Analyst Update: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Nokia Corp, and Cisco Systems, Inc.

Analysts revised their ratings and price targets on Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT), Nokia Corp (ADR) (NYSE:NOK), and Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO)

May 20, 2016 at 2:41 PM
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Analysts are weighing in on retailer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT), telecom stock Nokia Corp (ADR) (NYSE:NOK), and tech giant Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on WMT, NOK, and CSCO.

  • WMT has received at least four price-target hikes since yesterday's close, as analysts raise their expectations following the company's first-quarter earnings beat. The highest mark came from Nomura, which set its target at $81 -- in annual-high territory. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is now up 1.3% at $70.10, set to close on a weekly advance of nearly 8%. More gains could be forthcoming, too, since 15 of the 18 analysts covering WMT say it's a "hold" or "strong sell." In other words, there's potential for analyst upgrades to lift the shares. 

  • Goldman Sachs lowered its price target on NOK to $5 -- two-year-low territory -- though the stock was last seen 1% higher at $5.22. Still, the shares have lost more than one-fourth of their value in 2016, which may have led to an unusual put-skew among short-term speculators. Specifically, Nokia Corp's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.33 ranks in the 93rd percentile of its annual range. 

  • CSCO is up 1.7% today at $28.03, following price-target hikes at Independent Research (to $30) and Goldman Sachs (to $35) -- with the latter representing 15-year highs for the stock. This is the second straight day of gains for Cisco Systems, Inc., following its impressive turn in the earnings booth, but the shares are stalling out near the $28 mark -- a level that's served as a magnet since early March. That hasn't stopped options traders from betting bullishly. Over the past two weeks at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), 2.03 CSCO calls have been bought to open for every put. 

For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: Applied Materials, Inc., Autodesk, Inc., and DISH Network Corp and Analyst Downgrades: Gap Inc, Ross Stores, Inc., and Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

 

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