OLLI earned two upgrades and six price-target hikes this morning
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:OLLI) reported worse-than-expected first-quarter earnings of 20 cents per share yesterday. Net sales fell well below analysts' estimates by more than 10%, while comparable store sales dropped 17.3%. Additionally, the company cut its fiscal year outlook, and announced CFO Jay Stasz has resigned to pursue another opportunity. However, the retailer also forecast total sales of up to $460 million for the second quarter, predicting its net income per share to range between 32 and 35 cents.
The security yesterday surged to its highest level since November, settling above the 180-day moving average for the first time since August and staging quite the bounce from its March 14, two-year low of $37.67. OLLI is up 3.7% to trade at $55.35 at last check, down 38.6% year-over-year.
Today's pop also comes on the heels of a slew of bull notes. The security earned two upgrades this morning, with one coming from Craigh-Hallum "buy" from "hold," while RBC upgraded to "outperform" from "sector perform." Six analysts raised their price targets as well, including Piper Sandler to $68 from $62, while Jefferies cut its price objective to $68.
Meanwhile, short sellers are hitting the exits. Short interest fell 14.7% in the last two reporting periods, though the 7.9 million shares sold short still make up 13.5% of the stock's available float, which is roughly one week's worth of pent-up buying power.
The options pits lean overwhelmingly bullish. Over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), Ollie's Bargain Outlet stock's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 1.45 ranks higher than 93% of readings from the past year. This means long calls have been picked up at a quicker-than-usual pace in the last 10 weeks.