Unusual Options Activity: MGM Resorts International (MGM)

Hotel and casino operator MGM Resorts International (MGM) are down just 2 percent over the past year, outperforming the overall stock market by about 10 percent. One trader sees shares declining in the coming weeks. That’s based on the May $40 puts. With 51 days until expiration, 5,137 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 163, for a 32-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.01 to make the trade. Shares last went ...
Read More
|

Invest With Companies Facing Specific, Yet Solvable, Fears

The market’s bearishness is reflected in the tendency to sell shares of a company first, and ask questions later… if at all. However, many companies selling off right now are still fine operationally. A few may even benefit from the current slowing economy, as competitors change their business or even go bankrupt. That makes this a stockpicker’s market. And the way to profit from that is to find companies that have been hit hard from specific fears that can abate in ...
Read More
|

Insider Trading Report: UMH Properties (UMH)

Daniel Landy, an EVP at UMH Properties (UMH), recently bought 1,900 shares. The buy increased his stake by 1 percent, and came to a total price of $33,089. That’s on top of a number of smaller buys from other company insiders, including two directors, and the company President and CEO in recent weeks. Insiders have only been buyers of shares in the past year, with some director sales going back further. Overall, insiders own 6.9 percent of the manufactured home community ...
Read More
|

Unusual Options Activity: Deutsche Bank (DB)

Major international money center bank Deutsche Bank (DB) has been under pressure, and shares are down 20 percent over the past year. One trader sees further weakness in the coming months. That’s based on the May $8 puts. With 53 days until expiration, 13,388 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 369, for a 36-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.80 to make the bearish bet. Deutsche Bank shares recently went for about ...
Read More
|

Invest With Companies Whose Executives Take Ownership

With all the ups and downs of the stock market, it’s sometimes easy to forget that a stock is an ownership stake in a company. And that shareholders, not company management, are the owners. Some company management teams may use that to their advantage, by awarding themselves substantial amounts of stock options, which then dilute existing shareholders. However, other companies may encourage executives to buy shares outright, and take an ownership stake in the company that’s also paying them a salary. That’s ...
Read More
|

Insider Trading Report: Liberty Media Corp (LSXMA)

Gregory Maffei, President and CEO at Liberty Media Corp (LSXMA), recently bought 50,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 1 percent, and came to a total cost just over $1.33 million. The buy was offset by the CEO’s sale of shares that went through option exercise. Year-to-date, company insiders have mostly been sellers of shares, but last year saw a more even mix of buyers and sellers. Overall, company insiders own 3.9 percent of shares. The media conglomerate is down about ...
Read More
|

Unusual Options Activity: Enerplus Corporation (ERF)

Oil and gas exploration company Enerplus Corporation (ERF) has slid in recent weeks as oil prices have trended lower. One trader sees a further decline in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the April $14 puts. With 28 days until expiration, 2,723 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 113, for a 24-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.58 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for about $14.15, so the stock ...
Read More
|

This Tech Leader Could Make New Highs, Even in a Slowing Economy

Typically, growth stocks are a tough investment when economic growth has become slow and uncertain. The lofty valuations and predictions that look attractive in a bull market don’t look as good when the economy is likely to contract. However, some growth companies are able to position themselves for winning trends, even in a slowing economy. And those that can deliver could be the first stocks to make new all-time highs when things look rosy again. Right now, one bright spot in the ...
Read More
|