The Nordstrom family has formed a group to explore taking the retailer private
The stock market is trading higher, as Wall Street digests former FBI Director James Comey's congressional testimony. There are a number of stocks making volatile moves, though, including high-end department store Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN), cancer treatment specialist NewLink Genetics Corp (NASDAQ:NLNK), and hydrogen generation name Hydrogenics Corporation (USA) (NASDAQ:HYGS). Here's a quick look at what's moving shares of JWN, NLNK, and HYGS.
JWN Stock Soars on Reports the Retailer Could Go Private
Nordstrom stock is trading up 10.8% at $44.89, on reports the retailer is considering going private. Specifically, several members of the Nordstrom family who collectively own a roughly 31.2% stake of JWN have formed a group to explore this option. The pop comes at an ideal time for JWN stock, which was staring at a nearly 16% year-to-date deficit heading into today's trading to test its footing near the round $40 mark.
Today's surge has the shares nearly filling a mid-May earnings bear gap -- and short sellers could be caught off guard. More than 24% of JWN's float is sold short, or 5.4 times the average daily pace of trading.
NLNK Stock Sinks to New Low
NewLink Genetics stock has plunged 32.9% to trade at $7.13 -- the worst performer on the Nasdaq -- and earlier hit a five-year low of $7.07. The shares are reacting to news Genentech will return the rights to NLNK's immuno-oncology drug candidate, GDC-0919, though a research collaboration between the two companies will continue. Pouring salt on the proverbial wound is a downgrade to "neutral" from "outperform" from Baird, which slashed its price target (to $8 from $25) along with Jefferies (to $7 from $18).
As NLNK stock continues to move further away from its 52-week high of $25.17 from April 3, there's plenty of room for more analysts to lower their outlooks. In fact, not a single one of the five brokerages covering NewLink Genetics maintains a "sell" rating, while the average 12-month price target is docked at a lofty $24.60, as of last night's close.
HYGS Stock Hits New High on Fuel Cell Deal
Hydrogenics stock has surged 18.2% to trade at $8.30 -- fresh off an annual high of $9.25 -- after the company said it inked a roughly $50 million purchase and licensing deal with Blue-G New Energy Science and Technology Corp for 1,000 fuel cells. HYGS shares are now sitting on an 88.6% year-to-date gain, and options traders are showing unusual interest in the stock. Though volume is still light on an absolute basis -- just 327 contracts have traded -- it's running at three times what's typically seen at this point in the day.