Deere & Company (DE), Gas Natural Inc. (EGAS) & More: Why These Stocks are Trending Today

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The US stock market is trading higher today, despite some weakness across global indexes.

Among individual stocks that are showing more volatility today, are Deere & Company (NYSE:DE), Gas Natural Inc. (NYSEMKT:EGAS), Exelixis Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL), Calpine Corporation (NYSE:CPN), and Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ:PNRA). Let’s take a look at the latest news surrounding these stocks and assess the smart money sentiment towards them.

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Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) stock is trading higher today, after a Wells Fargo & Company upgraded the stock to ‘Outperform’ from ‘Market Perform’. Wells Fargo also raised the price target to $100-$103 per share from $85-$88. Analyst Andrew Casey mentioned in his note that Deere & Company (NYSE:DE)’s improving its sales in Brazil, Ukraine, Russia, and other regions and the farm equipment market may be set for a rebound after several years of declines. Among the funds we track, 33 funds held $3.53 billion worth of Deere’s stock in aggregate at the end of June, having amassed 13.90% of its outstanding stock, compared to 30 investors that held $3.46 billion worth of stock a quarter earlier.

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Gas Natural Inc. (NYSEMKT:EGAS) stock has jumped by 64% on the news of a $196 million buyout deal. The company has agreed to be acquired by an investment fund sponsored by First Reserve, a private equity firm. The deal has priced the stock at $13.10 apiece, giving a premium of 71% on the stock’s closing price on Friday. The transaction is likely to be closed in the second half of 2017. The number of funds from our database long Gas Natural Inc. (NYSEMKT:EGAS) remained unchanged at two during the second quarter.

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