Pliant Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PLRX) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Pliant Therapeutics

Pliant Therapeutics Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases. Its primary product candidate is bexotegrast (PLN-74809), an oral, small molecule, that the company is developing for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

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PLRX

Phase 2a trial results of Pliant Therapeutics&#39; bexotegrast (PLN-74809) for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Reduced lung collagen, improved FVC, and cough severity, signaling potential fibrosis reversal.

Pliant Therapeutics&#39; Drug Trial Shows Promise In Reversing Lung Fibrosis In Patients

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These Analysts Revise Their Forecasts On Pliant Therapeutics Following Q1 Earnings

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Shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: APD) fell sharply during Monday’s session after the company reported worse-than-expected first-quarter financial results and lowered FY24 adjusted EPS guidance below estimates.

Why Air Products and Chemicals Shares Are Trading Lower By Around 15%? Here Are Other Stocks Moving In Monday&#39;s Mid-Day Session

Pliant Therapeutics Inc

BTIG analyst Gregory Lewis initiates coverage on Blue Bird (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLBD#NASDAQ">BLBD</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $55.

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

BLBD

BTIG Initiates Coverage On Blue Bird with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $55

Editor&#8217;s note: The headline of this story has been updated to remove a misspelled reference to JMP Securities.
Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RJF#NYSE">RJF</a>) shares are trading higher Wednesday. Analysts from JMP Securities upgraded the stock from Market Perform to Market Outperform and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41251950/this-home-depot-analyst-turns-bullish-here-are-top-5-upgrades-for-wednesday">announced a $146 price target</a>.
The Details:
JMP Securities noted that Raymond James has significantly increased its Investment Banking presence with its number of senior bankers up 37% from 2019 levels. JMP sees the Investment Banking segment supporting steady revenue growth driven by increased conviction from investors in an economic recovery. 
JMP also sees a "good probability" of Raymond James executing on additional merger and acquisition opportunities which are not yet baked into expectations.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/24/10/41234302/whats-going-on-with-sofi-stock">What&#8217;s Going On With SoFi Stock?</a>
Raymond James is set to report its fourth-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Oct. 23. According to estimates from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, analysts expect the company to report earnings of $2.41 per share and quarterly revenue of $3.312 billion.&nbsp;Raymond James shares are trading above the stock&#8217;s 50-day moving average of $117.78 and are approaching the stock's 52-week high of $131.19, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">RJF Stock Prediction 2024: </h3>
Equity research can be a valuable source of information for learning about a company's fundamentals. Analysts create financial models based on the fundamentals and expected future earnings of a company to arrive at a price target and recommendation for the stock.
Shares of Raymond James Financial have an average 1-year price target of $134, representing an expected upside of 4.56%.
Because of differences in assumptions, analysts can arrive at very different price targets and recommendations. No analysts have bearish recommendations on Raymond James, while 3 analysts have bullish ratings. The street high price target from JMP Securities is $146, while the street low from Goldman Sachs is $125.
RJF Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Raymond James Financial shares are up 2.68% at $128.25 at the time of publication Wednesday.
Read Also:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/10/41217379/google-must-open-play-store-to-competitors-judge-orders">Google Must Open Play Store To Competitors, Judge Orders</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Fintech news covering the emerging Financial Technology services sector

Fintech

Raymond James Analyst Turns Bullish, Investment Banking To Drive Revenue Growth (CORRECTED)

