Buzz Stocks: Sears Holdings Corp, Horizon Pharma PLC, and Voyager Therapeutics Inc

Today's stocks to watch in the news include Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:SHLD), Horizon Pharma PLC (NASDAQ:HZNP), and Voyager Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:VYGR)

Josh Selway

Dec 8, 2016 at 9:28 AM

U.S. stock futures are trading above fair value, following the European Central Bank's (ECB) latest policy decision. Among specific equities in focus today are retail stock Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:SHLD), as well as drugmakers Horizon Pharma PLC (NASDAQ:HZNP) and Voyager Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:VYGR). Here's a quick look at what's driving SHLD, HZNP, and VYGR.

SHLD is down 1%, after the retailer posted another disappointing earnings report. The company logged its fifth straight quarterly loss, with Chief Financial Officer Jason Hollar saying "We cannot guarantee when we will return to profitability." Based on last night's close at $12.12, the stock has already lost 41% in 2016, and the fundamental and technical struggles have attracted heavy skepticism. Specifically, 15.7 million Sears Holdings Corp shares are controlled by short sellers, which equates to 72.1% of the stock's available float, or 27.4 times the average daily trading volume.

HZNP is set to drop 19% out of the gate -- and was halted earlier -- on news the company is suspending the trial of its Friedreich's ataxia treatment after the drug failed to meet its goals in a late-stage study. The stock has struggled on the charts in 2016, losing 10.5% to close last night at $19.39. If the shares don't pick up the pace, a round of bearish analyst attention could pressure Horizon Pharma PLC even further. For instance, six of seven brokerage firms rate HZNP a "strong buy," with no "sell" recommendations on the books.

VYGR, on the other hand, reported positive results in an early stage study for its Parkinson's disease treatment. Voyager Therapeutics Inc is now on pace to open 31% higher -- on track for its biggest one-day percentage gain since going public in November 2015. Still, the projected price move would leave VYGR, which closed Wednesday at $13.73, below breakeven on a year-to-date basis. If short sellers begin to cover amid this pending surge, however, the stock could flourish. That is, it would take these bears more than two weeks to cover their positions, based on average daily volumes.

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