Analyst: This Biopharma Stock's Potential is "Underappreciated"

DERM has already added 80% since January

Dermatological biopharma Dermira Inc (NASDAQ:DERM) is up 2.6% at $13.33 in early trading, after receiving multiple bull notes in response to its "Life Unfolds" campaign, which shines a light on its excessive underarm sweat treatment, the Qbrexa cloth. Ahead of today's bull notes, however, DERM was already enjoying the positive impact of a March 18 announcement that revealed plans of a public common stock offering, and successful results of a mid-stage drug study. As of Friday's close, the security had added 80%year-to-date.

Narrowing in on today's notes, Cantor Fitzgerald backed its $20 price target and "overweight" rating on DERM, noting the campaign's potential to drive further uptake of Qbrexa, and that they believe its peak sales potential is "underappreciated." Needham, also positive, hiked its price target to $22 from $16. This optimistic consensus is far from a rarity for the biopharma, with 83% of covering analysts sporting a "strong buy" recommendation.

On the flip side, options traders have not been as gung-ho toward the equity. Data from the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) shows DERM with a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.06, ranking in the 88th annual percentile. In other terms, this mean puts have been purchased over calls at a faster-than-usual clip of late.

Regardless, now seems to be an affordable time for near-term traders to jump on Dermira stock with options. The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 65% ranks in the low 8th percentile of its annual range, indicating low volatility expectations are being priced into short-term contracts.