Unusual Options Activity: Sotera Health Company (SHC)

Shares of healthcare diagnostics company Sotera Health Company (SHC) have slid 15 percent over the past year, performing worse than the S&P 500. One trader sees a further decline ahead. That’s based on the August $17.50 put. With 191 days until expiration, 3,955 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 151, for a 26-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.35 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for about $18, so ...
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Keep Buying Off-the-Radar, and Necessary Companies Building Out Future Growth Now

While the market has had a strong start to the year, plenty of companies are still well off their highs. For the right companies, this can create an opportunity to build substantial wealth and a growing stream of income. That’s especially true in parts of the market that tend to get overlooked. In a bull market, the focus tends to be on tech stocks. So far this bear market, investors have flocked to energy and utilities. That’s why other areas like industrial ...
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Insider Trading Report: Phillips 66 (PSX)

Gregory Hayes, a director at Phillips 66 (PSX), recently bought 10,250 shares. The buy came to a total cost just over $1.1 million, and increased the director’s stake by a massive 253 percent. This is the first purchase at the company in two years, following another buy from a director for 77 shares valued at just under $5,900. A number of company executives have been sellers of shares over the past two years, largely by exercising options. Overall, company insiders own ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Sketchers U.S.A (SKX)

Shares of footwear and accessory company Sketchers U.S.A. (SKX) are up about 11 percent over the past year. One trader sees a decline in the months ahead. That’s based on the April $39 put options. With 74 days until expiration, 2,003 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 104, for a 19-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.75 to make the downside bet. The stock last traded just under $45, so shares would ...
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Buy What the World Needs, Not What the World Wants

In a bull market, all sorts of investment ideas come into play. When there’s a bear market, investors can stay safe but also make money by focusing on companies that provide products and services that customers need. Defensive stocks don’t have to just be utilities and telecoms. There are a number of other sectors that fit the bill, such as industrial stocks. That space tends to get overlooked. One such player is conglomerate Honeywell (HON). The manufacturer of power units, avionics, and ...
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Insider Trading Report: LendingTree (TREE)

Douglas Lebda, CEO at LendingTree (TREE), recently added 18,268 shares. The buy increased his holdings by just over 1 percent, and came to a total cost just over $705,000. The purchase comes a week after the CEO bought 65,062 shares, paying just over $2.08 million. Going further back, some insiders have been sellers over the past year, and a company director has been a repeat buyer of LendingTree stock. Overall, insiders own 14.9 percent of the company. Shares of the lending platform ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Riot Platforms (RIOT)

Shares of cryptocurrency mining company Riot Platforms (RIOT) have been cut in half over the past year, even with shares more than double off their recent low. One trader sees the current rally continuing. That’s based on the September $8 calls. With 221 days until expiration, 7,034 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 195, for a 36-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.96 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently went for ...
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Growing Market Share Makes for Big Return Potential

There are many ways that a company’s stock can rise over time. Its earnings can grow over time, indicating a more valuable company. Or the multiple that investors are willing to pay for a company can rise as well. In today’s economic uncertainty, companies that can grab increased market share are capable seeing their multiples rise over time. And chances are when the economy recovers, so too will earnings and profit margins. One company that’s faring well on the market share front ...
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