Post-Earnings Bear Notes Hit SWIR, NTAP Stocks

Both stocks are pacing for sharp losses today

Wall Street is punishing shares of Sierra Wireless, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWIR) and NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP) before the open, with the stocks set to open down 22% and 8.4%, respectively. Let's dig into the earnings results and sentiment data on SWIR and NTAP below.

Sierra Wireless missed on both earnings per share and revenue for the fourth quarter, and also delivered a tepid full-year outlook. At least six bear notes have come in after the results, with Macquarie downgrading its rating on the communications specialist to "underperform" from "neutral."

SWIR stock is ready to open at a nearly three-year low, moving lower after recently running into its 80-day moving average. The shares had been struggling since their 52-week high of $22.58 from September.

Turning right to NTAP, it's seen at least five bearish brokerage notes come through. William Blair and J.P. Morgan Securities both downgraded the equity to the equivalent of a "hold," and the latter firm cut its price target to $75 from $80, though it added that it still believes NetApp is undervalued despite momentarily being stuck in the "penalty box."

As for earnings, the company's quarterly revenue came in weak, as did its current-quarter sales outlook. This underperformance may have been what recent options traders were betting on, as data from the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) shows a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.65, ranking in the 82nd annual percentile, showing a stronger-than-usual demand for long puts over calls.

NTAP stock also just ran into its 80-day moving average, and is moving further away from its annual high of $88.08 from early September. Another loss today would mark a third straight post-earnings loss for NetApp.