| Catalent [CTLT] - Last Close: $56.05 Catalent is the premarket's #1 S&P 500 stock for the second day in a row. The pharma stock gained 19.5% on Monday in response to rumors that Danager Corp [DHR] was considering acquiring the company. This morning, the company reported its fiscal Q2 earnings results, which included better-than-expected revenues of $1.15 billion against the $1.12 billion estimate. However, Catalent's $0.67 EPS missed the Street's $0.69 EPS target. CTLT is leading the S&P 500 with a 3.0% gain in early premarket trading. My Take: CTLT is gathering steam, but the stock could experience a rapid reversal of fortunes if the buyout rumors don't materialize into an actual acquisition. Oak Street Health [OSH] - Last Close: $25.96 Oak Street Health is rallying on M&A rumors. According to a Wall Street Journal report, CVS Health [CVS] is nearing a $10.5 billion deal to buy the primary care operator. The companies are reportedly discussing an acquisition price of roughly $39 per share, and a deal could be announced as soon as this week. Both CVS Health and Oak Street haven't responded to requests for comments from major news outlets. OSH is one of this morning's top performers with a 36.1% gain. My Take: The WSJ is usually pretty on point when it comes to reports like these. However, there could be limited upside at this price point, and the stock could suffer steep declines if the deal falls through. SeqLL [SQL] - Last Close: $0.5395 SeqLL is soaring on news of a major government contract. The life sciences company announced a two-year Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Dept. of Justice's FBI. The FBI and SeqLL will collaborate to produce an assay for forensic body fluid identification that doesn't compromise traditional DNA/STR sequence analysis. It's one of the first times the FBI is utilizing a CRADA to advance development of its forensic laboratory capabilities.
Financial details of the CRADA weren't disclosed, but shares are soaring on the news.
SQL is this morning's top premarket stock with an 81.4% gain. My Take: A government contract is usually a promising signal for a small company. If SQL can deliver on this CRADA, it could see more business from other law enforcement agencies. Vaccinex [VCNX] - Last Close: $0.59 Shares of Vaccinex are up big on news of a patent approval. This morning, the company announced it had been granted a crucial patent for the formulation and treatment mechanism of a key cancer therapy. Vaccinex was granted U.S. Patent #11572408, " Treatment Of Cancer With A Semaphorin-4D Antibody In Combination With An Epigenetic Modulating Agent" This is a breaking story, so details are sparse at the moment. However, share prices are experiencing a very favorable reaction to the news. VCNX is one of this morning's hottest stocks with a 65.7% gain on active premarket trading volume. My Take: VCNX has been trading sideways for weeks, but this rally could be the push it needs to break out of its funk and pivot to a more positive trend. GainersKiora Pharma [KPRX] >> +61.5%Celyad SA [CYAD] >> +25.6%Myomo [MYO] >> +16.3%DeclinersBed Bath & Beyond [BBBY] >> (31.2%)Rubius Therapeutics [RUBY] >> (23.1%)Chegg [CHGG] >> (23.6%) Linde Plc [LIN] ... AM
Fiserv, Inc. [FISV] ... AM
Kkr & Co. Inc. [KKR] ... AM
Centene Corporation [CNC] ... AM
Carrier Global Corporation [CARR] ... AM
Transdigm Group Inc. [TDG] ... AM
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated [VRTX] ... PM
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. [CMG] ... PM
Fortinet, Inc. [FTNT] ... PM
Prudential Financial, Inc. [PRU] ... PM | 