The retailer's fiscal fourth-quarter revenue also came in below estimates
Stitch Fix Inc (NASDAQ:SFIX) reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of 18 cents per share -- more than analysts were expecting. However, the online personal styling service said quarterly revenue arrived at a lower-than-forecast $318.3 million, while the number of active users came in below estimates. As such, SFIX stock is bracing for a 21% drop out of the gate.
The retailer's results have been quick to draw attention from analysts. While KeyBanc cut its price target on Stitch Fix stock to $45 from $53, Stifel and SunTrust Robinson raised their SFIX price targets to $30 and $45, respectively. As a point of comparison, the average 12-month price target for the equity is $37.22.
Following SFIX stock's bullish reaction to the company's third-quarter results, options traders were loading up on calls ahead of last night's scheduled event. The October 55 call is home to peak open interest of 8,669 contracts, and data from the major options exchanges points to significant buy-to-open activity here in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, in yesterday's trading, it looks like speculators may have sold to open the weekly 10/5 50-strike calls, possibly looking to turn a quick profit on a post-earnings volatility crush. The at-the-money implied volatility term structure for the weekly 10/5 series -- which expires at this Friday's close -- closed last night at 196.24%, while the term structure for further-dated monthly November options is a tamer 84.5%.
Heading into today's trading, Stitch Fix stock had been flying up the charts, nearly doubling from its early June year-to-date low of $18.02 to its Sept. 18 record high of $52.44 to close last night at $44.63. And while a recent pullback from here was quickly contained near a 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of this rally, as well as the security's 30-day moving average, both levels will likely be breached during today's expected retreat.