SKYX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKYX#NASDAQ">SKYX</a>) (d/b/a "SKYX Technologies"), a highly disruptive smart platform technology company with over 97 issued and pending patents in the U.S. and globally, and which owns over 60 lighting and home décor websites with a mission to make homes and buildings become smart, safe, and advanced as the new standard, provides today a corporate update including significant insider buying. &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>SKYX Secures $11 million equity preferred stock investment representing $2.00 per share of common stock with NO warrants, led by global Marriott Hotel chain developer/owner of over 60 hotels.</li>
<li>Significant insider investing in this equity preferred round at $2.00 includes SKYX's President Steve Schmidt, who invested $500,000, Co-CEO Lenny Sokolow, who invested $250,000, and Co-CEO John Campi, who also invested $250,000</li>
<li>Management emphasizes that it has sufficient cash to achieve its goals including being cash flow positive in 2025</li>
<li>2023 Sales of $58 million / 2024 Q-2 Record Sales of $21.4 million</li>
<li>Company's total addressable market (TAM) in the U.S. of $500 billion with over 4.2 billion ceiling applications in the U.S. alone</li>
<li>Expected revenue streams from retail and professional segments include product sales, royalties/licensing/subscription/monitoring/sale of global country rights</li>
</ul>

Guidance

SKYX

SKYX Technologies Provides Corporate Update Highlighting $11M Preferred Stock Investment; Including $500K From President Steve Schmidt; Expects To Be Cash Flow Positive In 2025; Q2 2024 Sales Of $21.4M; Pursues Additional Strategic Collaborations To Enhance Growth Opportunities

Scotiabank analyst Robert Hope maintains Pembina Pipeline (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPL#TSX">PPL</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from C$57 to C$64.

TSX:PPL

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on Pembina Pipeline, Raises Price Target to C$64

Truist Securities analyst Jamie Cook maintains Oshkosh (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OSK#NYSE">OSK</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $126 to $114.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Oshkosh, Lowers Price Target to $114

Scotiabank analyst Robert Hope maintains Keyera (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#TSX">KEY</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from C$42 to C$48.

TSX:KEY

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on Keyera, Raises Price Target to C$48

Small Cap Consumer Research analyst Eric Beder reiterates Jakks Pacific (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JAKK#NASDAQ">JAKK</a>) with a Buy and maintains $30 price target.

Reiteration

JAKK

Small Cap Consumer Research Reiterates Buy on Jakks Pacific, Maintains $30 Price Target

Truist Securities analyst Jamie Cook maintains AGCO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGCO#NYSE">AGCO</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $118 to $127.

AGCO

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on AGCO, Raises Price Target to $127

Scotiabank analyst Robert Hope maintains Enbridge (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENB#TSX">ENB</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from C$54 to C$57.

TSX:ENB

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on Enbridge, Raises Price Target to C$57

