Options Report

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Open Interest Updates From The Previous Trading Days Action

1. ADT Corp. (ADT)- Mar $39 call open interest went from 5,073 to 6,823 contracts (more buying on Friday).
2. CABELA’s (CAB)- Mar $60 call open interest went from 1,288 to 6,842 contracts (buying on Friday).
3. ConocoPhillips (COP)- Apr 17 $65 call open interest went from 10,756 to 14,680 contracts (buying on Friday).
4. Golar LNG (GLNG)- Mar $35 call open interest went from 3,601 to 7,427 contracts (buying on Friday).
5. ChipMOS Technologies (IMOS)- June $25 call open interest went from 815 to 1,930 contracts (buying on Friday).
6. Plains All American Pipeline (PAA)- Aug $47.50 call open interest went from 9,316 to 12,316 contracts and Aug $47.50 put open interest went from 7,160 to 9,140 contracts (put on as part of a bull risk reversal again).
7. Rovi (ROVI)- Apr $22.50 put open interest went from 2,141 to 5,070 contracts (buying on Friday).
8. Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX)- Apr 17 $18 call open interest went from 11,658 to 27,076 contracts (buying on Friday).

New Options Trades

1. Acacia Research (ACTG)- A rollout from 2,000 May $15 puts ($3.80 credit) into 4,000 Aug $10 puts ($1.00 debit). On average, just 184 puts trade per day.
2. AAR Corp (AIR)- 1,800 Aug $35 calls were purchased for $2.49-$2.55 each. On average, just 82 calls trade per day. Earnings are due out later this month.
3. Anadarko Petroleum (APC)- 9,500 Aug $95 calls were bought for $1.99-$2.11 each, against open interest of 9,332 contracts.
4. Deutsche X-Trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (ASHR)- 6,000 Apr $42 calls were purchased for $0.35 each. Call activity was 6x the average daily volume.
5. Avago Technologies (AVGO)- 1,600 Apr $130 calls were bought for $3.60-$4.00 each, against open interest of 1,896 contracts. DA Davidson upgraded the stock to buy from neutral and raised their price target to $150 from $125.
6. Citigroup (C)- 20,000 Mar 27 weekly $53.50 calls were sold for $0.87 each, against open interest of 21,481 contracts (bought for $0.76 each).
7. Crown Castle International (CCI)- 2,000 July $90 calls were bought for $1.20 each. Shares go ex-dividend on Wednesday.
8. C&J Energy Services (CJES)- 5,000 June $10 puts were purchased for $0.90 each. Put activity was 55x the average daily volume.
9. Celladon (CLDN)- More than 2,000 May $40 calls were bought for $7.00-$8.30 each. Call activity was 9x the average daily volume. They have Phase 2 data due out in April.
10. CME Group (CME)- A rollout from 3,486 Mar 20 $98 calls ($2.10 credit) into 3,000 Apr 10 weekly $101 calls ($1.40 debit).
11. Cablevision Systems (CVC)- The June $18 straddle was put on 10,000 times for a $2.00 credit. He/she sees the stock staying around $18 over the next 3 months.
12. DISH Network (DISH)- 4,149 June $60 puts were sold for $0.85 each, against open interest of 3,890 contracts. Also, there was a rollout from 5,533 Mar 20 $67.50 calls ($5.95 credit) into 5,533 June $67.50 calls ($8.40 debit) at the same time. This comes after a few days of selling in those puts and buying in those calls over the last month and a half.
13. Guess? (GES)- 5,000 Apr $18 calls were purchased for $0.55-$0.65 each. Call activity was 12x the average daily volume and implied volatility spiked 14.7% to 51.79. Earnings are due out on 3/18 after the bell (short interest of 13.25%).
14. HCP Inc (HCP)- 5,000 Apr $42.50 calls were bought for $0.40 each, against open interest of 3,730 contracts. Call activity was 10x the average daily volume and implied volatility jumped 10.4% to 24.13.
