Outperforming Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN) is surrounded by skepticism
Energy stock
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) has put in a strong performance on the charts, boasting a 35.6% year-to-date lead, thanks in part to
crude oil's impressive second-quarter bounce. With the stock pulling back to a historically bullish trendline -- and sentiment skewed toward the skeptical side both in and out of the
options pits -- now may be the time for
contrarian traders to strike on PTEN stock.
Specifically, since hitting an annual high of $22.12 on June 8, PTEN has pulled back to its rising 40-day moving average. According to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, in the 12 other times this signal has occurred in the past three years, the stock has gone on to average a 21-day gain of 5.4%, and has been positive two-thirds of the time. Today, shares of the energy stock are fractionally higher at $20.45, even as September-dated crude futures sink 1.5% to trade at $45.05 per barrel.
Despite this impressive technical showing, speculative traders have been quick to initiate long
puts over
calls in PTEN's lightly traded options pits. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the equity's
10-day put/call volume ratio of 21.28 rests in the 81st annual percentile. Should the shares continue to climb, an unwinding of the hedges related to these bearish bets could translate into a fresh burst of buying power.
Looking elsewhere, it appears short sellers have already begun to capitulate to PTEN's upward momentum. However, while short interest dropped 10.4% in the most recent reporting period, it still accounts for nearly 12% of the security's available float, or about a week's worth of pent-up buying demand, at the average daily volume. A continued capitulation from these bearish bettors
may create tailwinds for PTEN.
Finally, the stock could also stand to
benefit from a round of bullish brokerage notes. Currently, more than half of analysts covering Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) maintain a "hold" or worse recommendation, while the average 12-month price target of $21.09 is within a stone's throw of the equity's current perch -- leaving the door wide open for upgrades and/or price-target hikes. It seems some of these skeptics are starting to change their tune, with Nomura and Wunderlich both raising their price targets on PTEN earlier this week.
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