AAL

Analysts Chime In on LYFT After Self-Driving Unit Sale

The company move up its profitability timeline by one quarter

Deputy Editor
Apr 27, 2021 at 10:34 AM
facebook X logo linkedin


Ridesharing platform Lyft Inc (NASDAQ:LYFT) is in the spotlight this morning, after news that the company is selling its self-driving technology unit to Toyota (TM). The $550 million deal, which will close later this year, enabled Lyft to move up its profitability timeline by one quarter. To follow, Needham initiated coverage of the security with a "hold" rating, while BTIG and Truist Securities upped their price targets to $80 and $70, respectively. 

At last check, LYFT is up 1.6% to trade at $64.06 -- inching above recent pressure at the $65 level. Furthermore, with long-term support from the 60-day moving average swooping in to catch its recent pullback, today's pop has the stock climbing back up toward its March 18, annual high of $68.28. In the last six months, LYFT has added 182.3%.

On the analyst front, there is still some room for upgrades, though sentiment is mostly bullish. Coming into today, seven of 26 analysts in coverage carried a tepid "hold" rating, while 19 said "buy" or better. Plus, the stock's 12-month target price of $67.60 is a 4.1% premium to current levels.

Meanwhile, short interest represents 9.5% of Lyft stock's available float. In other words, it would take nearly four days to buy back these bearish bets, at the security's average pace of trading.

The options pits also lean firmly in the bullish camp. This is per LYFT's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 5.11 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which sits in the 86th percentile of the past 12 months. In other words, long puts are being picked up at a quicker-than-usual clip.

Now looks like a good time to weigh in on the security's next move with options. The stock is seeing attractively priced premiums at the moment, per Lyft stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 57%, which sits in just 19th percentile of its annual range. 

 

Two High-Octane Trade Ideas. One Simple Goal: Intraday Profits.

Dynamite Day Trading Signals delivers two same-day options trades every week — powered by proprietary intraday analysis and 43+ years of trading expertise.

But this isn’t just another stream of alerts.

It’s a structured plan with clear entry and exit points – designed for traders who want to act fast, trade smart, and wrap up gains before the closing bell.

No guesswork. No overnight exposure – Just two well-researched setups per week — whether you prefer buying premium or selling it.

And the results speak for themselves: subscribers have locked in +245.8% total profit over the last six months (since inception!).

👉 Start your one-month trial now for just $10, and be ready for the next trade alert.