Group 1 - Brinker International Inc, the parent company of Chili's, saw its shares rise by 3.4% to $164.59 following an upgrade to "outperform" from "in-line" by Evercore ISI, with a new price target of $210, up from $190, driven by sustainable near-term growth and improving customer satisfaction [1] - The stock has been recovering from August lows near $150 and is currently experiencing its best daily performance in over a week, having briefly surpassed the $170 level for the first time since July, resulting in a year-to-date gain of 25% [2] - Put traders have been increasingly active over the past 10 weeks, with a 50-day put/call volume ratio of 1.52, ranking in the 96th percentile of readings from the past 12 months [3] Group 2 - Options traders are anticipating relatively low volatility for Brinker International's stock, as indicated by a Schaefer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 44%, which is in the 10th percentile of readings from the past year [4] - The stock has historically outperformed these volatility expectations, reflected in its Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 75 out of 100 [4]

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk's stock is experiencing a rebound after FDA approval for its weight-loss drug Wegovy to treat liver disease, following a significant drop in its stock price earlier this month [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock is currently trading at $54.10, reflecting a 3.1% increase [1]. - The company faced a 21.8% decline on July 29, marking its worst drop on record, and is down 39% in 2025 [2]. - The $50 level is now acting as a support floor for the stock [2]. Group 2: Market Sentiment - Short-term traders are showing a put-bias, indicated by a Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 1.10, which is in the 99th percentile of the past year [2]. - There is potential for upgrades, as 14 out of 20 brokerages currently have a "hold" or worse recommendation [3]. - The stock has historically outperformed volatility expectations, with a Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 87 out of 100 [3].

Core Insights - Roku Inc (NASDAQ: ROKU) has received an upgrade from Keybanc to "overweight" from "sector weight," with a price target set at $115, citing budgeting and advertising updates as potential growth drivers [1] - Piper Sandler has also increased its price target for Roku from $65 to $84, indicating positive market sentiment [1] Stock Performance - Roku's stock initially reached $91.66, its highest level since February, but has since consolidated below $90, currently trading at $89.33 [2] - The stock has increased by 70% since its low of $52.43 in April and is up 19% year-to-date [2] Short Selling and Options - Short interest in Roku has decreased by 16.6% over the past two reporting periods, with 7.67 million shares sold short, representing 6% of the stock's total float [3] - The current Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) for Roku is 41%, placing it in the 1st percentile of its annual range, suggesting low volatility expectations among options traders [3]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the author's extensive experience in investment banking, particularly in equity research, corporate finance, and M&A within the Canadian electric utilities and infrastructure sectors [1] Group 1: Experience and Expertise - The author has over twenty years of experience in sell-side equity research, corporate and project finance, M&A, and valuations [1] - A decade was spent as an equity research analyst at global banks, including UniCredit Securities and HSBC Global Markets, achieving top ratings in surveys [1] - Prior to investment banking, the author worked for ten years in a Canadian corporate environment focusing on power projects and M&A [1] Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The author believes in actionable investment ideas and the importance of compelling narratives and clear arguments [1] - There is a focus on sharing insights and stories to contribute to a smarter and richer world [1]

Core Viewpoint - Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) has been upgraded to "outperform" from "market perform" by Bernstein, indicating a more positive outlook for the company as it recovers from past incidents and works to rebuild confidence [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Boeing's stock is currently up 2.3% at $182.09, with a year-to-date increase of 3.3% and a year-over-year lead exceeding 9% [1][2] - The stock has achieved its third consecutive weekly gain, but is facing resistance at the $185 level, which previously capped a rally attempt in late March [2] Group 2: Options Trading Activity - Options traders are exhibiting caution, with options volume running at double the intraday average, including 20,000 calls and 16,000 puts exchanged [3] - The most popular options contract is the May 175-strike put, and the 10-day put/call volume ratio for Boeing is 1.03, placing it in the 94th percentile of its annual range [3]

Core Viewpoint - Citigroup upgraded Charles Schwab Corp from "neutral" to "buy," raising the price target from $85 to $102, citing improving growth and balance sheet metrics as the company shifts to offense [1] Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - A majority of analysts are bullish on Charles Schwab, with 17 out of 23 firms rating it "buy" or better, and a 12-month consensus price target of $89.42, representing a 14.4% premium to current levels [2] - The stock is currently bouncing off the $76 level, which has been a significant line of pressure and support over the past few years [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Volatility - Charles Schwab's stock has been volatile since reaching a two-year high of $84.50 on February 11, but it still shows a 5.7% year-to-date gain [2] Group 3: Options Activity - There has been a notable increase in call options for Charles Schwab, with a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 3.97, ranking higher than 96% of readings from the past year [3]