Broadcom's acquisition of VMware could close this week
The shares of cloud computing concern VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW) are slightly higher this morning, last seen up 0.2% to trade at $119.70, following reports that semiconductor maker Broadcom (AVGO) could potentially acquire the company -- as soon as this week. People familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that the deal comes with a price tag of about $60 billion, or around $140 per share in cash and stock, which is a 17.2% premium to VMW's Monday close.
Reports of the acquisition have ramped up in recent sessions, but VMware stock yesterday nabbed price-target cuts from RBC and Jefferies to $140 and $105, respectively, with the latter turning pessimistic on a host of software stocks as economic headwinds and a potential recession loom. Meanwhile, the majority of analysts are bullish on VMW, with 10 of 16 calling it a "buy" or better.
Despite yesterday's bear notes, the security managed to gap higher on the charts for its best close since early March, with its rally stopped just short of the $126 mark. The 60-day moving average, which began pressuring the shares in February, is back in place as a trendline of support, while VMware stock looks to add more to its miniscule 3.1% year-to-date lead.
Sentiment in the options pits is rather bullish at the moment. During the last 10 days, 2.76 calls were bought for every put on the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). This ratio sits in the 74th percentile of its annual range, too, implying a bigger appetite for bullish bets of late.