Buzz Stocks: Procter & Gamble Co, Pfizer Inc., and Sodastream International Ltd

U.S. stocks are down as traders look to new earnings and economic data, and react to disappointing news from Japan. Among equities in focus today are consumer packaged goods provider Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG), biotech giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), and sparkling water stock Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA).

• PG is up 0.5% at $86.86 – and just off a new annual high of $87.15 -- after an earnings report that beat analysts' expectations, thanks to cost-cutting, product development, and advertising efforts. PG, which has been the strongest second-half performer in the past 10 years, is up 13.4% year-over-year, and has found support from its 10-week and 32-week moving averages since late 2015. There's likely some cheering in PG's option pits after today's latest move, with Procter & Gamble Co's 10-day call/put volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) of 3.40 sitting in the 95th percentile of its annual range, suggesting near-term option players have been especially bullish as of late -- a shift from just a few weeks ago.

• PFE is down 2% at $36.55, despite announcing earnings that came in ahead of analysts' expectations. Year-over-year, Pfizer Inc. saw its profit drop by 23% in the second quarter, and said it reached a $486 million settlement regarding its Bextra and Celebrex drugs. PFE shares are up 13.2% so far in 2016, and yesterday touched a 12-year high of $37.39. PFE's 14-Day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 74 was already in "overbought" territory ahead of earnings, suggesting today's breather may have been in the cards. Analysts are still optimistic about PFE, with nine of 15 rating the shares a "strong buy," and without a single "sell" in sight.

• SODA is up 14.3% at $27.85 -- and touched a new annual high of $28.97 -- as traders react to an earnings report that beat analysts' expectations. SODA has worked to position itself as a "sparkling water" company (subscription required) in light of more health-conscious consumers shying away from high-calorie sodas, and its efforts are paying off. SODA is up 70% year-to-date, recently jumping on M&A rumors. Plenty of option players are likely cheering today's success, with Sodastream International Ltd's 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 12.23 sitting higher than 82% of all other readings from the past year.

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