AMG, ARRY, and RAD are among the stocks on the move today
U.S. stocks are down sharply following a controversial immigration ban by the Trump administration. Among specific equities in focus today are financial firm Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (NYSE:AMG), drugmaker Array Biopharma Inc (NASDAQ:ARRY), and pharmacy stock Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD). Here's a quick look at what's moving AMG, ARRY, and RAD.
Affiliated Managers Pops Post-Earnings
AMG is up 2.3% at $147.80, following an upbeat earnings report that included an increase to the company's share buyback authorization, as well as the initiation of a cash dividend. That said, the stock has been churning in the $140-$150 range since mid-December. If options traders have their druthers, AMG will break out of its current consolidation pattern. Nearly 10 calls have been bought to open for every put during the past two weeks at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) -- with the corresponding call/put volume ratio of 9.99 ranking 1 percentage point from a 12-month peak.
Downgrade Drops Array Biopharma
ARRY has sunk 7% to $10.41, after Leerink downgraded its rating to "market perform" from "outperform," but raised its price target to $11 from $9. Nonetheless, the stock has blasted off since late September, nearly tripling in value. Perhaps that explains why short-term options traders are extremely call-skewed, based on ARRY's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.07 -- registering below 98% of all readings from the past year. Similar optimism is echoed by analysts, today notwithstanding.
Rite Aid Reels on Reduced Walgreens Offer
RAD has gapped 15% lower at $5.89, landed on the short-sale restricted list, and hit a two-year low of $5.70. Pressuring the stock is the decision of Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) to slash its offer price by at least $2 billion due to regulatory hurdles. Meanwhile, options traders have been more bearish than usual in recent months. RAD has racked up a 50-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX put/call volume ratio of 0.93 -- just 10 percentage points from a 52-week high.
Don't miss the market's next move! Sign up now for Schaeffer's Midday Market Check