Analyst Update: Guess?, Microsoft, Scorpio Bulkers

Analysts adjusted their ratings and price targets on Guess?, Inc. (NYSE:GES), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Scorpio Bulkers Inc (NYSE:SALT)

Mar 17, 2016 at 2:12 PM

Analysts are weighing in on apparel retailer Guess?, Inc. (NYSE:GES), software blue chip Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), and freight firm Scorpio Bulkers Inc (NYSE:SALT). Here's a quick roundup of today's brokerage notes on GES, MSFT, and SALT.

GES gapped lower this morning following an earnings miss, downbeat current-quarter guidance, and a bearish round of brokerage notes. Specificially, three analysts lowered their price targets on the stock, with the deepest cut coming from Topeka Capital -- to $19 from $20. At last check, Guess?, Inc. has surrendered 13.2% at $18.50, which represents its biggest intraday loss in more than three years. This is music to the ears of option bears, who have been active in recent weeks. Traders have bought to open 2.43 GES puts for each call during the last 10 sessions at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) -- a ratio that ranks above 86% of all others from the past year.

Oppenheimer initiated coverage on MSFT with an "outperform" rating and $62 price target -- never-before-charted territory for the shares. The bullish note has the stock 0.7% higher at $54.73, and on track for its seventh daily gain in the past eight sessions. Amid this steady uptrend, the brokerage crowd has grown increasingly bullish toward Microsoft Corporation. Of the 20 analysts tracking the stock, 15 have handed out a "buy" or better rating, versus four "holds" and just one "sell."

SALT is the worst-performing stock on the Big Board, down 18.6% at $3.00. Weighing on the shares is the company's announcement of a secondary offering of 21 million common shares, which prompted UBS to lower its opinion to "neutral" from "buy" and its price target to $3.50 from $4. Year-to-date, Scorpio Bulkers Inc is now down 70%. While the stock is short-sale restricted today, short sellers have been upping the bearish ante in recent weeks. Short interest grew almost 16% during the last two reporting periods to 22.8% of SALT's float, and would take over a week to cover, given the stock's average daily trading levels.

For other stocks in analysts' crosshairs, read Analyst Upgrades: FedEx Corporation, Activision Blizzard, Inc., and Medtronic PLC and Analyst Downgrades: Jabil Circuit, Inc., Williams-Sonoma, Inc., and Vivint Solar Inc.

Follow @Schaeffers

Which of These SUB-$5 Stocks Could 26x From Here? (AD)

He called a rare 11x on Tesla…

Then he called a 26x on Workhorse…

Then an even rarer 35x on Nio Inc…

Now Tim Bohen says these 5 tiny “America First” stocks are next up in 2025.

They’re trading for less than $5 right now.

But thanks to Elon & Trump’s new alliance…

They could be off to the races in Trump’s first 100 days.

And right now for a limited time…

You can get the names & tickers for just $1 here. (AD)

Featured Articles from Trusted Partners:

🚀 One Stock Pick Could Change Everything in 2025
What if one stock pick could define your success next year? Get 10 expert-vetted stocks set for 2025—plus 5 bonus picks to watch now. Get the Report →

🆕 New Options Need New Trading Strategies
Zero-DTE options are the newest (and hottest) options to trade. Professional traders have rushed into the market and are making a mint. Don’t get left behind - learn all about these options, how to trade them, market setups to profit from, plus much more. Download now →

👀 Revealed: 3 Defensive Stocks for Your Portfolio
Worried about the market? This free report reveals 3 under-the-radar defensive stocks for uncertain times in any kind of economy.