The advertisment responds to a plot point that painted Peloton in a bad light last week
Peloton Interactive Inc (NASDAQ:PTON) is no stranger to putting out polarizing commercials around the holidays, and it seems that the at-home fitness giant is back at it. The firm released an advertisement on Sunday in response to a "Sex and the City" plot point that cast the company in a less-than-shining light. In the newest reboot of the show, Chris Noth's Mr. Big dies of a heart attack shortly after using a Peloton bike in the episode released Thursday, which sent the stock extending some of its recent losses.
The company's latest commercial, put together in less than 48 hours, suggests an alternate reality in which Mr. Big sits near a lit-up Christmas tree and two bikes, feeling great and ready for round two, with Ryan Reynolds proclaiming in a voiceover "He's alive."
The advertisement seems to have worked, at least in the short-term, with PTON up 1.6% at $39.12 at last check. The equity is still down nearly 74% year-to-date, however, thanks in part to a post-earnings bear gap occurring in early November. The security has caved to pressure at every one of its trendlines, including the 20-day moving average, which capped a rally attempt late last week.
Earlier this month, Deutsche Bank came in with a bull note and lofty price target, though many analysts are still on the fence, with nine of the 20 in coverage calling PTON a "hold" or worse. Meanwhile, the 12-month consensus price target of $77.56 is more than double Friday's close, leaving the stock susceptible to price-target cuts.
Options traders, meanwhile, have taken an overwhelmingly bullish stance. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the security sports a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 1.49, which stands higher than 94% of readings from the past year. This implies long calls have rarely been more popular in the past 12 months.