VSI, PCLN, and ACAD stocks are lower after earnings
The surprise dismissal of FBI Director James Comey is weighing on stock price today. Among specific stocks on the move are health products retailer Vitamin Shoppe Inc (NYSE:VSI), travel stock Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), and biotech ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of VSI, PCLN, and ACAD.
VSI Stock Hits New Low After Earnings
VSI is the worst-performing stock on the NYSE, following the company's abysmal first-quarter earnings report. The shares have dropped 29.9% to trade at $13.33, putting them on the short-sale restricted list, and earlier touched a record low of $12.95. Vitamin Shoppe stock has now lost more than half its value year-over-year, and short sellers are making a killing. Specifically, 20.4% of the stock's float is sold short, which would take more than three weeks to buy back, at VSI's average daily volume.
Options Traders Predicted PCLN Stock Pullback
Disappointing earnings and a weak outlook are weighing on PCLN stock today, last seen 5.3% lower at $1,810.15. While the shares are set to close below their 20-day moving average for the first time since April 21, they are still up almost 43% over the past 12 months. Barclays and J.P. Morgan Securities are expecting more upside, too, raising their respective price targets to $2,050 and $2,125. Priceline Group stock has a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.27 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which ranks in the 97th annual percentile, so it appears recent options traders were bracing for a pullback.
Q1 Results Sink ACAD Stock
ACAD has fallen 8.3% to trade at $29.60, after the company's first-quarter results. This move has the shares sharply below their 200-day moving average, which had acted as support on several pullbacks during the past year. Meanwhile, Leerink cut its price target to $32 from $36. More bearish analyst attention is possible for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, since six of the nine covering brokerages rate it a "strong buy."