Real estate stock Zillow was upgraded to "outperform" from "neutral" at Wedbush
Zillow Group Inc (NASDAQ:Z) is one of the best stocks on the Nasdaq this morning, last seen up 3.2% to trade at $61.58, and earlier hitting a new two-year high of $61.71. The real estate services stock was upgraded to "outperform" from "neutral" by Wedbush, and the firm also threw in a hefty price-target hike to $80 from $50.
The analyst in coverage noted falling mortgage rates -- last seen at 6.1% -- and lower borrowing costs hopefully ahead as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates. Z has now built some separation from its year-to-date breakeven level, and is nearly 30% higher in the last 12 months. On Friday, the shares gapped higher by 5.5% and tacked on 12% the entire week as real estate stocks rally on rate-cut momentum.
Contrarian Potential
This could mark a shift amongst analysts, considering the stock's consensus 12-month price target of $59.75 is now a 3% discount from its current perch. A short squeeze could also keep the wind at the equity's back. Short interest fell nearly 10% in the two most recent reporting periods, yet the 15.89 million shares sold short still accounts for 9.9% of Z's total available float. At the stock's average pace of trading, it would take shorts four trading days to buy back their bearish bets.
Options Bulls Rush In
Options traders continue to bet bullishly. On the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), traders have bought to open 11 calls for every put in the past two weeks. The resultant 10-day call/put volume ratio ranks in the top of its annual range, meaning buyers have never shown a greater appetite for bullish bets during the past year. Today is more of the same, with the September 60 call the most popular contract.
Now certainly seems like a great opportunity to weigh in on Z's next move with options. The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 41% sits in the 7th percentile of its annual range. In other words, the stock sports attractively priced premiums at the moment. Lastly, the equity's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits up at 89 (out of 100.) This means Zillow has exceeded option traders' volatility expectations during the past year -- a boon for options buyers.