RTN, SDRL, and DRYS are among the stocks in the news today
Stocks are stumbling out of the gate, as traders digest the latest jobs report and react to U.S. missile strikes in Syria. Among specific equities in focus are Tomahawk missile maker
Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN), oil stock
Seadrill Ltd (NYSE:SDRL), and bulk shipper
DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS). Here's a quick roundup of the news that's moving shares of RTN, SDRL, and DRYS.
Shares of Tomahawk Missile Maker Raytheon Soar
Defense stocks are set to gain today in the wake of the U.S. military attack in Syria, with RTN leading the charge. Shares of Raytheon -- which produces the
Tomahawk missiles that were used in the airstrike -- are trading 2.5% higher at $154.58. This is just more of the same for the stock. Specifically, RTN stock is up 22% year-over-year, and hit a record high of $157.59 in late March before pulling back to familiar support at its 80-day moving average. Against this backdrop, all but one of the 12 analysts covering the stock maintain a "buy" or better rating, without a single "sell" to be found.
Seadrill Stock Bounces Sharply on Contract Deal
SDRL stock is up 5% at $0.73, after the drilling operator inked a 120-day one-well contract with BP Canada Energy Group ULC for the West Aquarius in eastern Canada. Longer term, though, the shares have been in a slump as bankruptcy rumors swirl around Seadrill Ltd. In 2017 alone,
SDRL stock has surrendered nearly 80%, and hit a record low of $0.65 on Tuesday. Short sellers have been profiting handsomely off this decline, with nearly 27% of SDRL's float sold short.
DryShips Hits All-Time Low After Reverse Stock Split News
DRYS announced a 1-for-4
reverse stock split, effective at the start of trading next Tuesday, April 11. It's been a rough ride for shares of DryShips Inc., which have plunged 97% year-to-date, and touched an all-time low of $0.75 earlier on the news. At last check, DRYS stock was down 25% at $0.77. Short sellers have been in the driver's seat on DRYS, with short interest up 59.1% in the two most recent reporting periods. These bearish bets now account for a healthy 12.7% of the security's available float.