15. Coca-Cola (KO)- Over 10,000 Apr 17 $41 calls were purchased for $0.58-$0.63 each, against open interest of 7,594 contracts. Earnings are due out on 4/14.
16. Lowe’s Companies (LOW)- 5,000 Mar 20 $75 calls were purchased for $0.84 each, against open interest of 9,522 contracts.
17. Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN)- The Aug $90/$105 bull risk reversal was put on 2,000 times for a $2.85 debit. This was tied to 136,000 shares for $100.50.
18. Market Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH)- 21,000+ July $30 puts were purchased for $1.75-$1.80 each. This follows 10,000 Mar 20 $31.50 puts being purchased for $0.45-$0.50 each on March 13th.
19. ON Semiconductor (ONNN)- More than 2,000 Apr $14 calls were bought for $0.20 each. Call activity was 4x the average daily volume and implied volatility rose 4.9% to 35.18.
20. SLM Corp (SLM)- A rollout from 3,200 Mar $9 puts ($0.05 credit) into 3,200 Apr $9 puts ($0.21-$0.22 debit). Earnings are due out on 4/15.
21. Splunk (SPLK)- 2,000 Mar 20 $62 puts were bought for $1.45 each.
22. Starwood Property Trust (STWD)- Another 2,500 June $22.50 puts were purchased for $0.50 each, against open interest of 3,700 contracts. A total of 3,500 were bought on January 28th and March 13th.
23. Suncor Energy (SU)- 3,500 June $25 puts were purchased for $1.07 each. This follows roughly 7,000 Apr 17 $29 calls being bought for $0.51-$0.58 each on March 13th.
24. SunEdison (SUNE)- The Oct $25/$30 1×2 ratio call spread was put on 1,400 times for a $0.30 debit.
25. Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)- 19,000+ Apr 17 $80 puts were sold for $0.50-$0.55 each. Earnings are due out on 4/9.
26. Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE)- A rollout from 55,000 June $84/$89 call spreads ($0.36 credit) into 55,000 June $77/$82 call spreads ($1.61 debit). The June $84/$89 call spreads were initially put on for a $1.70 debit on February 3rd.

Notable List Of Equities/ETFs I’m Tracking With Unusual Options Activity

1. ACHILLION PHARMACEUTICALS (ACHN)- The Sep/Jan 2016 $15 call calendar was put on 7,500 times for a $1.20 debit on March 6th. He/she sees the stock approaching the $15 level by the fall, but not exceeding that price until after September options expiration (lowers the cost of the trade by selling Sep $15 calls).
2. Aecom (ACM)- Following a buyer of 3,600+ June $27.50 puts on March 6th for $1.30-$1.45 each, another 4,800 were bought for $1.60 each on March 10th.
3. ADT Corp. (ADT)- Sizable purchases in the May $40 (3,000+ traded) and July $38 calls (1,200+ traded) for $1.10-$1.25 and $2.69-$2.70 on March 13th, respectively. 5,000+ Mar $39 calls remain in open interest as well (big buying on March 5th) and 2,000+ were bought today for $0.45-$0.55 each.
4. Applied Materials (AMAT)- Massive open interest in the Apr 17 (monthly expiration) $23-$27 calls due to call purchases and bull call spreads in recent months. A buyer of 13,300 Apr 17 $25 calls for $0.75 each on February 3rd sent open interest above the 100,000 mark.
5. Air Products & Chemicals (APD)- A rollout from 2,460 June $145 calls ($13.70 credit) into 2,460 Sep $155 calls ($9.50 debit) on February 25th. Trader took profits on the June calls, but still sees upside north of $165 by September options expiration. The Apr $140/$160 bull risk reversal was put on 2,200 times for a $0.10 debit on March 10th.
6. Arcos Dorados (ARCO)- More than 5,000 Mar $5 puts were bought on March 9th for $0.50-$0.55 each. On average, only 55 puts trade per day and this activity was 2x the total put open interest at the time. Q4 earnings are due out on March 17th.
