AMAT
2015-04-02 Options Report (AMAT) (SPLS)
Options Report
You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login to access.
2015-04-02 Unusual Options Activity (IDRA) (INTC)
Unusual Options Activity
Applied Materials (AMAT)- The July $25/$30 bull call spread was put on 5,373 times for a $0.77 debit. Volume was below the open interest in both options. The company has a pending merger with Tokyo Electron that will be headquartered in the Netherlands (tax inversion, synergies).
Idera Pharmaceuticals (IDRA)- 2,500 Apr $3.50 calls were purchased for $0.35. Call activity was 4x the average daily volume. They were granted orphan drug designation for IMO-8400 yesterday. IMO-8400 is for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Intel (INTC)- Over 8,000 Apr 10 weekly $32 calls were bought for $0.14, against open interest of 5,957 contracts. Today, they announced their annual shareholder meeting will be on May 21st. Intel is also rumored to be interested in acquiring Altera.
Staples (SPLS)- The Jan 2017 $13/$17/$22 bull call spread risk reversal was put on 5,000 times … Read More »
2015-02-19 Unusual Options Activity (BWP) (TIF)
Unusual Options Activity
AMAT- Call activity was more than 6x the average daily volume in Applied Materials led by massive buying in the Feb 27 weekly $24, $24.50 and Mar 6 weekly $25 calls this morning. Net call premium was +$2.2M vs net put premium of +$212K (implied volatility +20.5% to 40.68).
BWP- Someone rolled out 123,061 Boardwalk Pipeline Partners Mar $17 calls ($0.65 credit) into 43,844 Sep $18 calls ($1.70 debit). Volume was above the open interest in the Sep $18 calls. On average only 4,445 calls trade per day.
CRTO- This marks the second consecutive trading day of sizable buying in the Mar $45 calls. The largest today is for 1,154 contracts at $1.85. Open interest stood at 2,866 from 319 contracts yesterday, while total call open interest is 8,851 vs total put open interest of 3,283 contracts.
MDRX- 5,000 Mar $11 … Read More »
2015-01-21 Unusual Options Activity (AMAT) (CRUS)
Unusual Options Activity
AMAT- Over 10,000 Feb 20 $24 calls have traded today with the majority being bought for $1.04-$1.09 each, against open interest of 5,627 contracts. The call to put ratio was 4:1 as implied volatility popped 5.5% to 42.52. On top of this activity there is still massive open interest in the high $20 strike calls in the April options expiration from buying in recent months. Applied Materials will be releasing Q1 earnings on February 11th (stock has gone up after earnings on 3 out of the last 4 reports). On January 20th, Credit Suisse raised their price target to $30 from $26 (outperform rating). Shares tested the prior resistance level, turned current support at $23 recently and was able to bounce (no major resistance until $25.50-$26.00 now).
AMD- Another 25,000 Feb 20 $2.50 puts were purchased for $0.25 each, … Read More »
2014-12-05 Smart Money Report (AAL) (AMAT)
Smart Money Report
AAL- A rollout from 5,250 Dec 12 weekly $48.50 calls (credit) into 7,500 Jan 9 weekly $52.50 calls (debit). Volume was above the open interest in the Jan 9 weekly $52.50 calls. There have been several of these type of rolls in American Airlines in the last two weeks. On December 2nd, Credit Suisse raised their price target to $58 from $55. My article on (AAL) from November 27th
AMAT- Another rollout from 32,000 Apr 2015 $23 calls (credit) into 50,000 Apr 2015 $25 calls (debit). Volume was below the open interest in both options. Applied Materials shares are up for the 8th consecutive week, but just recently broke out above the $23 resistance level.
IMMU- Sizable buying in the May 2015 $7 and $8 calls today. Volume was above the open interest in both options. Call activity is 15x … Read More »
2014-11-11 Unusual Options Activity (AMAT) (USO)
Unusual Options Activity
In today’s Unusual Options Activity Report we highlight a call rollout in Applied Materials (AMAT) and put buying in the United States Oil Fund (USO).
You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login to access.
2014-10-29 Unusual Options Activity (AMAT) (INTC)
Unusual Options Activity
In today’s Unusual Options Activity Report we highlight call buying in Applied Materials (AMAT) and a call rollout in Intel (INTC).
You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login to access.
2014-09-12 Smart Money Report (AAPL) (AMAT)
Smart Money Report
AAPL- The Sep 26 weekly $102/$105 1×2 ratio call spread was put on 10,406 times for a $0.45 debit. Volume was above the open interest in both options. Yesterday’s bullish option trade in Apple.
