Goldman Sachs downgraded Zoom Video Communications Inc (NASDAQ:ZM) to "sell" from "neutral," with analyst Heather Bellini saying the video conferencing's long-term potential is already priced in. However, given ZM stock's impressive run since its mid-April trading debut, the brokerage firm upped its price target to $66 from $53 -- still a major discount to Friday's close at $88.79.
In reaction, ZM stock is down 3.1% in electronic trading. Since opening for trading at $65 on April 14 -- markedly higher than Zoom's $36 per share in initial public offering (IPO) price -- the shares have surged 36.6%. The equity's recent pullback from its June 20 record high of $107.34 found support at its newly formed 40-day moving average, and this trendline will likely be tested today, should this pre-market price action hold.
Most analysts echo Goldman Sachs' skepticism, with eight of 12 covering firms calling the stock a "hold" or worse. Plus, the average 12-month price target of $81.30 sits in territory not seen since before Zoom Video's early June post-earnings bull gap.
Options traders, on the other hand, have shown a distinct preference for calls over puts. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), speculators have bought to open 2.29 calls for each put over the last 10 days.