Insurance, regional banks, fitness centers, utilities, hospitals and theme parks are among the sectors that could be negatively impacted when Hurricane Milton hits Florida Wednesday night or <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41231817/hurricane-milton-dire-warning-if-you-choose-to-stay-youre-going-to-die-officials-encourage-writing-n">early </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41209505/hurricane-milton-is-floridas-second-storm-in-two-weeks-how-disney-theme-parks-insurance-companie">Thursday </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41231817/hurricane-milton-dire-warning-if-you-choose-to-stay-youre-going-to-die-officials-encourage-writing-n">morning.</a>
Here's a look at some of the sectors and stocks that investors should be watching with Hurricane Milton on the way.
Hurricane Milton Update: According <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/map-hurricane-milton-path-forecast-status-track-rcna174203">to </a>NBC News, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/hurricane-milton">Hurricane Milton was downgraded </a>to a Category 4 storm on Wednesday morning. The hurricane is expected to make landfall Wednesday night and could hit some of Florida&#8217;s most populous areas, including the Tampa Bay area.
Evacuation orders are in place for multiple Florida counties with government officials warning that failure to follow the orders could lead to casualties.
With evacuations taking place, Florida service stations are running out of gas, and there are concerns about charging electric vehicles on evacuation routes.
The constant changes in the storm's path could have a major effect on the damage and potential casualties. A landfall in the Tampa Bay area is seen as the worst-case scenario for the hurricane, as reported by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/hurricane-milton-florida-10-09-24/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41239644/hurricane-milton-evacuations-a-matter-of-life-and-death-biden-says-feds-bostic-says-storm-could-">Hurricane Milton Evacuations &#8216;A Matter Of Life And Death,&#8217; Biden Says: Fed&#8217;s Bostic Says Storm Could Have Significant Economic Impact Over Next 6 Months</a>
Regional Banks: DA Davidson analyst Gary Tenner looked at the regional banks that could be most impacted by Hurricane Milton in a new investor note.
"Based on experience, we would expect the banks in the market to be impacted in multiple ways in the post-hurricane period, including a potential deposit boost related to insurance settlements, elevated near term expenses and provision, with lending opportunities related to rebuilding efforts,&#8221; Tenner said.
The analyst said banks in the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas could see near-term increased expenses but could see "positive offsets over the longer term."
Based on market share in the region, Tenner highlights the following regional banks:
<ul>
<li>Regions Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RF#NYSE">RF</a>): Buy rating</li>
<li>Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FITB#NASDAQ">FITB</a>): Neutral rating</li>
<li>Synovus Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>): Buy rating</li>
<li>SouthState Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSB#NYSE">SSB</a>): Buy rating</li>
<li>Cadence Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CADE#NYSE">CADE</a>): Buy rating</li>
<li>Hancock Whitney Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HWC#NASDAQ">HWC</a>): Buy rating</li>
</ul>
Hospitals Impact: Hospital operators in the Florida region could be negatively impacted by Hurricane Milton and face IV shortages, RBC analyst Ben Hendrix said in a new investor note.
"Hospital operators traded slightly lower on Thursday, which we believe reflects at least in part weather-related concerns as Hurricane Milton moves toward Florida's west coast," Hendrix said.
The analyst said hospitals could see "some disruptions to facilities" in the coming days.
RBC highlights the following hospitals in the report:
<ul>
<li>Community Health Systems (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYH#NYSE">CYH</a>): Outperform rating</li>
<li>HCA Healthcare (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HCA#NYSE">HCA</a>): Outperform rating</li>
<li>Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/THC#NYSE">THC</a>): Outperform rating</li>
<li>Universal Health Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UHS#NYSE">UHS</a>): Sector Perform rating</li>
</ul>
"We believe HCA may be spared the worst of the storm damage with most of its hospital concentration in Central Florida located in the Tampa Bay area, which is north of the expected Sarasota landfall," Hendrix said.
Utilities Impact: Hurricane Milton could have a negative impact on utility stocks, Scotiabank analyst Andrew Weisel warned investors in a new note.
"While we remain bullish on U.S. utility fundamentals and valuations, we're growing somewhat cautious about investor sentiment, which had finally started to turn positive after years of negativity or indifference," Weisel said.
The analyst said they generally caution against trading around storms like Hurricane Milton.
"Rising hurricane activity is no doubt worrisome."
