Analyst Update: Royal Caribbean, Take-Two, Alder Biopharma

Analysts are weighing in today on cruise concern Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (NYSE:RCL), gaming giant Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), and drugmaker Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ALDR). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on RCL, TTWO, and ALDR.

• Goldman Sachs upgraded its opinion of RCL to "buy" from "neutral," citing the company's improving traction in China and the stock's "compelling entry point" relative to its peers. As such, the shares have managed to buck the broad-market trend lower, edging up 0.2% to $80.65. On a longer-term basis, though, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd has struggled, sitting 2.2% below its year-to-date flatline. It's worth noting that Goldman isn't alone in its glowing recommendation of the stock. In fact, 13 analysts current rate RCL a "buy" or better, compared to one "hold" assessment and not a single "sell."


• Jefferies weighed in on a number of video game names today, including TTWO. Specifically, the brokerage firm upgraded the equity to "buy" from "hold," and boosted its price target to $35 from $29. The bullish note has led Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. to a 1.3% intraday lead at $28.38. In fact, since hitting a late-April low of $23.30, the shares have advanced 22%. Nevertheless, traders have been buying to open puts over calls at an accelerated clip of late. TTWO's 10-day International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) put/call volume ratio of 0.61 ranks in the 82nd percentile of its annual range. Likewise, the stock's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) sits at 1.13 -- higher than 99% of comparable readings from the past year.


• Unlike this pair of struggling sector peers, ALDR is 5.6% higher this afternoon at $50.22. Earlier, the stock touched a record high of $51.43 after Credit Suisse initiated coverage with an "outperform" endorsement and $50 price target, citing the company's potentially "best-in-class" migraine drug. The upward price action is more of the same for Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc, which has surged 72.5% in 2015. Not everyone's so confident in the stock, though -- 11.2% of its float is currently sold short.