The computer memory stock earned two lofty price-target hikes this morning
The shares of Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) are up 4.6% at $67.01 at last check, and earlier hit an all-time-high of $67.42, after the computer memory and data storage concern earned a price-target hike from Cowen and Company to $75 from $57, as well as one from Needham to $80 from $65. The former brokerage firm expects the tech giant to beat estimates for the November quarter, and noted there is still room to improve on the execution of its technology roadmap, which would position the security for profitable growth. In addition, the company raised its fiscal first-quarter guidance to $5.7 billion, which is significantly higher than Wall Street's estimated $5.2 billion.
Digging deeper, Micron Technology stock has more than doubled off this year's March 18 low of $31.13. After a few rocky summer months, shares started steadily climbing up the charts in August, with newfound support from the 40-day moving average. Longer term, the security sports a healthy 43.5% year-over-year lead.
Analysts were optimistic toward the equity coming into today, with 15 of the 20 in coverage sporting a "buy" or better rating, and five carrying a tepid "hold" or worse. Reflecting that is the 12-month consensus target price of $68.69, which is a 3.5% premium to current levels.
Shorts are hitting the exits, though there is still some pessimism left to be unwound. Short interest dropped 11.2% in the last two reporting periods, yet the 28.14 million shares sold short still account for a significant 2.6% of the stock's available float.
That optimism is echoed in the options pits, where there is a strong appetite for calls. This is per the MU's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 5.70 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which sits higher than 99% of readings from the past year. In simpler terms, calls are being picked up at a quicker-than-usual pace.
Today's bull notes are only adding to that upbeat sentiment. In just the first half hour of trading, 23,000 calls have crossed the tape, which is three times the average intraday amount. Most popular is the 12/4 66 strike-call, followed by the 67 strike-call in the same weekly series, with investors expecting more upside for Micron Technology stock by the end of the week.
Now certainly seems like the perfect time to weigh in on Micron Technology stock with options. The equity's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 45% sits in the extremely low 14th percentile of its annual range. This means MU is sporting attractively priced premiums at the moment.