Unusual Options Activity: Park Hotels & Resorts (PK)

Shares of hotel proprietor Park Hotels & Resorts (PK) have been trading in a range for the past year. One trader sees some potential downside in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the July $17.50 put. With 39 days until expiration, 6,748 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 149, for a 49-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.73 to make the downside bet. Share recently traded just over $18.50, so the ...
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For Long-Term Results, look to the Companies Consolidating Now

When the economy sours and the business outlook drops, some companies look for an opportunity to increase their business with strategic acquisitions. Those companies can increase their industry dominance and become stronger over time, and shares will likely rally as the economy does. As long as such deals pass regulatory muster, large companies that buy up other companies to grow through acquisition can likely see further growth in the years ahead. One company making long-term strategic moves now is Oracle (ORCL). The ...
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Insider Trading Report: VF Corp (VFC)

Rodney McMullin, a director at VF Corp (VFC) recently bought 3,000 shares. The buy increased his stake by nearly 12 percent, and came to a total cost of just under $150,000. That’s the fourth such buy from the director this year. The other three buys were also for 3,000 shares each. Going further back, there’s a mix of both insider buying and selling, by both directors and C-suite executives. Overall, company insiders own about 5.5 percent of shares. Shares of the apparel ...
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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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