Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of ATM maker NCR
So what: Houston, we have a problem! Wedbush lowered its rating on the company to neutral from outperform and slashed its price target to $23 from $33 after two separate reports revealed potentially damaging findings against NCR. The Wall Street Journal has reported that NCR is under investigation that its employees in China and the Middle East may have violated U.S. antitrust laws. A separate report claims that NCR may have violated U.S. sanctions against Syria. This is potentially damaging news as it could result in fines and legal fees, which reduce NCR's earnings. It should also be noted that the majority of NCR's recent growth has come from emerging markets. If these allegations prove truthful, you can kiss most of that growth goodbye.
Now what: It's far too early to speculate on whether these allegations have merit or not. However, I'd have to admit that these allegations are enough to make me want to keep my distance from the stock. Instead, I suggest looking into NCR's competitor that I highlighted earlier this month, Diebold
Craving more input? Start by adding NCR to your free and personalized watchlist so you can keep up on the latest news with the company.