Today's stocks to watch in the news include Macy's Inc (M), Sodastream International Ltd (SODA), and Twitter Inc (TWTR)
It appears the post-election rally will extend into another session, with stock futures pointed sharply higher ahead of the bell. Among specific equities in focus today are department store Macy's Inc (NYSE:M), beverage stock Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA), and microblogging platform Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR). Here's a quick look at what's driving M, SODA, and TWTR.
- Fresh off weak quarterly earnings and sales, M said it will close roughly 100 stores due to underperformance. On the bright side, though, the company upwardly revised its sales outlook, and announced a strategic alliance with Brookfield Asset Management Inc (NYSE:BAM) to increase opportunities for enhancing the value of its real estate portfolio. The latter two new items are giving Macy's Inc a boost pre-market, with the shares pointed 3.3% higher. Year-to-date, the stock was up nearly 10% at last night's close of $38.38, helped by a recent rush of short covering. Specifically, short interest fell 11% during the most recent reporting period, and now accounts for less than 4% of M's float.
- SODA is poised to jump 16% at the open, and notch a new two-year high, after the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings and sales. As of Wednesday's settlement at $28.12, the stock was already up more than 72% in 2016. Thus, it comes as little surprise to see that options traders have been buying to open calls over puts at a rapid-fire rate on Sodastream International Ltd. The stock's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) call/put volume ratio stands at a top-heavy 6.37.
- TWTR Chief Operating Officer (COO) Adam Bain is leaving the firm to explore new opportunities, and will be replaced by Chief Financial Officer Anthony Noto. As a result of the C-suite shakeup, the social media stock is perched 1.6% lower in electronic trading, in what's already been a dismal year. So far in 2016, Twitter Inc shares have dropped over 17% of their value to hover at $19.13. Perhaps that explains why brokerage firms have piled on the stock's bearish bandwagon. Of the 25 analysts tracking TWTR, 84% recommending holding or selling the shares -- even after some positive post-earnings attention.
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