Vipshop Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:VIPS)

Key Points

• Vipshop Holdings Limited experienced a significant increase in options trading, with 3,341 put options purchased, marking a 196% rise compared to its average daily volume.
• Analysts have given mixed ratings for Vipshop, with Zacks Research downgrading it to a "hold" and others, like Wall Street Zen, upgrading it to a "buy".
• The company's stock price recently traded at $18.71, down 0.4%, with a 12-month high of $18.91 and a market capitalization of $9.59 billion.

Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE:VIPS - Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Friday. Stock investors purchased 3,341 put options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 196% compared to the average daily volume of 1,128 put options.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on VIPS. Zacks Research downgraded Vipshop from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Vipshop from $20.00 to $18.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 30th. Wall Street Zen raised Vipshop from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, September 13th. Citigroup raised their price objective on Vipshop from $17.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price objective on Vipshop from $17.80 to $17.30 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 18th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $18.33.

Vipshop Trading Down 0.4%

Vipshop stock traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $18.71. The company had a trading volume of 826,789 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,387,360. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $16.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.32. Vipshop has a 12 month low of $12.14 and a 12 month high of $18.91. The company has a market capitalization of $9.59 billion, a PE ratio of 10.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.70.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vipshop

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vipshop in the first quarter worth $35,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Vipshop by 209.2% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 2,551 shares of the technology company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 1,726 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group raised its stake in shares of Vipshop by 1,695.2% in the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 2,621 shares of the technology company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 2,475 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Vipshop by 1,187.1% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,282 shares of the technology company's stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 3,027 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of Vipshop by 53.8% in the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 3,323 shares of the technology company's stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 1,163 shares during the last quarter. 48.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Vipshop

Vipshop Holdings Limited operates online platforms in the People's Republic of China. It operates in Vip.com, Shan Shan Outlets, and Others segments. The company offers womenswear, menswear, sportswear and sporting goods, shoes and bags, accessories, baby and children products, skincare and cosmetics, home goods and other lifestyle products, and supermarket products.

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