Unusual Options Activity: Morgan Stanley (MS)

Financial services leader Morgan Stanley (MS) is trading flat over the past year, as the banking sector has been under pressure from higher interest rates and slow stock trading. One trader is betting shares will take a hit in the coming months. That’s based on the December 15 $60 puts. With 58 days until expiration, 9,965 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 162, for a 62-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid ...
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Weight Loss Drugs or Not, Sugary Foods Aren’t Going Away

The past few weeks have seen several snack food companies take a big hit. Part of the move may have been from rising bond yields, which compete with dividend yields. Another factor is the use of Ozempic, a weight loss drug. Either way, shares of these companies have dropped off considerably in recent weeks, and now look like long-term buys. Weight loss drugs are nothing new, and many will still want to enjoy snacks or satisfy their sweet tooth. While headlines have ...
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Insider Activity Report: Coty (COTY)

Isabelle Parize, a director at Coty (COTY), recently bought 4,775 shares. The buy increased her stake by 8 percent, and came to a total cost of just over $50,100. The buy was a follow-up from a buy the prior week for 20,500 shares, which increased her sake by 57 percent and came to nearly $211,000. A major holder also bought 3 million shares earlier in the month, paying $32.4 million. All told, company insiders own 60.1 percent of the cosmetics company, ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Baxter International (BAX)

Dialysis machine manufacturer Baxter International (BAX) is down nearly a third over the past year. Part of the recent selloff comes as new weight loss drugs have come onto the market. One trader is betting that shares have overreacted. That’s based on the January 2024 $35 calls. With 98 days until expiration, 6,917 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 205, for a 34-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $1.50 to make the bullish bet. Shares ...
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Stick With Companies Beating Earnings Now

The market’s wild swings in the past few weeks reflect some economic uncertainty. Rising interest rates are starting to take their toll on the economy. More importantly for investors, rising bond yields tend to compete with dividend-paying stocks in the short-term. That can create some opportunities for investors. Especially if they focus on industry leaders that have proven that they can still grow amid the current uncertainty, and can continue to grow their dividends. PepsiCo (PEP) beat expectations in its most ...
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Insider Activity Report: Legacy Housing Corp (LEGH)

Robert Bates, President and CEO of Legacy Housing Corp (LEGH), recently bought 3,000 shares. The buy increased his stake by 17 percent, and came to a total cost of $55,980. This marks the first insider buy at the company over the past two years. Otherwise, company executives and major shareholders have been regular and steady sellers of the stock over the past year. Overall, company insiders own 57.9 percent of the company. Legacy Housing is up 15 percent over the past year, slightly ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Palantir Technologies (PLTR)

Data analytics firm Palantir Technologies (PLTR) is up nearly 120 percent over the past year. One trader is betting on a further rally for the stock going into next spring. That’s based on the May 2024 $23 calls. With 217 days until expiration, 4,027 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 110, for a 37-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $2.06 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded just under $18, so ...
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Keep Riding this Commodity Boom with the Sector’s Top Names

Commodities were out of favor with the market for the 2010s, but have started to see a comeback since 2020. Typically, commodity markets move in a long-term trend, where decade-long moves can play out. That gives today’s investors in the space ample time to benefit from the trend. Like most trends, it will start slow and build up, ending in a speculative burst. That makes now the optimal time to start buying in. One strong part of the commodity space is the ...
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