ACT- A rollout from 2,000 Sep 20 $240 calls (credit) into 2,000 Oct 18 $240 calls (debit). Volume was above the open interest in the Oct 18 $240 calls. There were rumors earlier today of M&A speculation between Pfizer (PFE) and Actavis.
AMAT- A rollout from 20,000 Jan 2015 $22 calls (credit) into 20,000 Apr 2015 $23 calls (debit). Volume was above the open interest in the Apr 2015 $23 calls. On 8/21, S&P Equity Research maintained a strong buy rating on Applied Materials.
KRE- The Dec $37/$40 bull risk reversal was put on 7,000 times for a $0.74 debit. Volume was above the open interest in … Read More »
2014-08-28 Smart Money Report (FRO) (QIHU)
Smart Money Report
AMAT- 5,000 Apr 2015 $25 calls were purchased for $1.24-$1.25 each, against open interest of 76 contracts. Large open interest still remains in upside calls in the Jan 2015 options expiration.
CTL- 2,000 Jan 2016 $40 calls were bought for $3.50 each, against open interest of 5,824 contracts. This was tied to a sale of 110,000 shares.
FRO- 10,000 Jan 2015 $2 puts were purchased for $0.30 and 10,000 Jan 2015 $2 calls were sold for $0.45-$0.50 each. Volume was above the open interest in both options. This bear risk reversal (or collar) in Frontline is profitable below $2.20 on Jan 2015 options expiration.
GES- The Jan 2016 $20/$28 bull risk reversal was put on 2,000 times for a $0.65 debit. Volume was above the open interest in the Jan 2016 $28 calls. Guess? missed Q3 EPS, revenue estimates and lowered … Read More »
2014-08-28 Unusual Options Activity (AMAT) (GES)
Unusual Options Activity
In today’s Unusual Options Activity Report we highlight call buying in Applied Materials (AMAT) and a bull risk reversal in Guess? (GES).
You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login to access.
2014-08-15 Smart Money Report (CF) (NGD)
Smart Money Report
AMAT- Roughly 7,000 Oct $22 calls were bought for $1.26 each, against open interest of 43,650 contracts. Last night, they reported Q3 EPS of $0.28 vs the $0.27 estimate and revenue of $2.27B vs the $2.29B estimate. Gross margins rose 2.6% to 45.5% year over year. They expect Q4 EPS of $0.25-$0.29 vs the $0.27 estimate.
CF- A rollout from 6,000 Jan 2015 $290 calls (credit) into 6,000 Jan 2016 $300 calls (debit). Volume was above the open interest in the Jan 2016 $300 calls. CF Industries raised their quarterly dividend 50% to $1.50 per share and authorized an additional $1B billion buyback through Dec 31st, 2016.
EJ- 4,938 Jan 2015 $10 puts were sold for $0.90 each, against open interest of 206 contracts. The uptrend from June remains intact (buying opportunities have been on pullbacks to the middle Bollinger … Read More »
2014-08-15 Unusual Options Activity (AMAT) (ORCL)
Unusual Options Activity
In today’s Unusual Options Activity Report we highlight call buying in Applied Materials (AMAT) and put selling in Oracle (ORCL).
You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login to access.
2014-06-24 Smart Money Report (MEOH) (USO)
Smart Money Report
AAPL- A rollout from 1,397 Aug. 16 $89.29 calls (credit) into 1,397 Jan. 2015 $90/$100 call spreads (debit). Volume was below the open interest in all three options. The call to put ratio is over 2:1.
AMAT- A rollout from 8,500 Jan. 2015 $20 calls (credit) into 14k Jan. 2015 $24 calls (debit). Volume was below the open interest in both options. There was a similar rollout yesterday.
IGT- A rollout from 5,000 July $16 calls (credit) into 3,550 Aug. $16 calls (debit). Volume was above the open interest in the Aug. $16 calls. Earnings are due out on 7/22. They are looking to sell the company too (announced recently).
MEOH- The Jan. 2015 $57.50/$67.50 bull risk reversal was put on 2,500 times for a $0.95 debit. Volume was above the open interest in both options. Option activity is nearly 7x the … Read More »
2014-06-24 Unusual Options Activity (AAPL) (AMAT)
Unusual Options Activity
In today’s Unusual Options Activity Report we highlight a call spread in Apple (AAPL) and a call rollout in Applied Materials (AMAT).
You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login to access.
