Buzz Stocks: Qihoo 360, Ocular Therapeutix, Skyworks

Futures are signaling a sharply lower open this morning, as a drop in oil weighs on investor sentiment. Meanwhile, among specific equities in focus are Beijing-based Internet issue Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd (NYSE:QIHU), biopharmaceutical firm Ocular Therapeutix Inc (NASDAQ:OCUL), and integrated circuit specialist Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS).

• QIHU is up more than 4% in electronic trading, after the company put in a strong showing in the earnings confessional last night. Specifically, the firm topped analysts' fourth-quarter estimates -- thanks to a surge in mobile gaming revenue -- and announced a $200 million stock buyback of its U.S. shares. Technically speaking, the equity could use some help on the charts. Despite an end-of-week burst last Friday, the shares have shed roughly 60% year-over-year to trade at $47.62. Meanwhile, in the options pits, speculators have shown a preference for calls over puts among options set to expire in three months or less. Qihoo 360 Technology Co Ltd's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.53 ranks in the 21st annual percentile, meaning speculative players are more call-heavy than usual toward the equity.


• OCUL is ready to rally 49% out of the gate -- and into uncharted territory -- following upbeat late-stage trial results for its lead eye drug, OTX-DP. Separately, the firm unveiled its fourth-quarter earnings report. Heading into today's session, the stock was already a standout on the charts -- boasting a 71% year-to-date gain. Should the shares continue with this momentum, a round of price-target hikes could help propel Ocular Therapeutix Inc higher. Currently, the consensus 12-month price target of $39 for OCUL stands at a discount to last night's close at $40.25, leaving the door wide open for analysts to upwardly revise their outlooks.


• SWKS is the latest stock involved in a series of recent shake-ups on the major market indexes. The equity will replace PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ:PETM) -- which is on track to be taken private -- on the S&P 500 Index (SPX), effective after the market closes this Wednesday, March 11. Technically speaking, SWKS has rallied 152% over the past 52 weeks. What's more, the shares hit their highest perch on record of $92.43 yesterday, before settling at $92.11. With the stock pointed roughly 1% higher ahead of the bell, another all-time peak could be in the works today. On the sentiment front, options traders have been quick to initiate long puts in recent months. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Skyworks Solutions Inc's 50-day put/call volume ratio of 0.54 ranks above all other comparable readings taken in the past year.