U.S. stock futures are pointing to a negative start, as traders weigh North Korea's latest missile strike against a fresh round of economic data. Among specific stocks in focus today are software firm Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), cancer treatment specialist Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRTX), and embattled credit reporting agency Equifax Inc. (NSYE:EFX). Here's a closer look at what's moving shares of ORCL, MRTX, and EFX.
Oracle shares are down 4.9% in electronic trading, after the tech firm forecast current-quarter adjusted profit below the consensus estimate and said its cloud growth will likely slow. Nevertheless, a fiscal first-quarter earnings beat sparked price-target hikes from no fewer than four brokerage firms, including Jefferies to $61 from $60.
This new ORCL price target represents expected upside of 15.6% to last night's close at $52.79, and sits in record-high territory. And despite today's pre-market downside, Oracle stock has been on a tear in 2017, up 37.3% -- and fresh off yesterday's record high of $53.14.
As such, the shares may be due for a short-term pullback. Oracle's 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) closed Thursday at 78 -- indicating the stock is overbought.
After closing last night at $4.75, Mirati Therapeutics stock is up 99% ahead of the bell, set to open the session at levels not seen since June 2016. Yesterday, the biotech gave a well-received update on its non-small cell lung cancer drug, sitravatinib, and Mirati Therapeutics is due to give preliminary data on two early stage trials of the treatment today at the IASLC 2017 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology.
Adding to the bullish buzz is Leerink's upwardly revised price target for MRTX to $9 from $7, though still below the average 12-month price target of $9.60. Today's projected price move could have shorts rushing to cover. More than 1.1 million MRTX shares are sold short, representing 9.4 times the stock's average daily pace of trading.
Equifax stock hit two-year low of $89.59 yesterday before closing at $96.66, bringing its week-to-date decline to 21.6%. Today, the shares are down 1.7% ahead of the bell, as more senators weigh in on the company's massive data breach.
While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it is "one of the most egregious examples of corporate malfeasance since Enron," Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting a probe into the company. Equifax is already being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
What's more, SunTrust Robinson slashed its price target on EFX stock to $110 from $155. Considering the average 12-month price target of $131.46 stands at a 39% premium to last night's close and 65% of analysts maintain a "buy" or better rating on the shares, more bearish brokerage notes could be on the horizon.