2014-06-23 Smart Money Report (MU) (SONC)
Smart Money Report
AMAT- A rollout from 17,000 Jan. 2015 $20 calls (credit) into 28,000 Jan. 2015 $24 calls (debit). Volume was above the open interest in the Jan. 2015 $24 calls. The long-term uptrend remains intact, but is now at the highest level in the RSI on the weekly chart. A better entry would be near $21. Applied Materials trades at a P/E ratio of 17.05x (2015 estimates), PEG ratio of 0.68x (2015 estimates), 9% revenue growth, 1.75% dividend yield, and has an average analyst price target of $22.
CTXS- 2,000 July $62.50 puts were sold for $0.55-$0.56 each, against open interest of 228 contracts. Earnings are due out on 7/23. This is a mildly bullish bet that Citrix Systems is stay above support at the $62-$63 level through July options expiration.
MU- The June 27 weekly 1×2 $27/$30 put spread was … Read More »
2014-06-23 Unusual Options Activity (AMAT) (USB)
Unusual Options Activity
In today’s Unusual Options Activity Report we highlight a call rollout in Applied Materials (AMAT) and call buying in U.S. Bancorp (USB).
You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login to access.
2014-05-15 Smart Money Report (AMAT) (XLU)
Smart Money Report
AMAT- Another 14,000 Jan. 2015 $22 calls were bought for $0.71-$0.73 each, against open interest of 111,946 contracts. Earnings are due out tonight. There has been large Jan. 2015 call buying in Applied Materials recently.
CCK- Sizable buying in the July $48 and Oct. $46 puts today. Volume was above the open interest in both options. Put activity is 17x the average daily volume. Crown Holdings shares hit a new 52-week high yesterday and trades at a P/E ratio of 14.32x (2014 estimates), PEG ratio of 1.10x (2014 estimates), P/S ratio of 0.77x, has 6.8% revenue growth, and has an average analyst price target of $52. Given the strong fundamental and technical take, this could be a hedge on a long stock position after the recent run up.
GT- 10,000 Oct. $27 calls were purchased for $1.13-$1.24 each, against open … Read More »
2014-05-14 Smart Money Report (AMAT) (RMTI)
Smart Money Report
AMAT- 5,000 Jan. 2015 $21 calls were bought for $1.10-$1.12 each, against open interest of 5,245 contracts. Earnings are due out tomorrow. There has been large Jan. 2015 call buying in the last 2-3 months.
NBR- 3,000 Sep. $26 calls were bought for $1.95 each, against open interest of 902 contracts. This was tied to a sale of 162k shares for $26.08 each. There was large buying in the June $25 calls too.
NUS- 1,800 June $75 puts were purchased for $3.70 each, against open interest of 3,249 contracts. Implied volatility rose 9.7% to 44.10. Net call premium was -$25K vs. net put premium of +$584K. On a close below $75 in Nu Skin Enterprises, we’ll likely see a retest of the $68-$70 support level.
RMTI- A rollout from 3,095 May $11 puts (credit) into 3k June $9 puts (debit). Volume … Read More »
2014-05-07 Smart Money Report (M) (TSLA)
Smart Money Report
TSLA- Tesla Motors is set to announce Q1 earnings after the bell tonight. Analysts are looking for $0.12 in EPS and revenue of $700 million. Option traders are pricing in a $20.60 move, or 10.25%, in either direction through Friday’s close. The call to put ratio in (TSLA) options is currently 1.02, led by a seller of 1,150 June 21 $200 puts for $16.10 each (this trade was tied to a 50k share sale at $202.06). The stock has moved higher after earnings on three out of the last four reports.
AMAT- Another 13k Jan. 2015 $22 calls were purchased for $0.78 each, against open interest of 97,181 contracts. Earnings are due out on 5/15. On 4/15, open interest was 56,091 in these calls.
FB- 6,200 June 21 $55 puts were bought for $1.93 each, against open interest of 17,182 … Read More »
2013-11-14 Smart Money Report (AMAT) (JWN)
Smart Money Report
AMAT- Applied Materials will report Q4 earnings after the bell tonight. Analysts are looking for $0.18 in EPS and revenue of $2.0 billion. The options market is implying a $0.68 move, or 3.87%, in either direction through Friday’s close. Put to call ratio in (AMAT) options is currently 1.37.
JWN- Nordstrom will also release quarterly results tonight. Analysts are looking for $0.66 in EPS and revenue of $2.9 billion. Options traders are pricing in a $2.68 move, or 4.21%, in either direction through Friday’s close. The put to call ratio in (JWN) options is 1.40.
FOXA- 17k Dec. $35 calls were bought for $0.60 each, against open interest of 22,657 contracts.
OAS- The Feb. 2014 $35/$55/$65 bull call spread risk reversal was put on 3,000 times for a $1.40 debit. Volume was above the open interest in all three options.
AAPL- Apple … Read More »