NKE stock scored an upgrade at Morgan Stanley
U.S. stocks are mixed this afternoon, struggling to extend their string of all-time highs. Fast-casual restaurant Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) and Dow stock Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) are in both in the news today, albeit for very different reasons. Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of CMG and NKE.
Chipotle Stock A Mess After Reports of Rat Rain
CMG stock is down 3.5% to trade at $359.51 -- on pace for a 2017 low -- after reports surfaced that rats were falling out of the ceiling at a Chipotle in Dallas. This negative publicity comes on the heels of another reported norovirus outbreak at a restaurant in Virginia; the patient tested positive for the virus today, according to a government official. The avalanche of bad news has proven to be a nightmare for CMG stock, which is barreling toward its annual low of $352.96., and has dropped nearly 10% so far this week. The stock was also hit with a downgrade yesterday, and a price-target cut to $390 from $450 at Wedbush today.
Recent options buyers are likely kicking rocks. CMG has an International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) 50-day call/put volume ratio of 1.32, which ranks in the 98th percentile of its annual range. In other words, Chipotle options traders have initiated bullish bets over bearish at a faster-than-usual clip during the past 10 weeks. If the stock continues its tailspin, an unwinding of bullish bets could push CMG stock even lower.
Nike Stock Higher After Upgrade
Nike stock is up 2% to trade at $59.91, among the best on the Dow today, after the sneaker stock received an upgrade from Morgan Stanley. The analyst upgraded Nike's rating to "overweight" from "equal weight," and hiked its price target to $68 from $56 -- territory not charted since late 2015. It's been a solid few weeks for NKE stock, thanks to a major bull gap in late June, following the company's well-received earnings and plans to sell on Amazon. The stock today is aiming for its highest close of 2017.
Now is the time to purchase near-term NKE options, it seems. NKE's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 16% stands higher than just 5% of all other readings from the past year, implying that near-term option traders are pricing in relatively low volatility expectations, from a historical volatility standpoint.