Analyst Update: StemCells, Intellia Therapeutics, NVIDIA

Analysts are weighing in on stem cell research stock StemCells Inc (NASDAQ:STEM), genome editing specialist Intellia Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:NTLA), and visual computing firm NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on CCE, NTLA, and NVDA.

• STEM is plummeting 82.2% to $0.54 -- earlier tapping a record low at $0.47 -- on news that the company plans to wind down operations after running out of money for a mid-phase trial of its spinal cord injury treatment. StemCells Inc went so far as to say "it is possible that there will be no liquidating distribution to stockholders." Following the news, Maxim lowered its rating on the stock to "hold" from "buy." While shareholders could be in for a world of pain, short sellers may be cashing in. Short interest on the equity surged by nearly 400% during the two most recent reporting periods, and now represents more than 7% of STEM's total float. Longer term, the stock has been on a steady downtrend for nearly two years, and has shed 89% of its value in 2016 alone.


• Market newcomer NTLA is up 0.9% at $29.76 today, after four brokerages initiated coverage on the stock, which began trading publicly on May 6. Specifically, Wedbush and Credit Suisse began with "outperform" ratings, while Jefferies and Leerink handed out more cautious "hold" and "market perform" recommendations. All four firms set their price targets above Intellia Therapeutics Inc's current value, however, with Credit Suisse setting the bar highest, at $39. The shares have added more than 35% since they began trading at $22. 


• NVDA is up 1.4% at $46.56, bringing its year-over-year gains to 108% and notching a record high of $46.80. Raymond James increased its price target on the stock to $55 from $45, and NVIDIA Corporation could see even higher highs should other analysts follow suit. At the moment, only half of the brokerages following NVDA rate it worse than a "hold," and the average 12-month price target sits underfoot, at $40.89. Despite the stock's technical strength, options traders have been unusually pessimistic as well. Specifically, NVDA's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.72 sits in the 96th percentile of its annual range, indicating near-term traders have rarely been so put-heavy toward the stock.

For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc, Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and Analyst Downgrades: Michael Kors Holdings Ltd, Seadrill Ltd, and Workday Inc​.