Buzz Stocks: J M Smucker Co, Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc, and KemPharm Inc

Today's stocks to watch in the news include J M Smucker Co (SJM), Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc (EVHC), and KemPharm Inc (KMPH)

Jun 9, 2016 at 9:48 AM

U.S. stocks are pulling back this morning in step with crude oil. Among equities in focus today are jam giant J M Smucker Co (NYSE:SJM), medical stock Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc (NYSE:EVHC), and drugmaker KemPharm Inc (NASDAQ:KMPH).

SJM is 5% higher out of the gate at $140.95, after the company's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings blew past estimates and net sales grew 25% year-over-year. The stock has been stellar in 2016, gaining over 13%, and touched an all-time high of $139.99 earlier. While the stock hasn't received any bullish brokerage attention this morning, it seems like only a matter of time. Among the 13 analysts tracking SJM, nine maintain a tepid "hold" opinion.

EVHC has soared 7.9% to trade at $27.68, on reports that the company is in advanced talks to merge with Amsurg Corp (NASDAQ:AMSG) -- a deal that could be announced as early as next week. Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc has been making a steady comeback since hitting a record low of $18.31 in February, and seems to have found a strong ally in the form of its rising 30-day moving average -- from which it bounced repeatedly in May. As such, short sellers have been backing off lately, with these bearish bets falling by 18% during the two most recent reporting periods. The 7.3% of EVHC's float still sold short would take one week to buy back, at the stock's typical daily pace of trading, suggesting there's still more potential for a short-squeeze situation.

KMPH is down 7.1% at $6.72 -- and earlier came close to its mid-May record low -- after the company filed an amendment to its New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Apadaz pain killer. KemPharm Inc wants to provide additional information to the FDA's current review, following the agency's failure to recommend abuse-deterrent labeling in a committee vote last month -- which caused the stock to give up more than half of its value. Despite the stock's recent woes, the three analysts providing coverage all maintain ratings of "buy" or better -- meaning more pain could be coming to KMPH, if these bullish brokerages change their tune.

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