Analysts revised their ratings on China Lodging Group, Ltd (ADR) (HTHT), Horizon Pharma PLC (HZNP), and hhgregg, Inc. (HGG)
Analysts are weighing in today on hotelier China Lodging Group, Ltd (ADR) (NASDAQ:HTHT), biotech issue Horizon Pharma PLC (NASDAQ:HZNP), and electronics retailer hhgregg, Inc. (NYSE:HGG). Here's a quick look at today's brokerage notes on HTHT, HZNP, and HGG.
- Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) isn't the only company making headlines out of China. HTHT is among the top percentage gainers on the Nasdaq today, up 19.1% at $24.52, thanks to an upbeat earnings report and subsequent analyst attention. Specifically, HTHT was gifted an upgrade to "overweight" and a price-target boost to $25 from J.P. Morgan Securities. The brokerage said China Lodging Group, Ltd "has done a good job growing its defensive [managed and franchised] business." Today's rally -- which has the stock sitting north of its 200-day moving average for just the second time since early January -- might be taking some option traders off guard. On the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock's 50-day put/call volume ratio sits at 4.67. What's more, the equity's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) rests at an annual high of 0.77, indicating that short-term traders haven't been more put-biased during the past year.
- HZNP is up 2.5% at $29.10, after Jefferies initiated coverage with a "buy" endorsement and a $37 price target -- well into uncharted territory for the shares. So far in 2015, Horizon Pharma PLC has skyrocketed nearly 126%, so it's not entirely surprising to find that all six covering analysts consider the equity a "strong buy." Plus, the stock's average 12-month price target is docked at $37.14, implying expected upside of 27.6% to HZNP's current price.
- HGG is nearing six-year-low territory, down 10.1% at $4.74, due to an uninspiring turn in the earnings confessional. Adding salt to the stock's wounds, Janney cut its price target on the security to $5 from $7. Prior to today, hhgregg, Inc. wasn't much to write home about. The stock has shed more than 40% over the past year, pressured beneath its 10-month moving average. Meanwhile, short interest accounts for more than a third of HGG's total available float, representing a whopping 34 sessions' worth of pent-up buying demand, at the equity's average pace of trading. Today, however, HGG has been relegated to the short-sale restricted list.