blog test

Sometimes a company makes a misstep that can cost it customers in the short term. Other times, a misstep can be more permanent in nature. The question is how each specific opportunity plays out. Since each situation is different, it helps to look at the strength of the market reaction. And how competitors are faring as well. If a company faces trouble in a bear market, it may get overlooked. But it may also shine a favorable light on a competitor. Recently, ...
Read More

Vikram Atal, President and CEO at PRA Group (PRAA), recently bought 40,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 60 percent, and came to a total cost just under $753,000. He was joined by two directors. One bought 12,000 shares, paying about $229,000. Another bought 7,500 shares, paying just under $142,000. Insiders have otherwise been sellers of shares over the past two years, at price more than double where shares trade today. Overall, company insiders own about 1.9 percent of shares. The ...
Read More

Ride share service Uber Technologies (UBER) has had a strong rally, with shares up 68 percent over the past year. One trader is betting that the rally has stalled out. That’s based on the December 15 $40 puts. With 205 days until expiration, 3,004 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 107, for a 28-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $4.80 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded just over $39, so ...
Read More

The economic data in the past week shows a slowdown in consumer spending. As a major part of the economy, that’s a big deal. Yet retailers are reporting better-than-expected numbers. That suggests there may have been too much pessimism in the short term. It also suggests retailers with a cost advantage can likely fare well in today’s environment. That bodes well for most big box players. But one is king of them all. That winner is Walmart (WMT). Their earnings not only ...
Read More

Russell Wight, a director at Vornado Realty Trust (VNO), recently added 14,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 280 percent, and came to a total cost just under $150,000. The buy came a week after a previous purchase. Another director was a sizeable seller of shares last month. Otherwise, company insiders have generally been inactive at the company over the past two years as either buyers or sellers. Overall, insiders own 8.1 percent of the company. The real estate investment trust ...
Read More

Tech conglomerate Microsoft (MSFT) has been trending higher in recent sessions, and just broke through to a new 52-week high. One trader is betting that the uptrend will continue in the short term. That’s based on the June 30 $330 calls. With 38 days until expiration, 7,806 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 175, for a 45-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $4.10 to make the bullish bet. Microsoft recently traded ...
Read More

Most investors didn’t expect the banking sector to get into trouble this year. Generally, rising interest rates are good for banks. They make fewer loans, albeit at higher rates. However, many banks used the low-rate era to invest in Treasury bonds at lower yields. That’s led to the second, third, and fourth-largest bank failures in U.S. history this year. It’s possible that they won’t be the last. But while the banking sector is down, it’s not quite out. Several regional banks are ...
Read More

Steven Webster, a director at Callon Petroleum Company (CPE), recently picked up 10,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 1 percent, and came to a total cost just over $302,000. This follows up on a 50,000 share buy made by the director the week before, which increased his holdings by 7 percent, and which came to a total cost of $1.55 million. Another director made a buy for 250 shares in February, at a cost just under $9,800. Overall, company Read More