2 Stocks Getting Crushed by Bear Notes

Analysts are saying to drop these stocks

The U.S. stock market has muscled its way back near breakeven, thanks to a rebound in tech shares. Three names in particular traders should monitor today are drugmaker MacroGenics Inc (NASDAQ:MGNX), boat maker Marine Products Corp. (NYSE:MPX), and truck manufacturer Navistar International Corp (NYSE:NAV). Let's take a closer look at what's moving shares of MGNX, MPX, and NAV.

MGNX Stock Hits All-Time Low

MGNX stock has dropped 23.8% today to trade at $12.51, landing on the short-sale restricted (SSR) list, after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put a partial hold on the company's Phase 1 trial for MGD009. Raymond James responded to the news with a downgrade to "underperform" from "outperform." MacroGenics shares earlier hit an all-time low of $11.16, and have now lost almost 62% since their March high of $32.74.

Additional bear notes could come through and pressure the equity even more, since nine of the 10 brokerage firms in coverage have "buy" or "strong buy" ratings. What's more, the average 12-month price target stands all the way up at $31.73.

Downgrade Smashes MPX Stock

MPX stock is trading down 23% at $16.81, due to a downgrade to "sell" from "neutral" at B. Riley FBR, which also lowered its price target to $16 from $19. The shares have fallen below their 200-day moving average for the first time since April, set for their lowest close since June. At the same time, they still sport a 32.5% year-to-date lead.

Today's losses come to the delight of short sellers, with short interest surging almost 73% in the past two reporting periods. More than 6% of Marine Products' float is held by shorts, and it would take them almost two weeks to cover, based on the average daily trading volume. Of course, the shares are on the SSR list today.

Goldman Downgrade Exacerbates NAV Slide

NAV shares earlier hit a 52-week low of $25.69, last seen trading down 5.9% at $27, after a downgrade to "sell" at Goldman Sachs, which slashed its price target to $23 from $43 -- the lowest on Wall Street. The brokerage firm is predicting a downturn in domestic truck production by the end of 2019. Navistar International stock had already been sliding under the pressure of its 20-day moving average since early September, with its year-over-year deficit coming in at 32%. A number of analysts have remained bullish, though, indicated by the security's average 12-month price target of $43.18.