Weisel said the utility sector has several catalysts like rate cuts and the 2024 election, aside from the hurricane impact.
Top utility picks from Weisel are CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMS#NYSE">CMS</a>), WEC Energy Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WEC#NYSE">WEC</a>) and DTE Energy Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DTE#NYSE">DTE</a>). After these three top picks, the analyst highlights Southern Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>), NextEra Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>), Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNT#NASDAQ">LNT</a>) and American Electric Power Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) as other favorable utility names. 
Weisel also said he would buy Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>) because of its weakness ahead of Hurricane Milton.
"While outages often lead to lost revenues, slightly weighing on near-term earnings, the impacts are generally very modest," Weisel said.
Another major utility that could be impacted by Hurricane Milton is Tampa Electric, owned by Emera Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMRAF#OTC">EMRAF</a>). Serving the Tampa Bay area, Tampa Electric is particularly vulnerable to the storm&#8217;s effects.
Insurance Stocks: The insurance sector is one of the sectors most on watch for the damaging impact and cleanup aftermath from Hurricane Milton.
Insurance stocks like Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), Allstate (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALL#NYSE">ALL</a>), Progressive (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>), Travelers Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) and Chubb (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>) are among the large insurers that could be impacted.
RBC analyst Derald Goh, who covers European insurance stocks, shared a note on the potential damage from the hurricane.
"A potential $60bn industry loss from Hurricane Milton appears very manageable for a sector that is keen to demonstrate stronger earnings resiliency and should drive a re-rating," Goh said.
The $60 billion estimate comes as Hurricane Milton is expected to cause destruction similar to that caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Based on the estimated damage from that storm, the analyst considers this estimate the most reliable method for predicting the impact on insurance companies.
Goh said five hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S. this season, and the previous average forecast was 12.
Leisure Sector: Hurricane Milton could also impact theme parks, with the state of Florida home to Disney World, owned by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), and Universal Studios Orlando, owned by Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>).
Disney announced it is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41245886/disney-world-closes-early-as-hurricane-milton-approaches-florida-parks-brace-for-impact">closing Disney World parks early </a>on Wednesday and transportation services could remain limited, with a plan to re-open on Thursday. The storm may have scared away a large amount of tourists. Goldman Sachs recently said Disney could see a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/10/41229099/disney-faces-150m-200m-blow-from-hurricane-milton-attendance-set-to-drop-6-says-goldman-sac"> $150 million to $200 million</a> negative impact from Hurricane Milton.
Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander sees Hurricane Milton having a negative impact on fitness centers Planet Fitness (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLNT#NYSE">PLNT</a>) and Life Time Group Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LTH#NYSE">LTH</a>) and indoor golf facility company Topgolf Callaway Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MODG#NYSE">MODG</a>).
"Overall, PLNT appears to be the most exposed across our coverage particularly given the concentration of corporate locations in the state," Alexander said.
The analyst, who has an Overweight rating and a $84 price target on Planet Fitness, said Florida represents around 25% of corporate-owned locations. Store closures could negatively impact new membership additions, but Alexander added that the monthly membership fee revenue model could insulate the company from a negative impact.
The analyst sees Life Time Group, rated Equal Weight with a $21 price target, having a minimal impact with only five locations in Florida, which is less than 3% of total locations.
Alexander said Topgolf has nine locations in Florida, with five currently closed due to Hurricane Milton. The analyst, who has an Underweight rating and a $10 price target on the stock, said Topgolf will likely see a minimal impact unless locations have severe storm damage and have to be closed for an extended time period.  
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41231817/hurricane-milton-dire-warning-if-you-choose-to-stay-youre-going-to-die-officials-encourage-writing-n">Hurricane Milton Dire Warning: &#8216;If You Choose To Stay &#8230; You&#8217;re Going To Die,&#8217; Officials Encourage Writing Name On Arm In Permanent Marker For ID</a></li>
</ul>
Image of Hurricane Milton courtesy of NASA.

