Unusual Options Activity: BlackBerry (BB)

Shares of wireless communications equipment company BlackBerry (BB) have shed more than half their value in the last year amid a big drop in tech stocks. One trader sees a further decline. That’s based on the June $4.00 puts. With 174 days until expiration, 4,255 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 151, for a 28-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.82 to make the bet. The stock recently traded at a new ...
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Use Bear Markets to Accumulate Companies That Can Buck the Trend

In a bull market, investors can buy just about any stock and make money. While it’s tougher in a bear market, there are several stocks that can hold their own and even gain. That’s true of every bear market. 28 of the 30 Dow stocks dropped in 2008, but 2 of them managed to move higher. In this current market, with rising interest rates and a slow economy, it’s no surprise investors are turning to defensive stocks once again. One defensive stock ...
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Insider Trading Report: F&G Annuities & Life Insurance (FG)

Christopher Blunt, President and CEO at F&G Annuities & Life Insurance (FG), recently added 10,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 2.6 percent, and came to a total cost just over $195,000. This is the 7th buy from Blunt so far this month. These trades constitute the only insider activity at the company. F&G was recently made public via a spinoff from parent company Fidelity National Financial (FNF). Consequently, initial insider data is not yet finalized. Overall, early data indicates Read More
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Unusual Options Activity: Deutsche Bank (DB)

Shares of global money center bank Deutsche Bank (DB) are down about 15 percent over the past year. One trader sees a further decline in the months ahead. That’s based on the February 2023 $10 puts. With 57 days until expiration, 9,298 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 149, for a 62-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.32 to make the downside bet. Shares recently traded for just over $11, so the ...
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Look for Market-Beating Returns in Off-the-Beaten Path Names

Investors tend to gravitate towards great companies. Those companies tend to dominate their industry, and tend to grow massive. That makes it easier for investors to justify owning. While we’re fans of big-name tech companies thanks to their high profit margins and industry positioning, many more off-the-radar companies can be big winners too. That’s especially true getting out of well-known tech and consumer brand name companies and into infrastructure and industrial stocks. These companies manufacture many of the products needed for other ...
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Insider Trading Report: NRG Energy (NRG)

Elisabeth Donohue, a director at NRG Energy (NRG), recently added 2,500 shares. The buy increased her holdings by 16 percent, and came to a total cost of $78,300. She was joined by another director who bought 3,500 shares, paying just under $108,000 to increase his holdings by about 4 percent. A third director also bought 1,571 shares, paying just over $49,000. That’s on top of a further series of insider buys recently, including a 15,000 share pickup from the President and ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Seagate Technology (STX)

Shares of hard drive manufacturer Seagate Technology (STX) have been cut in half over the past year amid slowing demand for computer and computer parts. One trader sees a further decline over the next two years. That’s based on the January 2025 $55 puts. With 758 days until expiration, 5,000 contracts traded compared to the prior open interest of 117, for a 28-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $14.48 to make the trade. Shares recently ...
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Stick With Industry Winners, Even When They’re Being Cautious

The economy continues to slow. While that’s starting to show up in declining year-over-year inflation rates, the market is warning about a recession in several ways. Big businesses are one of the places where the alarm has been sounded. That’s because a few companies have announced layoffs, of anywhere from 5 to 30 percent of their workforces. Typically, a company that can do more with less can fare well over time, however. One of the most recent companies to announce layoffs is ...
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