The streaming stock just wrapped up its worst month on record
Wedbush upgraded Roku Inc (NASDAQ:ROKU) stock to "outperform" from "neutral," saying the streaming name has positioned itself as "the best in class option for over-the-top advertising." However, in the wake of the equity's sharp October loss, the brokerage firm cut its ROKU price target to $65 from $73, though this is still a 17% premium to last night's close at $55.60.
In reaction, ROKU shares are up 3.2% ahead of the bell, set to open at $57.40. The stock just wrapped up its worst month on record, shedding 23.9% in October. The selling appears to have been exhausted near Roku's 140-day moving average, a trendline that served as support back in early July and resistance in May and June.
Analysts have been growing more bullish on Roku ahead of the company's third-quarter earnings report, due out after the close next Wednesday, Oct. 7. Options traders, on the other hand, have been buying to open puts relative to calls at an accelerated clip. The stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.00 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) ranks in the 99th annual percentile.
ROKU stock is still heavily shorted, too, even with short interest down 16.2% in the most recent reporting period. Currently, 7.07 million shares are sold short on Roku, representing 10.4% of the stock's available float.