Hertz, Nu Skin, WebMD Downgraded

Analysts are weighing in on car rental company Hertz Global Holdings, Inc (NYSE:HTZ), personal products peddler Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS), and health information stock WebMD Health Corp. (NASDAQ:WBMD). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on HTZ, NUS, and WBMD shares.

Hertz Hammered by Downgrade

HTZ is down 5% at $20.56, pressured by Credit Suisse's decision to downgrade the stock's rating to "underperform" from "neutral," and slash its price target to $15 from $27. It's been a brutal few months for Hertz Global Holdings, Inc, which was trading above $50 as recently as September. Not surprisingly, bearish options bets have been initiated at an extreme clip in recent weeks. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), HTZ has racked up a lofty put/call volume ratio of 10.11, which sits at the top of its annual range.

Nu Skin Sinks on Earnings, Outlook

NUS reported lower-than-expected earnings last night, and also offered up weak current-quarter guidance. Jefferies responded with a price-target cut to $52 from $55. Out of the gate, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. has shed 10.6% at $49.25, and has lost more than one-quarter of its value since touching an early October peak at $66.04. Short sellers are sure to be cheering the sell-off. Nearly 9% of the stock's float is dedicated to short interest, which would take close to three weeks to cover, based on NUS' average daily trading level.

WebMD to Explore Possible Sale

WBMD topped expectations in the earnings confessional last night, and announced it will explore strategic alternatives. In response, Citigroup and SunTrust Robinson lowered their price targets to $62 and $60, respectively, while Mizuho lifted its target price to $55. At last check, WebMD Health Corp. shares were 1.8% higher at $52.42, and earlier came within a chip-shot of their 200-day moving average for the first time since early August. Put players may be on pins and needles, given these gains. Specifically, WBMD's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 3.40 ranks just 8 percentage points from a 52-week put-skewed peak.