Analysts downwardly revised their ratings and price targets on WDC, QCOM, and SYF stocks
Analysts are weighing in on data storage provider Western Digital Corp (NYSE:WDC), tech stock QUALCOMM, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM), and banking issue Synchrony Financial (NYSE:SYF). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on WDC, QCOM, and SYF shares.
Western Digital Stock Retreats from Post-Earnings High
Jefferies downgraded WDC stock to "hold" from "buy," and lowered its price target by $10 to $90, saying, "We have a hard time imagining the NAND market dynamics getting better from here." As such, the shares of WDC are down 2% at $87.34, after touching a post-earnings annual high of $91 on Friday. Considering Western Digital Corp stock has more than doubled in the past year, it's no surprise to find most analysts in the bulls' corner, with 18 of 23 offering up "buy" or better endorsements. However, short sellers are beginning to circle, with short interest surging nearly 29% during the most recent reporting period.
QUALCOMM Shares Slip After Price-Target Cuts
QCOM shares are down 0.7% at $53.38, after a pair of price-target cuts. Specifically, Citigroup cut its target to $55 from $60, while J.P. Morgan Securities trimmed its price target by $5 to $50 -- in annual-low territory. QUALCOMM stock has sat out the tech rally in 2017, with the shares down more than 18% amid a legal dispute with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Options players are picking up QCOM puts over calls at an accelerated clip. The stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio on the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) is higher than 73% of all other readings from the past year.
Synchrony Financial Stock Continues to Slide
SYF stock suffered a bear gap of roughly 15% on Friday, as traders panned the company's weaker-than-expected earnings. Today, analysts continue to weigh in, with no fewer than seven price-target cuts rolling in. Among the lowest was J.P. Morgan Securities, which reduced its target by $6 to $33. As such, the shares were last seen trading down 0.9% at $27.56 -- levels not seen since last October. There's plenty of room for more bearish brokerage notes, too. Of the 14 analysts covering Synchrony Financial, 11 maintain a "strong buy" rating, with not a single "sell" to be found.