Analyst Update: Baidu Inc, Molina Healthcare, Inc., and SkyWest, Inc.

Analysts revised their ratings and price targets on Baidu Inc (ADR) (BIDU), Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH), and SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW)

Apr 29, 2016 at 1:31 PM

Analysts are weighing in on Internet search stock Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU), health plans provider Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH), and airline SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on BIDU, MOH, and SKYW.

BIDU has burst higher, after the company turned in better-than-expected earnings and a 24% year-over-year rise in revenue. At last check, the stock is up 6.8% at $198.62, and since its February lows around $140, has advanced 42.3%. Elsewhere, Brean Capital upgraded its rating on Baidu Inc to "buy" from "hold," while Piper Jaffray lifted its price target to $235 from $220. In the options pits, call buying has been running at an extreme rate in recent months. Specifically, across the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), BIDU's 50-day call/put volume ratio registers at an annual high of 2.03.

MOH is collapsing on an earnings miss, down 19.2% at $51.92 -- and on the short-sale restricted list. Adding insult to injury, UBS lowered its rating to "neutral" from "buy," and was one of at least seven analysts that cut their price targets. Today's steep losses have Molina Healthcare, Inc. back in negative year-to-date territory for the first time since mid-February. While shareholders can't be happy, short sellers must be. Roughly 18.5% of MOH's float is sold short, representing 12.1 times the stock's average daily trading levels.

SKYW has rocketed 16.4% higher at $23.39, and earlier touched an eight-year peak of $24.64. Stoking the bullish flames, the company blew past the Street's consensus first-quarter earnings forecast. In response, no fewer than four analysts upwardly revised their price targets on SkyWest, Inc., with Deutsche Bank setting the loftiest bar, at $30. Even before today, the brokerage crowd was firmly planted in the bullish camp, with 100% handing out "buy" or better ratings on SKYW.

For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: Amazon.com, Inc., LinkedIn Corp, and Pandora Media Inc and Analyst Downgrades: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Skyworks Solutions Inc, and Stericycle Inc.

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