>>> US Gapping up

Gapping up
In reaction to strong earnings/guidance
:

  • OKTA +14.9%, FIVE +11.2%, MRVL +9.7%, MCFT +9%, PANW +6.6%, FNSR +5.5%
  • AVGO +5.1% (also upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill)
  • PSDO +5.1% (also announces negotiated share repurchase and quarterly dividend)
  • NX +4.6% (also doubles quarterly dividend to $0.08/sh; authorizes a $60 mln share repurchase plan), DOMO +2.2%, GCO +1.1%
  • COST +0.8% (reports Aug comps of +9.2%, core +8% vs +7.3%/core +2% year ago and +8.3%/core +6.4% last month), FAST +0.5% (light volume)

Cybersecurity names are higher following Palo Alto Networks (PANW) earnings:

  • HACK +1.2%, CYBR +1%, FTNT +0.6%, FEYE +0.5%, .

Semiconductor names are modestly rebounding in early trade (ETFs SMH +0.4%, SOXX +0.1%):

  • MU +1.2% (closed nearly 10% lower on the day Thursday), NXPI +0.8%, CY +0.6%, SWKS +0.2%

Other news:

  • ZEAL +11.6% (ticking higher; sells royalty streams and milestones for USD 205 million to Royalty Pharma)
  • PRQR +5.9% (prices underwritten public offering of 5.75 mln ordinary shares at $15.75 per share)
  • NUE +2.7% (approved the repurchase of up to $2 bln of common stock)
  • MAT +2.6% (announces creation of Mattel Films, a new theatrical film division)
  • DRNA +2.5% (prices underwritten registered public offering of 7,680,492 shares of its common stock at $13.02 per share)
  • CGC +2% (ongoing volatility; Cramer suggested buying the pullback on Thursday's Mad Money)
  • CPB +1.6% (WSJ reporting that Third Point may launch proxy battle to overthrow board)
  • AAOI +0.5% (following FNSR results)
  • DK +0.4% (expects to complete $100 mln repurchase plan in Q3)

Analyst comments:

  • OCUL +4.6% (initiated with Overweight at Piper Jaffray)
  • ARWR +3.2% (upgraded to Buy at B. Riley FBR)
  • MNLO +2.9% (initiated with Overweight rating and $25 price target at Cantor)
  • ZGNX +1.4% (initiated with a Buy at B. Riley FBR)
  • TRTN +0.9% (coverage transferred and upgraded to Outperform from Mkt Perform at Keefe Bruyette)
  • BIDU +0.3% (initiated with Positive rating and $325 tgt at Susquehanna),