Analysts revised their ratings and price targets on FuelCell Energy Inc (FCEL), Newell Brands Inc (NWL), and Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST)
Analysts are weighing in on alternative energy stock
FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ:FCEL), household goods producer
Newell Brands Inc (NYSE:NWL), and energy drink maker
Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on FCEL, NWL, and MNST.
- FCEL is up 3% at $6.14 after Craig-Hallum initiated coverage on the stock with a "buy" rating and a lofty $13 price target. Since the company reported disappointing earning in early March, the shares have been chopping up and down atop their 20-week moving average, and are ahead 23.8% year-to-date. While analysts seem to be on board, options traders don't appear convinced of FuelCell Energy Inc's longer-term upward trajectory. The equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.66 sits higher than 91% of the past year's readings, indicating that near-term traders have been unusually put-heavy of late.
- NWL topped first-quarter earnings estimates on Friday morning, prompting at least six brokerage firms to raise their price-targets on the equity. Citigroup set the highest target, at $56 -- a level the shares have never seen. On the charts, Newell Brands Inc has added nearly 42% since hitting an annual low of $33.26 in February, and is up 3.5% at $47.15 today. But short sellers have been piling on lately, with their bearish bets increasing by 12% during the most recent two-week reporting period alone. In fact, short interest now represents more than one-fifth of NWL's available float, or six sessions' worth of trading, at the security's average daily volume.
- MNST has added 3.2% to trade at $148.88, after last Friday morning's earnings beat led to price-target hikes from no fewer than six analysts -- with the new targets set in a range between $140 and $175. Out of the 12 brokerages providing coverage, nine rate Monster Beverage Corporation a "buy" or better -- with not a single "sell" opinion to be found -- and short sellers have been heading for the exits in recent weeks. But on the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), traders have bought to open nearly three MNST puts for each call over the past two weeks. The resulting 10-day put/call volume ratio of 2.71 ranks in the 93rd percentile of its annual range.
For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read
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