February 19 Biotech Update

We are getting the pullback after that quick rip your face off rally and so now is the real moment of truth. Did the rally simply reset the relative strength to allow another leg lower or will buyers step in and buy this pullback? As I noted before there is no way of knowing and […]

Dave-Trading – GILD

Gilead – GILD *** David Sobek is a disciplined value investor. Using models, research, and fundamental data, David devises a value for biotech stocks, buys when significantly undervalued, and sells when significantly overvalued.*** Dave LOVES writing about GILD.  Their combined Hep C franchise is by all metrics the most successful launch ever, so it is […]

February 18 Biotech Update

We continue to have a short covering rally as the most shorted stocks continue to outperform. This seems to be the mantra of people who want to discount the move but as I said before there is no reason to suspect that the bounce off the lows would be anything but a short covering rally. […]

February 17 Biotech Update

We are having a green opening after back to back green days, which is pretty rare this year. We have obviously been due for a bounce and whether this is the bottom or a dead cat bounce is yet to be determined. This move is driven by short covering (the most shorted stocks are greatly […]

February 12 Biotech Update

The market remains crazy and the sector is filled with odd moves. Yesterday seemed to be a good day of outperformance for the large caps and today they are red while the market is green. There were some good movers in SMID yesterday and today but not a real rhyme or reason for who outperforms […]

February 11 Biotech Update

The markets remain in turmoil despite a nice start (but poor finish) yesterday. Interestingly it seemed yesterday at least that large cap biotech outperformed the broader market. Obviously it could very easily be an oversold bounce but in a world of limited earnings growth, one could make the case that some of the large cap […]

February 10 Biotech Update

I am glad I was out of the office for the start of the week as the market took a drubbing. While today is certainly starting off better, this is still not a healthy market. I want to spend some time talking macro and then broadly about biotech and end with some specific company news. […]

Options Basics (4) – Options Strategies

  So far, we discussed all the essential option characteristics. What an option is, its variables, and how to use options for risk adjustment. So now that you know these things, there are several “goto” strategies that take advantage of the flexibility of options. These are general strategies, and not specific to a trade. When […]

Dave-Trading – PFE

  Pfizer Inc. (PFE)–NYSE   *** David Sobek is a disciplined value investor. Using models, research, and fundamental data, David devises a value for biotech stocks, buys when significantly undervalued, and sells when significantly overvalued.*** Options are unfairly seen as risky, and many value investors avoid options out of fear. David Sobek appears to be […]

February 5 Biotech Update

The sector did OK during the pricing hearing but it was more of a mixed bag than across the board out- or under-performance. Today everything is down, so it is hard to see if there is any other effect from the hearing or the debate last night. We are still in a macro driven market […]

February 4 Biotech Update

Today is going to be an interesting day. Yes, there is the drug pricing testimony in Congress and that is simply a show and grandstanding that has no impact on the actual chances of changing policy. It will be good theater (unless you are already tired of seeing the same stories recycled everyday) but in […]

February 3 Biotech Update

The market remains tied to oil and while sentiment remains negative on oil it still has not made a new low. This is not to say that a new low is not coming but as long as it does not make a lower low, it is at least some positive for the market. Ultimately, we […]

GWPH: Is Epidiolex Nothing But Placebo?

GW Pharmaceuticals made the mistake of allowing expectations to exceed its abilities, forcing the company to announce a delay in the read-out of its pivotal Dravet study. Data originally anticipated for release at the end of 2015 has been pushed back a full quarter, leaving investors on their toes. This Dravet trial is the first of 2 studies […]

Cup O' Joe – SRPT AdCom

  ***Our trading analyst Joe Gantoss relies on knowing more, either through technical analysis & charts or DD & research.*** Thesis: Joe has done a lot of research on SRPT. Despite some FDA headwinds, he believes the AdCom will at least be moderately positive for SRPT. But there is some downside risk, so there is […]

February 1 Biotech Update

Different week but the same market. There remains a bias to the downside, although perhaps an optimist can see a slight outperformance of the sector. At the very least, it seems like the sector is not leading the market lower. We got some news this morning but the key this week will continue to be […]

GILD – Heavy Options Activity

  Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) –Nasdaq   GILD dropping hard after MRK receive the FDA approval for a less expensive alternative to Gilead’s hepatitis C drug and pricing it with more than 30% discount to the competitor drugs from Gilead and ABBV. We notices a huge Feb 19th call options activity, with over 25K of $89 Call […]