Analyst Downgrades: Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc, Baidu Inc, and Expedia Inc

Analysts downwardly revised their ratings and price targets on Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (VRX), Baidu Inc (ADR) (BIDU), and Expedia Inc (EXPE)

Jul 29, 2016 at 10:35 AM

Analysts are weighing in on drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX), China-based tech stock Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU), and travel concern Expedia Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on VRX, BIDU, and EXPE.

VRX is off 2.8% at $22.49 after Wells Fargo reiterated its "underperform" rating, noting that it does not see signs of a turnaround for the stock -- which has shed more than three-quarters of its value so far in 2016. Despite the shares being stuck firmly below the $25 level for more than a month, options traders have not been shy about picking up bullish bets. Across the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc holds a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 3.05 -- just 2 percentage points from an annual high.

BIDU received price-target cuts from Piper Jaffray, Brean, and Deutsche Bank, with the former setting the lowest target at $180 -- still a 14.6% premium to the stock's current value. The shares are off 5.2% at $157.03 today following the company's second-quarter earnings results, which included a disappointing current-quarter outlook. Options traders were bearishly aligned heading into earnings, but some short sellers may be wishing they had held out longer. Short interest on Baidu Inc fell by about 29% over the last two reporting periods, and now represents just 2.4% of the stock's total float.

EXPE is down 2.9% at $115.79, testing a recent foothold above the $115 level, after the company's quarterly earnings beat estimates, but revenue fell short. Following the report, Expedia Inc received five price-target cuts, in a range from $118 to $160, while two analysts adjusted their price targets higher. The stock has given back 7% year-to-date, and could be in even more trouble should analysts continue to change their tune. At present, 12 out of 17 brokerage firms rate underperforming EXPE a "buy" or better.

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