Phocas Financial Has Raised By $1.21 Million Its United Continental Holdings (UAL) Stake; Shorts at Powershares QQQ (QQQ) Raised By 27.4%

July 28, 2017 - By Richard Conner

Powershares QQQ (NASDAQ:QQQ) had an increase of 27.4% in short interest. QQQ’s SI was 63.81M shares in July as released by FINRA. Its up 27.4% from 50.08 million shares previously. With 47.45 million avg volume, 1 days are for Powershares QQQ (NASDAQ:QQQ)’s short sellers to cover QQQ’s short positions. About 23.94M shares traded. PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 (ETF) (NASDAQ:QQQ) has risen 30.89% since July 28, 2016 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 14.19% the S&P500.

Phocas Financial Corp increased United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) stake by 41% reported in 2016Q4 SEC filing. Phocas Financial Corp acquired 16,797 shares as United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL)’s stock rose 2.66%. The Phocas Financial Corp holds 57,768 shares with $4.21M value, up from 40,971 last quarter. United Continental Holdings Inc. now has $20.58 billion valuation. The stock declined 0.65% or $0.44 reaching $67.65 on the news. About 2.53M shares traded. United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) has risen 77.19% since July 28, 2016 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 60.49% the S&P500.

Among 21 analysts covering United Continental (NYSE:UAL), 11 have Buy rating, 0 Sell and 10 Hold. Therefore 52% are positive. United Continental had 52 analyst reports since July 24, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. Evercore downgraded the shares of UAL in report on Thursday, March 16 to “In-Line” rating. The stock has “Outperform” rating by Credit Suisse on Tuesday, April 12. On Friday, November 18 the stock rating was initiated by Citigroup with “Neutral”. S&P Research maintained United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) rating on Thursday, September 3. S&P Research has “Strong Buy” rating and $70 target. The firm earned “Neutral” rating on Wednesday, July 6 by Credit Suisse. Cowen & Co maintained United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) rating on Friday, January 22. Cowen & Co has “Outperform” rating and $65 target. The rating was upgraded by Deutsche Bank to “Buy” on Friday, July 24. Bank of America upgraded the shares of UAL in report on Thursday, June 29 to “Buy” rating. The firm earned “Equal-Weight” rating on Thursday, January 5 by Morgan Stanley. The stock has “Hold” rating by Standpoint Research on Thursday, November 10.

Phocas Financial Corp decreased Sensient Tech Corp (NYSE:SXT) stake by 76,693 shares to 135,183 valued at $10.62 million in 2016Q4. It also reduced Jpmorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) stake by 7,245 shares and now owns 146,995 shares. Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) was reduced too.

Since February 28, 2017, it had 1 buying transaction, and 4 selling transactions for $2.52 million activity. 9,971 United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) shares with value of $786,342 were sold by Bonds Michael P. Hart Gregory L sold $230,504 worth of stock. Levy Andrew C also bought $748,131 worth of United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) shares.