Analysts have chimed in with mixed price-target adjustments
The shares of e-commerce giant eBay Inc (NASDAQ:EBAY) are experiencing a bear gap on the charts this morning, down 11% to trade at $55.53 at last check. Though the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and revenue, a dismal second-quarter profit forecast is weighing on the equity. Analysts are chiming as well, with Susquehanna handing out a downgrade to "neutral" from positive. Plus, no fewer than seven brokerages cut their price targets, while four lifted their objectives.
Today's steep drop has EBAY at its lowest level since mid-March, though the 200-day moving average could be swooping in to contain the equity's pullback. Falling further from its recent April 19, record high of $65.11, EBAY is still up 10.5% year-to-date.
There is plenty of pessimism over on the analyst front. More specifically, 14 of the 22 in coverage sport a tepid "hold" rating, while the remaining eight carry a "strong buy." Meanwhile the 12-month consensus target price of $70.15 is a 26.2% premium to current levels.
Sentiment has been more optimistic in the options pits. The security's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 4.17 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands higher than 84% of readings from the past year.
Today's options traders have been quick to the draw. So far, 40,000 calls and 30,000 puts have crossed the tape, which is nine times what's typically seen at this point. The May 53 put is the most popular, followed by the 60 call in the same monthly series, with new positions being opened at the former.