Buzz Stocks: Walt Disney Co, Loxo Oncology Inc, and Lennar Corporation

Today's stocks to watch in the news include Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), Loxo Oncology Inc (NASDAQ:LOXO), and Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN)

Josh Selway

Dec 19, 2016 at 9:26 AM

U.S. stock futures are higher this morning, as traders await an afternoon speech from Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Among specific equities in the spotlight today are Dow stock Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), biotech Loxo Oncology Inc (NASDAQ:LOXO), and homebuilder Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN). Here's a quick look at what's driving DIS, LOXO, and LEN.

DIS is looking at its highest open since May, up 0.9% in pre-market trading, after its new Star Wars film, "Rogue One," brought in $155 million in its opening weekend at the box office -- the second best December opening ever. The stock has been on fire since testing the $90 level in October, gaining 15% to trade at $103.91. Walt Disney Co options traders have become increasingly bullish in the meantime. DIS has a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 3.91 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), putting it in the 99th percentile of its annual range.
LOXO is set to jump almost 14% at the open, after the company presented its plan to get its cancer drug, larotrectinib, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) next year. The stock has bounced around the charts in 2016, falling as low as $16.36 back in February, closing Friday at $26.91, with today's expected move set to put the shares back into positive year-to-date territory. While short interest on Loxo Oncology Inc fell by roughly 10% during the last reporting period, almost three weeks' worth of buying power is still controlled by these bears, based on average daily volumes.
A better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report has LEN up 2% ahead of the open -- exactly what options bulls want to hear. After settling at $43.42 on Friday, the stock would still be positioned below its 2016 breakeven mark of $48.91, even with today's pending pop. But if Lennar Corporation can push through the 200-day and 320-day moving averages -- which both sit in the $45-$46 range -- it could be in line for some bullish analyst attention. Half of the analysts currently covering LEN rate it a "hold."

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