Analysts upwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), and Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (CNAT)
Analysts are weighing in on semiconductor stocks
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) and
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), as well as biotech issue
Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:CNAT). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on AMD, NVDA, and CNAT.
- AMD is up 2.3% ahead of the bell, and on pace to make another run at nine-year highs, after Mizuho raised its rating on the stock to "buy" from "neutral," saying, "AMD is a name we missed," and citing growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. It's been an incredible year so far for Advances Micro Devices, Inc., which has tacked on a cool 281.5% in 2016, at $10.95. However, near-term options traders have taken an unusually put-heavy approach to the stock. Specifically, AMD's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.94 sits in the high 82nd percentile of its annual range.
- Mizuho also weighed in on NVDA, raising its price target to $115 from $80. What's more, Goldman Sachs added NVIDIA Corporation to its "Conviction Buy" list, and increased its price target on the stock to $129 from $92 -- uncharted territory. The shares are up 3.1% in pre-market trading as a result, and set to open at a new record high. The stock has been shooting sharply higher, more than tripling in value over the last 12 months, at $101.63. But that doesn't mean the equity's rally is out of fuel. In fact, nearly 14% of NVDA's available float is wrapped up in short interest, representing more than a week's worth trading, based on average daily volumes. That's plenty of buying power waiting on the sidelines to drive the shares to higher highs.
- CNAT announced last night it has entered into a licensing agreement with Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS) to develop a fatty liver disease treatment, sending the shares soaring more than 150% in electronic trading. After closing Monday at $1.96 -- off 32% year-to-date -- Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc is on track to open at a level not seen since September 2015, blowing past resistance at the 40-week moving average. The news also inspired no fewer than four brokerage firms to raise their price targets on CNAT, including H.C. Wainwright, which doubled its target to $18 -- a roughly 15% premium over the stock's January 2014 record high, and 818% above last night's finish. Likewise, in addition to raising its target price to $10 from $6, JMP Securities explained, "If successful, we see a multibillion-dollar product with significant upside for investors." Analysts were already in the security's bullish corner prior to the licensing deal, with all six firms following CNAT maintaining a rating equivalent to a "strong buy."
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