The firm initiated coverage of SOFI with a "buy" rating
The shares of SoFi Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SOFI) are up 7% to trade at $16.23 at last check, after Jefferies initiated coverage on the online personal finance name with a "buy" rating and a $25 price target. The firm's price target is a 65% premium to last night's close, but Jefferies still views it as "conservative," and sees GAAP profitability within the next three years. The analyst went on to say "'Flywheel', Sofi's synergistic business model, will continue to drive significant user growth, product adoption, and margin expansion."
Jefferies is joining an already bullish bunch, as all three other analysts in coverage consider SOFI a "strong buy." Plus, the 12-month consensus target price of $24.5 is a 61.5% premium to last night's close.
Options traders are bombarding the equity after the analyst attention, with calls leading the charge today. In the first hour of trading, over 86,000 calls and 8,279 puts have crossed the tape, volume that's already eight times what's typically seen at this point. The three most popular contracts are the weekly 9/24 16-, 16.50-, and 17-strike calls, with new positions being opened at each.
Jefferies' lofty price target sits in territory not seen since a February 1 record high of $28.26. The $25 mark was a ceiling back in May, while the shares' 80-day moving average has emerged as a short-term floor in recent months. Still, year-to-date, the security remains up 22%.