High-flying AeroVironment stock was hit with a downgrade
Analysts are weighing in on e-commerce concern Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA), defense stock AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVAV), and chipmaker Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on shares of BABA, AVAV, and MU.
Deutsche Bank Sets a $201 Price Target on BABA Stock
Alibaba shares are trading 1% higher at $142.37, after Deutsche Bank boosted its price target on the stock to $201 from $158. Not only does this stand in uncharted territory for BABA, but it also represents expected upside of 42.7% to Friday's close at $140.90. This upbeat outlook just echoes the general consensus among analysts toward a stock that was already up 60.5% year-to-date heading into today's trading, with all 16 covering brokerages maintaining a "buy" or better rating.
AVAV Stock Dowgraded at Piper Jaffray
AeroVironment shares are down 0.7% at $37.95, after Piper Jaffray downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "overweight." While the brokerage firm also raised its price target to $35 from $30, this still represents a discount to Friday's settlement at $38.20.
This mixed attention follows last week's strong earnings reaction, which sent AVAV shares gapping higher -- with the equity eventually topping out at a three-year peak of $38.60 on Friday. And while the security is still 41% higher on the year, most analysts remain wary of the shares, with 80% maintaining a lackluster "hold" rating, as of last Friday's close.
Citi Continues to Hold MU Stock in High Regards
Citi maintained its "buy" rating on Micron shares, with an analyst saying to "Stay long the 'Cron" in a note that waxed optimistic on the sustainability of the company's DRAM pricing and cost improvements. MU stock is trading up 0.8% this morning at $30.09, following last Friday's bearish post-earnings reversal.
Longer term, MU shares have more than doubled in value over the last 12 months, guided higher by their 50-day moving average, and hit a two-year high of $32.96 one week ago. Not surprisingly, there's plenty of optimism priced into the shares. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), MU options traders have bought to open 185,969 calls in the last two weeks, compared to 41,603 puts.