Unusual Options Activity: eBay (EBAY)

Shares of online auction site eBay (EBAY) have lost nearly one-quarter of their value in the past year and are nearly 50 percent off their highs. One trader is betting that the decline will continue in the coming weeks. That’s based on the August $47.50 puts. With 77 days until expiration, 8,187 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 153, for a 54-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the puts paid $3.75 for the option. Shares recently traded ...
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Continue to Stick with Leading Growth Names When Buying Amid the Tech Rout

While the latest bear market may not be over, traders can start targeting top companies likely to recover in time and outperform the market on the next leg up. One way to do that is to find tech companies that underperformed the market on the way down… even as they’ve continued to grow. For many tech companies, that may mean finding a high profit margin or strong revenue growth in today’s environment. One company that could be a winner on a rebound ...
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Insider Trading Report: Old Republic Insurance (ORI)

Lisa Caldwell, a director at Old Republic Insurance (ORI), recently bought 9,920 shares. The buy increased her stake by 1,262 percent, and came to a total purchase price just over $234,000. This is the first insider activity at the company since March, when two directors also purchases shares. Generally, company insiders have been buyers of shares over the past three years, with some major holders acting as major sellers. Overall, insiders at the company own about 7.5 percent of shares. The insurance ...
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Unusual Options Activity: Air Products and Chemicals (APD)

Shares of specialty chemical company Air Products and Chemicals (APD) have been on the decline. One trader is betting on a rebound in the coming months. That’s based on the September $280 calls. With 106 days until expiration, 10,301 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 141, for a 73-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $2.95 to get in. Shares recently traded for about $246, so the stock would need to rise about ...
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One Possible Bargain Emerges Among the Biggest Tech Names Today

With stocks near bear market territory, some names have been hit harder than others. A bear market marks a market-wide drop of 20 percent from a top. But some individual tech names, even big players, are down further than that. One such example is Netflix (NFLX). The streaming platform has reported slower growth, a decline in subscribers for the first time ever, and increased competition in the streaming space. Shares are down more than half off their highs as a result. Given ...
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Insider Trading Report: Best Buy Co (BBY)

Richard Schulze, Chairman Emeritus at Best Buy Co (BBY), recently picked up 250,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by about 1.1 percent, and came to a total purchase price of $19,900,000. The buy is notably large, as company insiders have generally been sellers of shares over the past three years. Typically, company insiders will sell around 10,000-15,000 shares in their largest blocks, against some modest insider buys of as few as 10 shares. Overall, insiders, led by Schulze, own 10.8 ...
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Unusual Options Activity: General Motors (GM)

Shares of carmaker General Motors (GM) have shed over one-third of their value in the past year. One trader sees the possibility for a further decline. That’s based on the July 8 $38 puts. With 37 days until expiration, 10,003 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 100, for a 100-fold increase in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.89 to make the trade. Shares last traded around $38.50, meaning that these options are already about ...
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Despite Short-Term Trends, Big Data Will Lead to Big Profits

Many tech trends are under way today that will lead to big growth, especially when looking past today’s weak economy. One of those trends is big data, which looks at data sets too large and complex to be reviewed manually. Big data is already allowing companies to find new ways of doing business, with substantial improvements already. Yet the real value of that will only compound in time. One leader in the space is Palantir Technologies (PLTR). Like most tech plays, it’s ...
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