Today's stocks to watch in the news include Wendy's Co (WEN), SunPower Corporation (SPWR), and Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NUS)
U.S. stock futures are hovering below fair value this morning, as crude oil prices turn lower. Among specific equities in focus today are restaurant chain Wendy's Co (NASDAQ:WEN), solar stock SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), and personal care concern Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS). Here's a quick look at what's driving WEN, SPWR, and NUS.
- WEN is pointed 3% higher in electronic trading, thanks to news that investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management increased its stake in the company by nearly four million shares. The stock has been rising fast in recent weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index (SPX) by 20 percentage points during the past three months to trade at $12.99, and touching a nine-year high of $13.16 late last month. Wendy's Co has historically outperformed in December, too, but options traders have been unusually bearish of late. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock has posted a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.01, which ranks in the 91st annual percentile.
- It's been an ugly year for SPWR, falling from its perch atop $30 last December to its Tuesday close at $6.96. In fact, the shares hit a three-year low last month. Now, the company has announced a major restructuring plan aimed at cost-cutting, which includes a 25% reduction in its workforce. SunPower Corporation is edging higher in pre-market action, and short sellers are likely hoping any potential upside move stays modest. Short interest on SPWR rose by 17.6% during the past two reporting periods, and now more than one week's worth of buying power is dedicated to short interest, going by the stock's average daily volumes.
- NUS stock is also reacting to corporate news, with the shares falling 1.1% ahead of the bell after long-time CEO Truman Hunt announced he will step down next year. Meanwhile, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. also offered up a mixed current-quarter forecast. The stock was up 36% year-to-date as of last night's close at $51.56, and it looks like the round $50 level and the rising 200-day moving average could offer support in the near term. Analysts don't appear hopeful, though, as three of four rate NUS a "hold" or worse.
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