Unusual Options Activity: Keycorp (KEY)

Regional bank Keycorp (KEY) is down nearly 40 percent over the past year, as banking stocks have been out of favor with the market. One trader sees the potential for another big drop by the end of the year. That’s based on the December $6 puts. With 184 days until expiration, 5,128 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 195, for a 26-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.40. Shares recently traded for ...
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This Mega-Cap Tech Giant May Lead Markets Higher Next

The past few weeks has seen an explosion of interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and chipmaker stocks. That’s allowed a few big-cap tech names to lead the overall market higher. And since the stock market is weighted by market cap, it may have even kept stocks from dropping so far this year. With the move higher fizzling out, it’s possible that investors are looking to new leaders to keep the 2023 rally going. One company looks set to take the leadership ...
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Insider Trading Report: Banc of California (BANC)

Joseph Rice, a director at Banc of California (BANC), recently bought 7,500 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 85 percent, and came to a total cost of $84,375. This is the first insider activity in a month, when another director bought 3,200 shares in early May for about $35,000. Company insiders have been buyers so far this year, including over $1 million from a third director across multiple transactions. Overall, insiders at the regional bank own 1.9 percent of shares. The ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Johnson Controls International (JCI)

Building product and systems manufacturer Johnson Controls International (JCI) has moved 22 percent higher in the past year. One trader sees further upside ahead for shares in the next three months. That’s based on the October $67.50 calls. With 129 days until expiration, 11,121 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 114, for a 98-fold jump in volume in the past year. The buyer of the calls paid $2.00 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded for about $63.50, ...
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Growth at a Reasonable Price Rarely Goes Out of Style

Most investment analysis tries to put a company into either a growth category, or a value category. Fortunately, some stocks offer both at the same time. With some sectors of the market rallying strongly and value out of reach, being able to buy value while also seeing a move higher is huge. And with a solid valuation, the share price can move higher from both higher earnings growth and a higher valuation multiple as the company grows. One company exhibiting this growth ...
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Insider Trading Report: Deere & Co (DE)

Tami Erwin, a director at Deere & Co (DE), recently bought 675 shares. The buy increased her stake by 29 percent, and came to a total cost just under $250,500. This marks the only insider buy at the company over the past two years. Company executives have otherwise exclusively been sellers over the past two years. However, those sales have come following the exercise of stock options. Overall, company insiders own 0.2 percent of shares. The agricultural equipment manufacturer is up about ...
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Unusual Options Activity: GameStop (GME)

Retail game store GameStop (GME) dropped following the announcement that the company CEO was departing. One trader sees shares rebounding from that drop in the coming days. That’s based on the June 30 $22 calls. With 17 days until expiration, 10,388 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 250, for a 42-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.29 to make the bullish bet. Shares last traded around $21.50, so shares would need to ...
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Use Bad News as an Opportunity to Buy

Companies often fall quickly on bad news. Sometimes, the news is terminal for the company, like a bank being seized and closed down. But most of the time, bad news hits a share price harder than it needs to. That creates a buying opportunity. It’s just important to separate permanent bad news from temporary bad news. As long as a company can continue operating, it’s likely to overcome its challenge and move higher in time. Right now, cryptocurrency exchanges have taken a ...
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