Tiffany Stock Drops as Takeover Talks Dissipate

LVMH was to acquire Tiffany & Co in a billion-dollar deal

The shares of Tiffany & Co (NYSE:TIF) are down 1.1% at $115.73, after reports that the $16.2 billion takeover of the jewelry brand by French luxury group Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH), is looking less certain. LVMH's board is concerned about a deteriorating situation in the U.S. market as well as Tiffany & Co's debt. However, Credit Suisse noted that it would be short-sighted for LVMH to avoid the deal, and would make its dealings less credible in the future. Looking ahead, the jewelry name is scheduled to report earnings a week from today on Wednesday, June 10, before the open.

Trading sideways since late March above $125 region, yesterday's drop of around 9% put TIF back below the $120 mark for the first time since mid-March. From a wider perspective, the equity is down 12.9% year-to-date.

Analysts are hesitant in the options pits, with all fifteen in coverage sporting a tepid "hold" rating. Meanwhile, short interest has fallen 10.5% in the last two reporting periods, now making up 10.44 million shares. This accounts for 8.7% of the stock's total available float and would take a little over three days for shorts to cover, at TIF's average pace of trading.