Analysts adjusted their ratings on Finish Line Inc (FINL), Internap Corp (INAP), and Micron Technology, Inc. (MU)
Analysts are weighing in today on footwear peddler Finish Line Inc (NASDAQ:FINL), Internet infrastructure issue Internap Corp (NASDAQ:INAP), and chipmaker Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on FINL, INAP, and MU.
- Unlike this red-hot retail rival, FINL is getting burned this afternoon on the company's first sales miss in four quarters. The stock was last seen 17.1% lower at $20.52, and fresh off a two-year low of $20.43. Adding insult to injury, Monness Crespi Hardt downgraded its rating to "neutral" from "buy," while Deutsche Bank trimmed its price target to $27 from $29. Sterne Agee CRT also waxed pessimistic, noting Finish Line Inc's "brand problem" and loss of market share to Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL). The sell-off has the stock in negative territory for 2015, and option bears likely rejoicing. During the last 50 sessions across the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), FINL has racked up a put/call volume ratio of 2.08 -- just 9 percentage points from an annual high.
- INAP earlier skidded to $6.47 -- its lowest perch in more than a year -- and was down 17.8% at last check, at $6.90. Weighing on the stock are disappointing current-quarter guidance and a downwardly revised full-year outlook, as well as a round of bearish analyst attention. Specifically, Oppenheimer lowered its assessment to "perform" from "outperform," and D.A. Davidson downgraded its opinion to "neutral" from "buy," while also slashing its price target to $7.50 from $11. The pullback has Internap Corp back below its year-to-date flatline, and potentially paves the way for additional downgrades and/or price-target reductions. After all, six of seven analysts consider the shares a "buy" or better -- with not a single "sell" in sight -- while INAP's consensus 12-month price target of $11 sits 59% above the current perch.
- MU is also in the red, down 3.2% at $14.85, following a price-target cut to $17 from $19 at Wedbush. Longer term, the shares have plummeted 58% year-to-date, and late last month panned a two-year low of $13.50. For some reason, option traders are holding out hope for a breakout for Micron Technology, Inc. The stock's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio sits at an annual high of 6.54, with more than six calls bought to open for every put. Should these bulls throw in the towel -- perhaps in the wake of next week's big event -- MU could get hit with further headwinds.
For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: Paypal Holdings Inc, Marvell Technology Group Ltd., and Nike Inc and Analyst Downgrades: Caterpillar Inc., Keurig Green Mountain Inc, and Pier 1 Imports Inc.