Yesterday we took a close look at the top small-cap stocks to own in October, and on that list was airline concern SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:SKYW). This is part of a larger phenomenon, too, since two large-cap airline stocks are among the best S&P 500 Index (SPX) stocks to own during the month. Let's take a closer look at SKYW shares as they approach a very bullish time of year. Flat out, the equity...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on specialty retailer Conn's Inc (NASDAQ:CONN), computer graphics company Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), and homebuilder KB Home (NYSE:KBH). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on shares of CONN, NVDA, and KBH. "Undervalued" CONN Gets an Upgrade from OppenheimerOppenheimer upgraded CONN to "outperform" from "perform" before the bell, with analyst B...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on biotech stocks PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTCT) and Prothena Corporation (NASDAQ:PRTA), as well as oil-and-gas stock Weatherford International(NYSE:WFT). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of PTCT, PRTA, and WFT.PTC Therapeutics Stock Resumes Trading, Shrugs Off Price-Target CutEarlier in the week, PTC Therapeutics stock tanked a...Read More
The last day of the third quarter is shaping up to be a down one for U.S. stocks. Among specific stocks in focus today are e-commerce giant Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), biotech Zogenix, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGNX), and chicken specialist Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN). Here's a closer look at what's moving shares of AMZN, ZGNZ, and TSN. Amazon Stock Pointer Higher Despite Data BreachAmazon stock is u...Read More
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are pointed lower this morning, after the index posted its second straight win yesterday. Traders are still trying to find their footing after Fed Chair Janet Yellen's hawkish remarks and President Trump's tax plan earlier this week. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is also signaling a lower start, while the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) edges higher before the bell. Al...Read More
Whether you're buying or selling to open, there are a few different ways to enter an options trade. Today, we'll discuss two commons types of orders investors can place with their broker, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each.Market Orders and Limit OrdersOne such order traders can place with their broker is called a market order. Options players use market orders when they want to b...Read More
U.S. stock markets managed to shrug off a sluggish start and close mostly higher, as traders continued to parse through the Trump administration's tax plan. The Dow Jones Industrial (DJIA) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) both pushed higher -- with the latter index notching a record close -- though the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (COMP) trailed its index peers for most of the day. Outside of Washingt...Read More
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and energy stocks have enjoyed a solid September, a month that is typically cruel to stocks. Hurricanes Irma and Harvey created in higher oil prices in the wake of production delays. However, XOM's recent rally has it squaring off with a previous layer of technical resistance -- and with seasonal headwinds looming, it may be a good time to take a defensive stance...Read More
U.S. stocks are trading slightly higher this afternoon after a mixed bag of economic data was released. Three stocks trading higher today are blue-chip leader McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD), pharmaceutical concern AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV), and newly public streaming entertainment stock Roku Inc (NASDAQ:ROKU). Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of MCD, ABBV, and ROKU.MCD Gets Bullish A...Read More
Earlier we took at the 25 worst stocks to own in October, a list that includes Dow component Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO). We examine the tech stock below, taking a closer look at recent options activity on CSCO. Cisco is Staring Up at Potential Options-Related ResistanceCSCO sports a year-to-date lead of 10.4%, last seen trading at $33.37. However, the shares were recently rejected near the...Read More
Small-cap stocks have been on a tear recently, as evidenced by the recent record highs in the Russell 2000 Index (RUT). The small-cap barometer on Tuesday rallied as high $142.85, and enjoyed its best session in six months. Against this backdrop, we decided to crunch the numbers to find some possible small-cap stock-buying opportunities in the short term. Below are the 25 best small-cap stocks in...Read More
Options trading has been extraordinarily heavy on artificial intelligence (AI) specialist NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) in recent weeks, with calls particularly popular as the chip stock carves out new highs. Here's a closer look at how options traders have been placing their bets on NVDA.The 20 stocks listed in the table below have attracted the highest total weekly options volume during the p...Read More
Even as the major stock indexes flirt with record highs, short sellers have been coming out of the woodwork lately. Short interest on S&P 500 Index (SPX) stocks has crept steadily higher for most of 2017, and now sits at the highest point since before the presidential election, after rising another 4.06% in the last reporting period. Among the stocks that could see short covering soon, according t...Read More
Subscribers to Schaeffer's Weekly Options Trader service recently scored a 130% profit from weekly 9/22 162.50-strike Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) calls. Below, we'll break down why we were bullish on NFLX and how the options trade unfolded. Netflix's stock chart was setting up nicely for a bullish move when we recommended the calls back on Aug. 30. Specifically, the shares were sporting a year-...Read More
U.S. stocks are trading mixed this afternoon, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq pulling back as traders digest President Trump's tax plan and the latest round of economic data. Two buildings stocks that have also pulled back recently are hardwood flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc (NYSE:LL) and concrete concern CEMEX (NYSE:CX). The stocks' retreats, however, could create compelling op...Read More
Federal Reserve officials will continue to make the rounds next week, with a Wednesday afternoon appearance by Fed Chair Janet Yellen at the top of the marquee. After Yellen's comments this week that the central bank "may have misjudged the strength of the labor market," all eyes will be on Friday's September jobs report. And, while third-quarter earnings season doesn't kick off until mid-October,...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is slightly higher at midday, turning positive after spending most of the morning in the red. McDonald's stock is leading the blue chips, thanks to positive analyst attention, overshadowing a pullback in tech stocks. Meanwhile, markets are digesting President Trump's tax plan and a mixed bag of economic data. The final gross domestic product (GDP) reading wa...Read More
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is pacing toward a rare September win -- and heading into the historically positive month of October. And while the airline sector features some of the best SPX stocks to own next month, oil-and-gas name Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) has been one of the worst stocks on the S&P over the past 10 years. With the energy stock trading near a potential resistance and s...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on home goods retailer Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE:PIR), medical device maker DexCom, Inc. (NASDAQ:DXCM), and travel site Trivago NV (NASDAQ:TRVG). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of PIR, DXCM, and TRVG.Pier 1 Imports Plunges After Cutting GuidancePier 1 Imports cut its full-year earnings and same-store sales estimates, overshadowing a...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on pharmaceutical products specialist Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), social media powerhouse Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), and tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on shares of ABT, FB, and PM. FDA Approval Sparks Bullish Notes for ABTBarclays raised its price target on ABT to $60 from $57, alongs...Read More