Bank of America Securities Upgraded DLTR to "buy" from "neutral"
The shares of Dollar Tree Inc (NASDAQ:DLTR) are up 2.1% at $97.74 at last check, after the discount retailer received an upgrade from Bank of America Securities to "buy" from "neutral." While also hiking its price target to $115 from $100, the firm cited an improving sales outlook for the Family Dollar brands.
Today's pop has DLTR breaking out above the $96 region, an area that has rejected the stock for the last month. Now, with support from the 40-day moving average, the shares are distancing themselves from their year-to-date breakeven level. There is plenty more room for analysts upgrades even after today, with eight in coverage at a "buy" or better, and nine at a lukewarm "hold."
Sentiment in the options pits is wholeheartedly optimistic. Dollar Tree's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 4.75 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands higher than all other readings from the past year. This means options traders have never been extensively more call-heavy in the past 12 months.
Furthermore, DLTR's options can be had for a reasonable price at the moment, as per its Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 36%, which stands higher than 21% of all other readings in its annual range. This suggests that options players are pricing in relatively low volatility expectations at the moment.