Many traders are eagerly awaiting today’s EIA numbers after yesterday’s API report showed that inventories fell by 7.5 million barrels, gasoline retreated by 2.5 million barrels, and distillates increased by around 407,000 barrels.
Among the securities traders are talking about today are Mast Therapeutics Inc (NYSEMKT:MSTX), Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS), Gray Television, Inc. (NYSE:GTN), SPS Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPSC), and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Let’s find out why each stock is trending and see what the smart money thinks of the five securities.
Through extensive research, we determined that imitating some of the picks of hedge funds and other institutional investors can help generate market-beating returns over the long run. The key is to focus on the small-cap picks of these investors, since they are usually less followed by the broader market and are less price-efficient. Our backtests that covered the period between 1999 and 2012, showed that following the 15 most popular small-caps among hedge funds can help a retail investor beat the market by an average of 95 basis points per month (see the details here).
Mast Therapeutics Inc (NYSEMKT:MSTX) shares are off by over 83% in extended market trading after the biotech reported disappointing top-line results from a phase 3 trial assessing the company’s investigational new drug vepoloxamer for the treatment of individuals with sickle cell disease experiencing vaso-occlusive crisis. According to the data, the study did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint demonstrating statistically significant reduction in the mean duration of vaso-occlusive crisis. Based on the data, Mast’s management expects that it will terminate all clinical development of vepoloxamer. It will continue its efforts with AIR001, the company’s lead asset, for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Not many funds held Mast Therapeutics Inc (NYSEMKT:MSTX) at the end of the second quarter. According to our database of 749 hedge funds which filed 13Fs for the June quarter, only six of them had a long position in the biotech company on June 30.
Follow Savara Inc (NYSE:SVRA)
Follow Savara Inc (NYSE:SVRA)
Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS) is in the spotlight after the company announced that it has reached a resolution with the SEC concerning an investigation into the company’s disclosures and controls relating to a charitable contribution in China in 2013. According to the settlement, Nu Skin will pay a fine of $765,688. In addition, Nu Skin has also announced that it anticipates third quarter sales to be at the high end of, or even slightly above, its previous guidance of $560 million-to-$580 million. Chuck Royce‘s Royce & Associates cut its stake in Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS) by 30% in the second quarter, to 870,993 shares at the end of June.
Follow Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:NUS)
Follow Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:NUS)
On the next page, we’ll take a closer look at what’s happening with Gray Television, SPS Commerce, and Apple.