J.P. Morgan Securities named Altice USA its top pick for next month
U.S. stocks are trading higher this afternoon, with manufacturing and construction data sending indexes to fresh record highs. Cable provider Altice USA Inc (NYSE:ATUS) and tech stock CyberOptics Corporation (NASDAQ:CYBE), are trending in opposite directions, while automaker General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is trading at all-time highs. Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of ATUS, CYBE, and GM.
Disney Deal Has J.P. Morgan Securities Eyeing ATUS Stock
Altice USA and Disney averted controversy, reaching a programming deal that prevented an ESPN blackout in the New York area. As a result of the last-minute deal, J.P. Morgan Securities named ATUS stock as its top pick for next month. While the shares are currently up 1.2% to trade at $27.63, the cable operator has shed 12.6% since the company's initial public offering (IPO) in June, when they opened for trade at $31.60. Meanwhile, analysts remain on the fence, with half of the brokerages covering ATUS stock rate it a tepid "hold." So if the security does outperform, it could see additional bull notes come through.
CyberOptics Stock Tanks After Weak Revenue Forecast
CyberOptics Corporation issued disappointing revenue forecasts for the third and fourth quarters, prompting CYBE stock to drop 26% to trade at $12.00 -- among the worst stocks on the Nasdaq Composite. Earlier today, the shares fell to an annual low of $11.80, and have now lost more than half their value year-to-date. While the equity is short-sale restricted today, short sellers have to be happy with the price action. Short interest has increased by 12.4% during the last two reporting periods to 1.01 million shares -- the highest on record -- which equates to almost 16% of CyberOptics' float.
General Motors Shares Jump After Self-Driving Announcement
General Motors stock is up 4.4% to trade at $42.16, among the best on the S&P 500 today, after Deutsche Bank said the company confirmed plans for a fleet of self-driving cars that could come as soon as 2020. The news took GM stock, which has tacked on almost 33% year-over-year, to a record high of $42.48 earlier.
This should be excellent news for options traders, who've shown overly bullish tendencies of late. Specifically, GM has a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 3.86 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which is a 52-week high. Calls are active again today, too, with more than 91,000 traded, compared to fewer than 60,000 puts.