MTN, SPWR, and BP are among the stocks in the news today
Stock futures are pointing to a positive start, as traders digest the latest
jobs report amid increased expectations a rate hike at next week's Fed meeting. Meanwhile, among specific stocks in focus are resort operator
Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN), as well as energy stocks
SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) and
BP plc (ADR) (NYSE:BP). Here's a quick roundup of what's moving shares of MTN, SPWR, and BP today.
Vail Resorts Shares Set to Pop On Earnings Beat, Dividend Boost
Shares of MTN are trading up 4.2% in electronic trading, after the ski resort posted better-than-expected earnings and boosted its
quarterly dividend. Today's projected price move would only widen the stock's nearly 36% year-over-year advance, based on last night's close at $180.44 -- and send the shares soaring past their previous record high of $184.47, set on March 1. Vail Resorts, Inc. shares could find fresh tailwinds, too, should short sellers begin to capitulate to this upward momentum. Short interest rose 23.5% in the most recent reporting period to 1.6 million shares. It would take more than four sessions to cover these bearish bets, at the stock's average pace of trading.
SunPower Rumored to Be Selling Its Chilean Plant
In an effort to reduce costs, SPWR has reportedly put its Chilean plant on the auction block. It's been a tough run for shares of the
renewable energy firm, with SPWR down 68.5% year-over-year to trade at $7.23.
Options traders in recent weeks have been buying to open puts relative to calls at a faster-than-usual clip, per the stock's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE0, and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio of 0.67 -- in the 78th annual percentile. Plus, SunPower Corporation's gamma-weighted Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.19 suggests near-the-money puts outweigh calls among options expiring in three months or less.
Mexico Gas Stations, Takeover Talk Fuel BP plc Shares
After settling last night at $33.50, shares of BP are trading up 2.7% ahead of the bell. Boosting the
oil stock is news the company will open roughly 1,500 fueling stations in Mexico's now-open retail gasoline market, as well as rumors BP plc could be a potential
takeover target for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM). Regardless, today's expected move higher could have BP shares paring a portion of their 7.5% year-to-date deficit and securing their first close north of their 50-day moving average since early February. Options traders have certainly been holding out hope for the oil major. At the ISE, CBOE, and PHLX, BP's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 5.50 ranks just 9 percentage points from a 52-week peak.
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