Dollar Tree, Gap, NVIDIA Downgraded

Analysts are weighing in on discount retailer Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLTR), apparel peddler Gap Inc (NYSE:GPS), and semiconductor stock NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on DLTR, GPS, and NVDA.

Dollar Tree Receives Bearish Initiation

Bernstein initiated coverage on DLTR with an "underperform" rating, while Citigroup slashed its price target to $86 from $96. Nevertheless, the stock is up 0.1% at $75.18, but remains well off its most recent peak of $91.41 in late November. Nevertheless, the majority of covering analysts consider Dollar Tree, Inc. worthy of a "strong buy" recommendation, while just a single brokerage firm (prior to today) suggested selling the shares.

Holiday Sales Fail to Spark Gap Shares

GPS is down 1.2% at $22.71, continuing to descend from its mid-November annual peak just below the $31 level. The retail shares are failing to capitalize on an upbeat preliminary earnings report, featuring stronger-than-anticipated holiday sales. Analysts are pressuring the stock, with Mizuho, Citigroup, and Deutsche Bank trimming their price targets -- though Goldman Sachs and Wedbush raised their targets. Coming into the session, the brokerage crowd was already piled into Gap Inc's bearish corner, with 18 of 21 analysts doling out "hold" or worse ratings.

NVIDIA Soars to Record High Ahead of Earnings

NVDA is fresh off an all-time peak of $120.92, despite Roth Capital downgrading its opinion to "neutral" from "buy." At last check, the stock was still up 2% at $119.71 -- quite a bit higher from its year-ago perch around $25. From the looks of it, options traders are counting on even more upside for outperforming NVIDIA Corporation in the wake of Thursday night's earnings report. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock has amassed a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 1.81 -- in the bullishly skewed 71st percentile of its annual range.