Meanwhile, IOVA is rallying on a favorable FDA update
The U.S. stock market rallied out of the gate, but was last seen down from its earlier highs. Three stocks making notables moves today are health-centered direct selling specialist Youngevity International Inc (NASDAQ:YGYI), biotech Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:IOVA), and financial concern PNC Financial Services Group Inc (NYSE:PNC). Here's what's moving shares of YGYI, IOVA, and PNC today.
YGYI Stock Hits New High on Upbeat News Cycle
YGYI stock is trading up 43.5% at $13.56, earlier hitting a seven-year high of $14.40, thanks to a round of upbeat news. For starters, the company -- which will launch cannabis tablet-based products soon -- was mentioned in a CannabisNewsWire press release detailing the growth in popularity of CBD. The shares could also be responding to news that medical marijuana will begin being prescribed in the U.K. next month, not to mention recreational pot in Canada will be legalized next week, on Oct. 17.
This is just more of the same from Youngevity International stock, which has added almost 237% over the past month. Few are paying attention, however, with just one brokerage firm officially covering the stock.
FDA Update Lifts IOVA Shares
IOVA shares are up 17% at $11.66, following news the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the company's melanoma drug RMAT designation, which can lead to accelerated regulatory approval. Plus, Iovance Biotherapeutics announced a roughly $220 million stock offering. Looking back, the shares have been struggling since an early September bear gap, and even are struggling to overtake the 20-day moving average.
Still, analysts are bullish on IOVA, with all seven handing out "strong buy" recommendations. Today, in fact, Oppenheimer reiterated an "outperform" endorsement, and lifted its price target to $25 from $22 -- more than double the stock's price. H.C. Wainwright, meanwhile, lifted its price target to $26 from $22. However, options activity appears somewhat bearish today, with puts crossing at 15 times the expected pace.
PNC Falls After Earnings
PNC stock is trading at new annual lows today, earlier bottoming at $121.61, and was last seen down 6.4% at $123.19, making it one of the worst S&P 500 Index performers. Traders are responding unfavorably to the company's third-quarter results (subscription required) and current-quarter outlook, bringing the equity's six-month deficit to 15%.
Coming into today, near-term options traders were quite call-skewed. This is based on PNC Financial Services' Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.74, which ranks in the 23rd annual percentile, revealing that call open interest outweighs put open interest by a wider-than-normal margin among contracts expiring within three months.