Dunkin' Stock Upgraded Despite Sector Struggle

BTIG raised DNKN from "neutral" to "buy"

In an effort to protect its customers from the ongoing spread of COVID-19, Dunkin' Brands Group Inc (NASDAQ:DNKN) restaurants have began limiting their service to drive-thru, carry-out, and delivery only. Though U.S. restaurant stocks are falling between 5% and 30% on the broad-market coronavirus scare, DNKN was raised to "buy" from "neutral" at BTIG this morning. At last check, Dunkin's stock is down 0.3% to trade at $47.81.

Early last month DNKN succumbed to overhead pressure at its 30-day moving average, of which yesterday culminated in a nearly four-year low of $43.76. The consensus 12-month price target is $77.84, a 65% premium to current levels. Analysts are coming into today with 13 "holds" and five "strong buys."

Though the general volume has been low in the options pits, puts are more popular. At the International Securites Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), 1.35 puts have been bought for every call in the past 10 days. This ratio sits in the 96th percentile of its annual range, suggesting puts do not often outweigh calls to this level.

DNKN's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 1% stands higher than 96% of all other readings from the past year, implying that near-term options traders are pricing in relatively high volatily expectations. However, Dunkin's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits at a low 13, showing that DNKN's stock has tended to fall beneath traders' volatility expectations during the past year.