blog test

Ride share company Uber (UBER) is down about 5 percent over the past year. One trader sees a further move higher for shares in the coming months. That’s based on the August $42.50 calls. With 108 days until expiration, 3,540 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 108, for a 32-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.28 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently went for about $30, so they’d need to rise ...
Read More

Many technologies and economies function best due to a network effect. The larger the number of users in a network, the stronger and more robust it is. It’s less likely to have a single point of failure. For investors, finding companies with a strong network effect can earn great returns. Especially when investors take advantage of a weak market to buy companies with a strong network. One type of network is in shipping and logistics. A small company may only be able ...
Read More

Victor Alexander, Head of Consumer Bank at KeyCorp (KEY), recently bought 8,500 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 7 percent, and came to a total cost just over $100,555. This marks the second insider buy of the year, following the 2,000 share buy from a director back in March. Going further bank, insiders have largely been steady sellers of KeyCorp shares, with a mix of direct sales and stock option exercises. Overall, insiders own 0.3 percent of the regional bank. Shares ...
Read More

Investment brokerage firm The Charles Schwab Corporation (SCHW) has lost about a quarter of its value in the past year, as slowing trading has reduced revenues. One trader sees the potential for a further decline in shares in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the June 2 $40 puts. With 35 days until expiration, 12,066 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 216, for a 56-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.32. Shares ...
Read More

As an investment, companies with few competitors are better than companies with many competitors. That’s because competition tends to keep prices low and innovation high. That’s good for consumers, but not healthy for companies – or their shareholders. That’s why companies with a handful of competitors tend to be more consistently profitable. That can keep share prices generally rising over time, and with lower volatility. These companies also tend to make for attractive income plays. When it comes to the oligopoly space, ...
Read More

Alan Colberg, a director at US Bancorp (USB), recently bought 10,000 shares. The buy increased his position by over 1,000 percent, and came to a total cost of $341,380. This marks the first insider buy at the regional bank in over two years. Otherwise, company executives, including the company CEO and CFO, have been regular and steady sellers of shares, largely after stock options have vested. Overall, insiders own 0.2 percent of shares. The regional bank has lost about one-third of its ...
Read More

Cruise line operator Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) has been rangebound for several months after a big drop nearly a year ago. One trader sees shares trending lower in the coming weeks. That’s based on the May $8.50 puts. With 22 days until expiration, 5,310 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 100, for a 53-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.31 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for about $9, so ...
Read More

A great company can overcome any economic challenge. To be a great company, it’s necessary to have pricing power. That means avoiding having to cut prices during a slow period. And it means when inflation is running hot, prices can be raised over and above. Such companies are few and far between. But harnessing the power of a brand during a slow or sideways market can help lead to great returns over time, both from capital gains, and from growing dividend ...
Read More