The Apple supplier is laying off employees to offset M&A costs
Shares of Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO) are slightly higher in early trading, after the company announced the layoff of over 1,100 workers, to offset costs associated with its $5.5 billion November purchase of tech concern Brocade. What's more, AVGO stock scored a new "buy" rating and $300 price target -- in uncharted territory -- from Benchmark, which called the Apple supplier an "execution machine" with "one of the best management teams in the semiconductor space."
Broadcom stock has been choppy on the charts this year, but has rallied more than 20% since its May 4 annual low of $221.98. The stock recently broke back above its 160-day moving average, and pushed north of a trendline connecting lower highs since late 2017. At last check, AVGO was 0.3% higher at $269.34.
Benchmark's bullish initiation isn't anything new, with 24 of the 27 brokerage firms already following AVGO sporting "buy" or "strong buy" recommendations. Further, the semiconductor stock's average 12-month price target comes in at $313 -- a more than 16% premium to current levels.
In the options pits, traders have also been optimistic towards AVGO, with data from the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) showing the stock with a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 2.36, ranking in the 72nd percentile of its annual range. This means calls have been purchased over puts at a faster-than-usual clip during the past two weeks.
Lastly, now may be a good time to target near-term AVGO options. Broadcom stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) is just 22%, ranking in the bottom 3rd percentile of its annual range. This low ranking suggests there are lower-than-normal volatility expectations priced into short-term options at the moment.