Equities

Insurance

CADE

CMCSA

EMRAF

FITB

MODG

PLNT

Hurricane Milton Descends On Florida: Analysts Warn Of Impact On Disney, NextEra's Florida Power & Light, Regional Banks

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Deepak Mathivanan reiterates Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) with a Neutral and maintains $190 price target.

GOOG

GOOGL

Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Neutral on Alphabet, Maintains $190 Price Target

Truist Securities analyst Jamie Cook maintains Cummins (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $349 to $371.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Cummins, Raises Price Target to $371

<a href="https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/orders-and-deliveries" title="https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/orders-and-deliveries">https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/orders-and-deliveries</a>

European Aeronautic Defence And Space Unsponsored

EADSY

Airbus Reports 50 Deliveries And 235 Gross Orders In September; 2024 Deliveries To Date Total 497; 667 Gross Aircraft Orders And 648 Net Orders Booked From January To September; 36 A350 Aircraft Delivered In Same Period

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Deepak Mathivanan maintains Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $660 to $670.

Cantor Fitzgerald Maintains Overweight on Meta Platforms, Raises Price Target to $670

New Custom Part Manufacturing Service (CPMS) and Device Attestation Certificates (DAC) Injection Streamline Security Implementation for Matter-Certified IoT Devices
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Silicon Labs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLAB#NASDAQ">SLAB</a>), a leader in secure, intelligent wireless technology, in partnership with Kudelski IoT, a division of the Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S) and a global leader in digital security and IoT solutions,&nbsp;today announced a new solution to accelerate the time to market for Matter-certified IoT devices. The collaboration integrates Kudelski IoT's <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4273881-1&amp;h=3929952266&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.silabs.com%2Fservices%2Fcustom-part-manufacturing-service%3Ftab%3Decosystem%3Fsource%3DPublic-Relations%26detail%3DPress-Release%26cid%3Dpub-prr-sec-100924&amp;a=Matter+Device+Attestation+Certificates+(DAC)">Matter Device Attestation Certificates (DAC)</a> into Silicon Labs' <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4273881-1&amp;h=1716420303&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.silabs.com%2Fservices%2Fcustom-part-manufacturing-service%3Fsource%3DPublic-Relations%26detail%3DPress-Release%26cid%3Dpub-prr-sec-100924&amp;a=Custom+Part+Manufacturing+Service+(CPMS)">Custom Part Manufacturing Service (CPMS)</a>, enabling device makers to build Zero Trust security from the foundry to customers' doorsteps, which ultimately saves time and costs.

SLAB

Silicon Labs And Kudelski IoT Partner To Accelerate Matter Device Certification, A New Solution To Accelerate The Time To Market For Matter-Certified IoT Devices

Truist Securities analyst Jamie Cook maintains United Rentals (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/URI#NYSE">URI</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $873 to $954.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on United Rentals, Raises Price Target to $954

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Bank of America. Our analysis of options history for Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) revealed 18 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 61% of traders were bullish, while 38% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 10 were puts, with a value of $1,197,725, and 8 were calls, valued at $720,173.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $35.0 to $50.0 for Bank of America over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Bank of America options trades today is 9784.67 with a total volume of 14,763.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Bank of America's big money trades within a strike price range of $35.0 to $50.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Bank of America Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1728488758_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>$0.78</td>
<td>$0.79</td>
<td>$40.50</td>
<td>$397.7K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$255.1K</td>
<td>625</td>
<td>567</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$10.55</td>
<td>$10.45</td>
<td>$10.45</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$222.5K</td>
<td>181</td>
<td>275</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.02</td>
<td>$1.99</td>
<td>$1.99</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$199.0K</td>
<td>10.2K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$1.33</td>
<td>$1.3</td>
<td>$1.33</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$99.7K</td>
<td>41.0K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Bank of America</h3>
Bank of America is one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, with more than $3.0 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments: consumer banking, global wealth and investment management, global banking, and global markets. Bank of America's consumer-facing lines of business include its network of branches and deposit-gathering operations, retail lending products, credit and debit cards, and small-business services. The company's Merrill Lynch operations provide brokerage and wealth-management services, as does its private bank. Wholesale lines of business include investment banking, corporate and commercial real estate lending, and capital markets operations. Bank of America has operations in several countries but is primarily US-focused.
In light of the recent options history for Bank of America, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Bank of America Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 7,217,172, the BAC's price is up by 0.76%, now at $40.23. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 6 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Bank of America</h3>
In the last month, 3 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $47.333333333333336.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Oppenheimer has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Bank of America, which currently sits at a price target of $49. 
&#x2A; An analyst from RBC Capital has revised its rating downward to Outperform, adjusting the price target to $46. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Bank of America, which currently sits at a price target of $47. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Bank of America, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

