Infosys Ltd (INFY) Tanks On Weak Outlook

Consulting firm Infosys Ltd ADR (NYSE:INFY) announced disappointing quarterly earnings and revenue, on top of a worrisome full-year sales outlook -- and now the stock is tanking. INFY shares have fallen 7.9% this morning to trade at $16.98, putting them on pace for their lowest close since February and earning a spot on the short-sale restricted list. While INFY is hovering just above its year-to-date breakeven level, today's drop may still be enough for put traders. 

Specifically, peak open interest sits at INFY's July 17.50 put, while the August 17.50 put has seen the largest increase in open interest during the past two weeks. Data from the major options exchanges confirms positions have been bought to open at each strike, meaning traders have been betting on INFY stock falling below $17.50, with the July contracts set to expire tonight, and the August contracts at the close on Friday, Aug. 19. 

Analysts, for the most part, share this downbeat outlook. Twelve brokerage firms cover INFY, and 10 of them rate the shares a "hold." On the other hand, none have issued a "sell" rating, and the stock's average 12-month price target of $20.37 now stands at a 20% premium to current levels. As such, there is still potential for bearish analyst attention to drive INFY shares lower. 

Short sellers are betting against Infosys Ltd ADR (NYSE:INFY), too. Even though just 2.8% of the stock's float is sold short, this still equates to almost 14 days' worth of pent-up buying power, going by the stock's average daily volume. What's more, short interest edged higher on the stock in the previous two reporting periods. 

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