7. American Express (AXP)- A rollout from 6,178 Mar 13 weekly $82.50 calls ($0.04 credit) into 6,178 Mar 27 weekly $82.50 calls ($0.43 debit) on March 10th. There was also a buyer of 12,000+ Mar 27 weekly $80 calls for $1.11-$1.20 each. Call activity was 4x the average daily volume.
8. Bank of New York Mellon (BK)- Nearly 10,000 more Mar 20 $40 calls traded on March 9th for $0.44-$0.64 each, marking the third day of massive buying. Call activity was nearly 6x the average daily volume. Open interest stood at 18,663 contracts on the morning on March 11th.
9. Barnes & Noble (BKS)- The Oct $20/$25 bull risk reversal was put on 2,500 times for a $0.60 debit on March 11th.
10. Burlington Stores (BURL)- 2,500 Mar $55 calls were purchased for $3.20 each on March 6th. There remains 14,000+ in the Mar $50 calls from buying in the previous few months (sitting on a profit). Q4 earnings are due out on March 18th.
11. Boardwalk Pipeline Partners (BWP)- A rollout from 125,000 Mar $17 calls ($0.65 credit) into 45,000 Sep $18 calls ($1.70 debit) on February 19th and a rollout from 15,000 Jan 2015 $16 calls ($0.75 credit) into 15,000 June $16 calls ($1.80 debit) on December 1st, 2014. Both traders see a high $10’s/low $20’s stock price later this year.
12. CABELA’s (CAB)- Mar $60 call open interest went from 1,288 to 6,842 contracts (large buying on March 13th for $0.15-$0.55 each).
13. Cigna (CI)- The Jan 2016 $110/$130/$150 bull call spread risk reversal was put on 1,300 times for a $0.00 debit on March 11th.
14. Centene (CNC)- The Sep $60/$70/$80 bull call spread risk reversal was put on 2,500 times for a $0.70 credit.
15. ConocoPhillips (COP)- 10,000 Mar 20 $63 calls were bought for $0.21-$0.22 each and there was also sizable buying in the Apr 17 $62.50 and $65 calls on March 13th. Analysis on (COP) from March 11th
16. Diamond Offshore Drilling (DO)- A rollout from 6,200 Mar $30 puts ($1.30 credit) into 6,200 Apr $25/$30 bear put spreads ($1.78 debit) on March 4th. The trader wants to extend his/her bearish position by an additional months; sees potential downside risk to $25 by April options expiration (breakeven of $28.22).
17. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX)- Jan 2016 $20 put open interest rose to 26,172 from 9,775 contracts during March 3rd-6th (started paying $2.79 during this streak). On March 10th, 30,000 May $15 puts were bought for $0.36-$0.40 each.
18. CurrencyShares Euro Trust ETF (FXE)- The Jan 2016 $94/$102 bear put spread was put on 200,000 times for a $1.96 debit on March 10th. Put activity was 37x the average daily volume.
19. Gulfport Energy (GPOR)- 3,500 July $47.50 calls were bought for $3.90-$4.20 each on March 11th. Options activity  was 12x the average daily volume.
20. Humana (HUM)- The Jan 2016 $145/$170/$200 bull call spread risk reversal was put on 1,000 times for a $0.50 debit on March 11th. Options activity was 2x the average daily volume.
21. Interactive Brokers (IBKR)- 1,000 Apr $35 calls were bought for $0.45 each on March 11th. Implied volatility rose 9.9% to 27.06.
22. IMAX (IMAX)- 5,000 June $36 calls were bought for $1.00 each on March 10th. 8,000+ still sets in open interest in the Apr $36 calls and June $33 calls from large buying.
