A Safe Way to Play the Bitcoin ETF Rumors

Bitcoin is having a strong year. Rumors of an ETF approval are helping to push the crypto’s price higher, even if the actual news hasn’t materialized yet. Chances are investors will continue to see big daily volatility in cryptos like bitcoin for some time. Those looking to play the overall rising trend in the space can find less volatile places to play it. That means ignoring companies with heavy bitcoin exposure, such as bitcoin mining companies. Cryptocurrency brokerages could benefit from the ...
Read More
|

Insider Activity Report: BioLife Solutions (BLFS)

Casdin Partners Master Fund, a major holder of BioLife Solutions (BLFS), recently added 927,165 shares. The buy increased the fund’s position by 12 percent, and came to a total cost of $10.37 million. The fund was the last buyer of shares with a 58,465 share pickup back in August, for $771,400. Otherwise, company insiders, including the company’s CEO, have been regular sellers of small amounts of shares, usually in the $1,000 to $20,000 range. Overall, company insiders own 2 percent ...
Read More
|

Unusual Options Activity: StoneCo (STNE)

E-commerce financial technology company StoneCo (STNE) has been trading lower in recent months. One trader sees shares declining further into the new year. That’s based on the January 2024 $8 puts. With 85 days until expiration, 49,324 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 293, for a staggering 168-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.30 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for about $10, so they would need to drop about ...
Read More
|

Overlooked Laggards Can Win in a Market Rally

When stocks sell off, good names sell off with bad ones. And companies that have been lagging their industry peers tend to sell off harder. In a turnaround, however, they can have more room to run. Plus, they tend to have lower valuations than industry leaders, which means any upside surprise isn’t priced in. Investors have plenty of options in the tech space going into the end of the year. With stocks likely to see a seasonal rebound, some of the ...
Read More
|

Insider Activity Report: Archer Aviation (ACHR)

Stellantis, a major holder of Archer Aviation (ACHR), recently bought 12,313,234 shares. The buy increased the fund’s stake by 66 percent, and came to a total cost of $70 million. This is the first insider buy since June, when a company director bought 12,000 shares, paying $53,640. There was also a cluster of insider buys, including the company CEO and CFO, back in January. One major holder has been a steady seller of shares this year. Overall, insiders own 31.6 percent ...
Read More
|

Unusual Options Activity: Las Vegas Sands (LVS)

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands (LVS) is up 30 percent over the past year, even as shares have come well off their 52-week highs. One trader is making a high probability bet shares will trend higher. That’s based on the March 2024 $40 calls. With 142 days until expiration, 43,033 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 172, for a massive 250-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $8.40. Shares recently traded close to ...
Read More
|

This Upscale Oligopoly Player Has Long-Term Potential Here

The market’s selloff over the past few months may be nearing a peak. While there could be another leg lower first, the drop has hit great companies to own hard enough to be a buy here. That’s especially true for companies that don’t have many competitors. Most mature industries only have a few companies, and have to cater to customers on other criteria than price. When the economy recovers, as it always does, these companies can move to new highs. In the ...
Read More
|

Insider Activity Report: Delta Air Lines (DAL)

David Taylor, a director at Delta Air Lines (DAL), recently bought 10,000 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 13 percent, and came to a total cost of $330,900. Taylor was the last insider to buy with multiple purchases back in April. Since then, there have been several insider sales, mostly by company EVPs at prices as much as 20 percent higher than where shares trade today. Overall, Delta insiders own 0.3 percent of shares. The airliner is flat over the past ...
Read More
|