Roku Stock Downgraded; Analyst Questions Potential Buyout

Stock Performance and Market Sentiment - Roku Inc (NASDAQ:ROKU) stock is down 4.2% to trade at $79.48, retreating from its highest level since early December after bouncing off support at the$73 region and the 100-day moving average [3] - Over the past nine months, Roku's stock has gained 38.6%, but it still reflects an 18.9% loss for 2024 [3] - The majority of analysts are bearish on Roku stock, with 14 out of 26 firms maintaining a "hold" or worse rating [4] - Short sellers are also pessimistic, with 9.29 million shares sold short, representing 7.3% of the equity's available float [4] Analyst Actions and Market Expectations - MoffettNathanson downgraded Roku Inc to "sell" from "neutral" and slashed its price target to $20 from$55, citing exaggerated investor optimism and ongoing weakness in the advertising sector [2] - Options traders are anticipating lower-than-usual volatility, as indicated by the Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 56%, which sits in the 17th percentile of its annual range [1] Industry and Company-Specific Concerns - The downgrade by MoffettNathanson highlights concerns about a potential acquisition and the broader challenges in the advertising space, which continue to weigh on Roku's outlook [2]