23. International Paper (IP)- 5,000 July $60 calls were purchased for $1.18-$1.20 each on March 12th.
24. Kulicke and Soffa Industries (KLIC)- Someone sold their 620 Apr $13 calls ($3.40 credit) and purchased 620 Apr $15 calls for $1.60 each. The Apr $16 calls also had some buyers in late January/early February for $0.75 each. Total call open interest is about 3.5x the size of total put open interest.
25. Lexmark International (LXK)- A rollout from 2,200+ Mar $40 puts ($2.05-$2.53 credit) into 4,700+ Apr $38 puts ($1.30-$1.60 debit) on March 12th.
26. Macy’s (M)- The Apr $60/$62.50/$65 bull call spread risk reversal was put on 4,500 times for a $0.20 debit on March 9th.
27. Macerich (MAC)- Large Mar $90 call buying on several days in February (open interest 16K+). On March 6th, someone bought the Apr $95/$105 bull call spread 1,700 times for a $1.75 debit. The trader sees upside to $105 by April options expiration (Macerich is a M&A target). Apr $95 call open interest was 11,374 contracts and Apr $105 call open interest was 10,549 contracts as of March 10th.
28. ManpowerGroup (MAN)- 2,000 Apr $85 calls were bought for $1.75-$1.85 each on March 11th. Call activity was 8x the average daily volume as implied volatility rose 11.3% to 29.00.
29. McDonald’s (MCD)- June $97.50 call open interest went from 17,290 to 42,008 contracts on March 13th (large buying on March 11th and 12th).
30. Mosaic (MOS)- A rollout from 2,500 Apr 17 $50 puts ($2.68 credit) into 10,000 Apr 17 $45 puts ($0.59 debit) on March 12th. There was large buying in the Apr 17 $50 puts on March 3rd and 4th, but option traders still see more downside in the near-term.
31. Marvell Technology Group (MRVL)- Apr 17 $17 call open interest increased by 10,000+ contracts from buying on March 4th and 5th for $0.30-$0.42 each (stood at 15,405 contracts on March 6th). On March 11th, Roughly 6,000 Apr 17 $18 calls were purchased for $0.24-$0.30 each.
32. Noble (NE)- 2,500 Apr 17 $13 puts were bought for $0.65 each on March 13th. This follows a put rollout from 4,000 Mar 20 $18 puts ($3.90 credit) into 7,000 June $15 puts ($2.35 debit) on March 12th.
33. NetApp (NTAP)- 20,000+ Apr 17 $36 puts were purchased for $0.53-$0.68 each on March 12th. The put to call ratio was 9:1 and put activity was 17x the average daily volume.
34. Nucor (NUE)- More than 5,000 Mar 20 $47 calls were bought for $0.38-$0.45 each on March 11th. Call activity was 5x the average daily volume.
35. Olin (OLN)- On February 9th, 12,000+ May $30 calls were bought for $0.45-$0.60 each. On average, just 644 calls trade per day. Despite having more than a triple in paper gains, he/she remains content with holding the position.
36. PDL BioPharma (PDLI)- 1,600 May $7 calls were purchased $0.70 each, against open interest of 2,476 contracts on March 12th. Call activity was 9x the average daily volume. On February 25th and 27th, nearly 2,000 were bought for $0.30-$0.50 each.
37. Pepsico (PEP)- Apr 17 $105 call open interest went from 84,870 to 94,692 contracts (large buying starting on February 19th through March 12th).
38. Packaging Corp of America (PKG)- A rollout from 2,000 Mar $80 calls ($0.70 credit) into 2,000 Apr $80 calls ($2.05 debit) on March 12th.
39. Philip Morris International (PM)- 8,000 Apr 17 $85 puts were purchased for $0.67-$0.69 each on March 10th. Put activity was 3x the average daily volume.
40. PMC-Sierra (PMCS)- On February 12th, there was a roll from 10,000 Feb $7 calls ($2.15 credit) and Feb $8 calls ($1.15-$1.20 credit) into 24,000 Jan 2016 $10 calls ($0.90-$1.00 debit). He/she took some profits near February options expiration, but continues to see this year beyond $11.