What the Options Market Tells Us About Bank of America

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MELI, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 12 uncommon options trades for MercadoLibre.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 66% bullish and 25%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $55,700, and 10 are calls, for a total amount of $904,280.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $1770.0 to $2200.0 for MercadoLibre over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for MercadoLibre's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across MercadoLibre's significant trades, within a strike price range of $1770.0 to $2200.0, over the past month.
<h3>MercadoLibre Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1728488753_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MELI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$236.9</td>
<td>$229.6</td>
<td>$236.9</td>
<td>$2000.00</td>
<td>$236.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">51</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MELI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$237.1</td>
<td>$231.6</td>
<td>$231.6</td>
<td>$2000.00</td>
<td>$231.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">51</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MELI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$14.0</td>
<td>$11.1</td>
<td>$14.0</td>
<td>$2050.00</td>
<td>$140.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">458</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MELI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$10.6</td>
<td>$8.6</td>
<td>$10.6</td>
<td>$2050.00</td>
<td>$102.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">458</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">129</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MELI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$21.8</td>
<td>$16.8</td>
<td>$19.9</td>
<td>$2120.00</td>
<td>$39.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">52</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About MercadoLibre</h3>
MercadoLibre runs the largest e-commerce marketplace in Latin America, with more than 218 million active users and 1 million active sellers across 18 countries stitching into its commerce network or fintech solutions as of the end of 2023. The company operates a host of complementary businesses to its core online shop, with shipping solutions (Mercado Envios), a payment and financing operation (Mercado Pago and Mercado Credito), advertisements (Mercado Clics), classifieds, and a turnkey e-commerce solution (Mercado Shops) rounding out its arsenal. MercadoLibre generates revenue from final value fees, advertising royalties, payment processing, insertion fees, subscription fees, and interest income from consumer and small-business lending.
<h3>Current Position of MercadoLibre</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 90,379, the price of MELI is up by 0.76%, reaching $2029.48.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 21 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on MercadoLibre</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $2456.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on MercadoLibre, which currently sits at a price target of $2500. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Raymond James downgraded its rating to Outperform, setting a price target of $2350. 
&#x2A; An analyst from JP Morgan downgraded its action to Neutral with a price target of $2400. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Overweight rating for MercadoLibre, targeting a price of $2500. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded its action to Overweight with a price target of $2530. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for MercadoLibre with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

MELI

What the Options Market Tells Us About MercadoLibre

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards AbbVie (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ABBV usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 8 extraordinary options activities for AbbVie. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 50% leaning bullish and 50% bearish. Among these notable options, 2 are puts, totaling $109,500, and 6 are calls, amounting to $402,314.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $150.0 to $195.0 for AbbVie over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in AbbVie's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to AbbVie's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $150.0 to $195.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>AbbVie Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1728488748_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$14.95</td>
<td>$14.65</td>
<td>$14.65</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$99.6K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">69</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$12.85</td>
<td>$12.05</td>
<td>$12.61</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$87.0K</td>
<td>76</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">69</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$28.2</td>
<td>$27.9</td>
<td>$27.9</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$80.9K</td>
<td>408</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$11.45</td>
<td>$10.1</td>
<td>$11.45</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$68.7K</td>
<td>598</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.65</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$195.00</td>
<td>$63.8K</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">200</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About AbbVie</h3>
AbbVie is a pharmaceutical firm with a strong exposure to immunology (with Humira, Skyrizi, and Rinvoq) and oncology (with Imbruvica and Venclexta). The company was spun off from Abbott in early 2013. The 2020 acquisition of Allergan added several new products and drugs in aesthetics (including Botox).
Having examined the options trading patterns of AbbVie, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Where Is AbbVie Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 729,519, with ABBV's price up by 0.12%, positioned at $193.25.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 21 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for AbbVie</h3>
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $218.5.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from TD Cowen keeps a Buy rating on AbbVie with a target price of $225. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Overweight rating for AbbVie, targeting a price of $212. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for AbbVie, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

ABBV

AbbVie's Options: A Look at What the Big Money is Thinking

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ZETA

Canaccord Genuity Maintains Buy on Zeta Global Holdings, Raises Price Target to $35

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AMRX

ARQT

STAA

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Pliant Therapeutics

Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) Forecast

Pliant Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PLRX) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas