Analyst Downgrades: Nordstrom, Inc., Dillard's, Inc., and ConforMIS Inc

Analysts downwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN), Dillard's, Inc. (DDS), and ConforMIS Inc (CFMS)

May 13, 2016 at 10:07 AM

Analysts are weighing in on department stores Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) and Dillard's, Inc. (NYSE:DDS), as well as medical tech stock ConforMIS Inc (NASDAQ:CFMS). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on JWN, DDS, and CFMS.

JWN is burning to the ground this morning, down 15.3% at $38.29 and earlier hitting a four-year low of $38.00. Contributing to the latest meltdown in a retail stock is the company's first-quarter earnings miss, lackluster same-store sales, and bleak full-year outlook. Making matters worse, no fewer than 14 analysts cut their price targets on Nordstrom, Inc., with the lowest outlook set by Evercore ISI, at $32. While shareholders kick rocks, bearish options traders couldn't be happier. JWN's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio of 2.35 ranks in the 85th annual percentile. In other words, speculators have been buying to open puts over calls at a much quicker-than-usual clip of late.

DDS is suffering a similar post-earnings fate, down 4.8% at $57.74, and fresh off a four-year low of $55.21. The retailer's per-share profit came up short of the consensus view, while total merchandise sales and same-store sales both slowed. On top of that, J.P. Morgan Securities and Deutsche Bank slashed their respective price targets to $58 and $55. Dillard's, Inc. short sellers find themselves in a good place, though. During the most recent reporting period, short interest swelled 19%, and now accounts for almost 16% of the stock's float. At DDS' typical trading volume, it would take more than two weeks for these bearish bets to be covered.

Although not a retail stock, CFMS is getting clobbered on a sharp first-quarter loss, a lowered sales outlook, and an unexpected CEO ouster. At last check, the stock has tanked 50% at $5.07, with losses exacerbated by downgrades to the equivalent of a "hold" at J.P. Morgan Securities and Wells Fargo, and at least four price-target reductions. What's more, ConforMIS Inc earlier touched a record low of $4.91. Futures downgrades are a distinct possibility, considering 100% of analysts rated CFMS a "strong buy," heading into today.

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