41. Qorvo (QRVO)- The May $70/$80 bull call spread was put on 7,000 times for a $2.15 debit on February 20th. On March 3rd, 2,000 May $80 calls were purchased for $1.90 each (took open interest up to 9,214 from 7,229 contracts the next day).
42. Regions Financial (RF)- 30,000+ Mar $10 calls and 12,000+ Apr $10 calls remain in open interest. Both have had buyers step up in size starting in late February, possibly on the increased chance of a Fed Funds rate hike.
43. Rosetta Resources (ROSE)- A rollout from 5,000 Mar $22.50 puts ($4.40 credit) into 10,000 Mar $17.50 puts ($0.85 debit) on March 6th. The trader is taking profits on the Mar $22.50 puts (initially purchased for $1.80-$2.25 each), but still sees more downside to come in the near-term.
44. Rovi (ROVI)- 2,900 Apr $22.50 puts were purchased for $2.00 each on March 13th, against open interest of 2,141 contracts. On average, just 117 puts trade per day.
45. RSP Permian (RSPP)- The June $25/$30/$35 bull call spread risk reversal was put on 2,000 times for a $0.30 credit on March 5th. Q4 earnings are due out on March 17th.
46. SunTrust Banks (STI)- 2,000 July $45 calls were bought for $0.68 each on March 9th. Call activity was nearly 3x the average daily volume.
47. Steel Dynamics (STLD)- Nearly 5,000 Apr $19 calls were bought for $0.20-$0.25 each on March 11th. Call activity was 4x the average daily volume. 1,500 May $18 calls were bought for $1.00 and 3,000 May $20 calls were bought for $0.30-$0.35 each on March 12th too.
48. Suncor Energy (SU)- Roughly 7,000 Apr 17 $29 calls were bought for $0.51-$0.58 each on March 13th. Call activity was 4x the average daily volume.
49. Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA)- The Apr 17 $55/$60 bull risk reversal was put on 2,500 times for a $0.30 debit on March 11th. Not long after this trade, someone came in and bought another 1,500 Apr $60 calls for $1.07 each. These trades come after the March 5th rollout from 4,000 Mar 20 $52.50 calls ($4.05 credit) into 6,000 Jan 2016 $45/$60 bull risk reversals ($2.90 debit) and the 12,000+ June $57.50/$65 call spreads bought and 5,000+ June $50 puts sold throughout February.
50. Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO)- 4,000 June $24 calls were purchased for $2.25-$2.35 each on March 11th. Call activity was over 2x the average daily volume and the call to put ratio was 24:1.
51. VF Corp (VFC)- A rollout from 3,500 Apr $77.50 puts ($4.15-$4.30 credit) into 10,000 Apr $72.50 puts ($1.35-$1.50 debit) on March 11th.
52. Westlake Chemical (WLK)- Big buying on February 19th, February 23rd, and March 5th took open interest in the Mar $70 calls from 17 to 9,493 contracts (started paying $1.10 each). This activity accounts for nearly half of all call open interest in Westlake Chemical.
53. Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)- On March 9th, someone rolled out 20,000 Mar 20 $85 calls ($0.12 credit) into 12,000+ Apr 17 $85 calls ($0.56 debit).
54. WPX Energy (WPX)- Nearly 4,500 Apr $10 calls were bought for $1.46-$1.70 each on March 6th. Call activity was 9x the average daily volume. This action is by far the largest OI of any WPX Energy option.
55. Western Union (WU)- More than 6,400 Apr $20 calls traded on March 10th with the majority being bought for $0.23-$0.35 each.
56. Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF (XLF)- June $25 call open interest went from 89,583 to 162,246 contracts on March 11th (large buying on March 10th).

ACTG AIR APC ASHR AVGO C CCI CJES CLDN CME CVC DISH GES HCP KO LOW MJN OIH ONNN Options Report SLM SPLK STWD SU SUNE WAB XLE