Mylan NV (MYL) is finally making headlines for something other than the EpiPen
While a
potential Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) buyout is capturing Wall Street's attention, some other possible acquisitions are brewing elsewhere. In the biotech space, for example,
Mylan NV (NASDAQ:MYL) is reportedly
mulling a bid for Bayer AG's dermatology business -- ahead of the latter's own
merger with Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON).
Specifically, inside sources believe the dermatology unit could be worth upwards of $1.1 billion. And, despite facing
extreme scrutiny on Capitol Hill over its EpiPen pricing, MYL could place a bid as soon as this week.
As alluded to, Mylan has been in hot water lately, and that has taken a toll on the drugmaker's stock. Since the EpiPen
price-gouging scandal came to light in late August, the shares have dropped nearly 14% -- but were last seen 0.2% higher at $41.27.
Amid this pullback, negative sentiment has been ramping up across the Street. Options traders in the last 10 days have bought to open three times as many MYL puts as calls, based on data from the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). The corresponding put/call volume ratio of 2.98 outstrips 86% of all comparable readings from the past year.
Elsewhere, analysts have been
lowering their expectations of Mylan NV (NASDAQ:MYL), and two-thirds currently sport tepid "hold" recommendations. Last but not least, short interest on the biotech stock spiked 17.7% during the latest reporting period to over 25 million shares, or 6.5% of MYL's float.
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