One equity has quadrupled to all-time highs
The shares of Provention Bio Inc (NASDAQ:PRVB) are at the top of the Nasdaq today, more than quadrupling after the firm reported encouraging data on its diabetes treatment. On the flip side, the shares of Tandem Diabetes Care Inc (NASDAQ:TNDM) are among the worst of the Nasdaq today, even as analysts -- and options traders -- applaud the company's latest data on its insulin pump.
Report: 10 Reasons to Buy PRVB
Digging in, Provention's experimental PRV-031 significantly delayed the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes in high-risk patients. As such, PRVB stock was temporarily halted, and was last seen 328.6% higher to trade at $18.64. Earlier, the stock notched an all-time high of $22.82.
As such, Disruptive Tech Research called the data "a Joe Biden-esque big deal," saying it's the "first drug to impact the pathogenesis of an auto-immune disease." The firm offered up 10 reasons to buy PRVB stock "up to price of (almost) anything," as the equity could triple from its June 7 closing price "and still trade for a fraction of the value of biotechs with absolutely no clinical data."
While all three analysts following PRVB already consider it a "buy" or better, there's certainly room for price-target hikes, if today's gains hold. Currently, the average 12-month price target stands at just $11.17 -- a discount of roughly 44% to the stock's price now.
TNDM Option Bulls Bet on a Bounce
Tandem Diabetes stock was last seen 6.9% lower to trade at $66.78, despite upbeat analyst attention following the company's data on its t:slim X2 Insulin Pump with Control-IQ Technology, presented at the Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) over the weekend. Lake Street Capital Markets reiterated its "buy" rating and $100 price target, and BMO expects the shares to continue their momentum into competitive launches in 2020.
TNDM stock has been volatile since a massive bull gap in late February. The security peaked at $74.81 on March 21, retreated to the $55 area and its 80-day moving average by mid-April, and subsequently bounced in what some could interpret as an inverted head-and-shoulders formation -- often seen as a bullish technical signal.
It looks like options traders today are betting on an upside breakout for TNDM shares. Roughly 8,500 call options have traded already today -- eight times the average intraday pace. Nearly half of that volume has transpired at the July 70 call, where it looks like some buy-to-open activity is happening. By purchasing the calls to open, the buyers expect Tandem Diabetes stock to jump back above $70 by the close on Friday, July 19, when the options expire.