Manufacturing Stock Crushed By Short Seller Report

Comtech Telecommunications and Boeing are both making moves upward

Positive comments from President Donald Trump on a U.S.-China trade deal helped push stocks higher midday. Three stocks in particular making moves are Dow component Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), communications equipment name Comtech Telecomm. Corp. (NASDAQ:CMTL), and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specialist Smart Global Holdings (NASDAQ:SGH). Below, we'll take a look at what's driving BA, CMTL, and SGH.

CMTL Stock Hits New Yearly Highs on Earnings Beat

Comtech Telecommunications just announced fourth-quarter profit of 25 cents per share, and revenue of $176.37 million -- both of which beat analysts' estimates. The equity touched a yearly high of $34.66 earlier today, and is now up 14.6% at $34.17.

In response, Noble Capital lifted its price target to $40 from $38. The stock's consensus 12-month price target is now just above CMTL's current perch, at $35.25. However, this is from only three covering analysts, so it's possible today's earnings rally could attract more bullish analysts.

Short Report Sinks Smart Global Stock

The shares of SGH are down 10.4% at $28.02 on a new note from Wolfpack Research saying it is shorting the stock. The analyst said the company has a "ridiculous valuation," while adding that a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling against Brazil eliminates the "only advantage" the company had. Now, the equity is trading back near its August levels, testing support at the 320-day moving average.

This note landed SGH on the short-sale restricted (SSR) list, and in response options bears from coming in hot. The typically light options pits have seen 1,059 puts cross the tape today -- 18 times the intraday average -- compared to only 209 calls. Some buying action could be happening at the October 25 put, where new positions are being opened.

Boeing Stock Touches Highest Point in Months

It was just announced thatBoeing will be expected to testify at an upcoming U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing regarding flight safety. The announcement came right on the heels of the unveiling of the aeronautics's company's newly created safety committee -- a response to last spring's fatal 737 Max crashes. What's more, Reuters reported that the company settled its first Lion Air lawsuits for roughly $1.2 million each. The equity is 1.3% higher at $386.81 in response, conquering the $390 level earlier today for the first time since its early April bear gap.

This upwards trajectory could have some options bulls cheering, especially considering that 2.31 calls have been bought for every put on the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) during the last 10 days. What's more, this ratio sits higher than 98% of all other readings from the past year, suggesting this heavy preference for calls over puts is unusual.