't raise the price on," neither could. VRX has plummeted more than 80% over the past year, among price-gouging accusations and leadership shakeups. Short interest for VRX has skyrocketed 89.7% over the last two reporting periods, although over the last 20 trading days, the biotech has outperformed the greater S&P 500 Index (SPX) by over 30 percentage points.  

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