Analysts are reacting to earnings from retailer URBN
Analysts are weighing in on blue-chip media stock Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), mobile payments issue Square Inc (NYSE:SQ), and retailer Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ:URBN). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of DIS, SQ, and URBN.
ESPN Concerns Spark Downgrade for DIS Stock
Macquarie Research downgraded Walt Disney stock to "neutral" from "outperform," and slashed its price target to $105 from $125 -- a discount to DIS' closing price of $107.98 on Tuesday. The brokerage firm cited concerns over subscriber declines at ESPN, and Disney's overall exposure to the cable industry. DIS stock was last seen trading down 1.9% at $105.97 -- at risk of closing south of its 120-day moving average for the first time since Nov. 10. Most analysts remain optimistic toward Disney shares, though, with roughly two-thirds of brokerage firms maintaining a "buy" or "strong buy" rating.
SQ Stock Receives Mixed Analyst Attention
Square stock hit a record high of $20.69 on Tuesday, bringing its year-over-year lead to 122%. While SunTrust Robinson, Stifel, and RBC lifted their respective price targets to $22, $23, and $24, BTIG downgraded SQ stock to "neutral" from "buy." In response, SQ stock is down 3% to trade at $19.73, providing temporary relief to one group of traders. Specifically, short interest on Square has surged more than 50% from its mid-February annual low, and now accounts for a healthy 6.6% of the stock's available float.
URBN Stock Active After Earnings
Urban Outfitters reported weaker-than-expected per-share earnings and revenue, and said comparable-store sales fell by more than anticipated in the latest quarter. Jefferies, SunTrust Robinson, and Wunderlich subsequently reduced their respective price targets on URBN stock to $30, $25, and $20. At last check, Urban Outfitters shares were trading down 2% at $20.06, and earlier hit a new annual low of $19.74. With the stock now down 30% year-to-date, short sellers are unlikely to disturb their bearish positions. Short interest accounts for almost one-fifth of URBN's available float, or 8.1 times the average daily pace of trading.