Express Scripts stock is lower as Amazon eyes the prescription drug industry
U.S. stocks are mixed to start the week, as the Dow and Nasdaq Composite set fresh intraday highs albeit with muted overall gains. Healthcare stocks Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ:ESRX), K2M Group Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:KTWO), and Davita Inc (NYSE:DVA) are all sinking after receiving bearish analyst attention. Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of ESRX, KTWO, and DVA.
ESRX Stock Downgraded on Amazon Fears
Raymond James downgraded Express Scripts stock to "underperform" from "market perform," citing the company's vulnerability to "escalating competitive pressures." More specifically, these competitive pressures take the form of Amazon.com, who is reportedly considering entering the prescription drug market. At last check, ESRX stock was down 5% to trade at $59.25. Earlier today, the equity fell to $58.84, its lowest level since late-May.
Despite its struggles, at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock has accumulated a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 2.00, which ranks 5 percentage points from a 52-week high. This suggests options traders have been buying calls over puts at a much faster-than-usual clip over the past 10 days.
Ugly Revenue Guidance Sinking KTWO Stock
K2M Group Holdings stock is down 19% to trade at $17.73, among the worst on the Nasdaq and currently short-sale restricted, after the company reduced its current-quarter and full-year revenue forecasts. The slashed guidance resulted in at least three price-target cuts, including a drop to $22 from $26 at RBC. KTWO has now lost 32% since hitting its multi-year high of $25.99 it hit on July 25.
Nevertheless, some analysts remain upbeat. All eight of the brokerages covering KTWO rate the shares a "strong buy" or "buy." Furthermore, KTWO's average 12-month price-target stands up at $25.50, which suggests more cuts could be on the way.
Davita Touches Nearly Four-Year Low After Downgrade
Davita was downgraded by J.P. Morgan Securities today to "underweight" from "neutral", with analysts citing concerns over earnings power due to legal disputes surrounding the American Kidney Fund (AKF). The analysts also lowered their price target to $51 from $66. DVA stock is currently down 8.7% to trade at $54.61, among the worst on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Earlier today, the equity touched an almost four-year low of $54.04.
Short sellers are likely cheering the stock's fall. Short interest has increased by 27% during the last two reporting periods, and is currently at its highest point since December 2016. However, this only accounts for a meager 5% of the security's total available float, indicating that there is still plenty of room for short sellers to hop aboard.