Bitcoin mining company Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) is up 62% over the past year as bitcoin prices have trended higher. One trader expects shares to drop considerably in the coming months. That’s based on the September $5.00 puts. With 136 days until expiration, 5,008 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 196, for a 26-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.15 to make the bearish bet Marathon recently traded for about $17.50. So the stock would need to slide by $12.00, or over 70%, in just over four months. Shares would also need to bre...

Online marketplace Etsy (ETSY) sank 16% last week following its latest earnings report. One trader sees a rebound for shares playing out in the months ahead. That’s based on the January 2025 $65 calls. With 256 days until expiration, 4,447 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 134, for a 33-fold increase in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $8.10 to make the bullish bet. Etsy shares traded around $58, meaning they would need to rise by about $7, or about 12% between now and the start of next year for the option to move in-the-money. That’s well under...

Investment bank Jefferies Financial Group (JEF) has had a strong year, with shares up over 40%. One trader sees shares trending even higher through the autumn. That’s based on the September $50 calls. With 140 days until expiration, 3,003 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 120, for a 25-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.67 to make the bullish bet. Jefferies shares recently traded for about $43, so the stock would need to rise by $7, or 16%, for the option to move in-the-money. Shares would also need to break past their old 52-week hig...

Semiconductor manufacturer Intel (INTC) has underperformed its peers over the past year, as the company spends billions of dollars on constructing new foundries. One trader is betting shares will continue to underperform for the next two years. That’s based on the June 2026 $25 puts. With 777 days until expiration 1,907 contracts recently traded, a 15-fold increase over the option’s open interest of 129 contracts. The buyer of the puts paid $2.90 to make the bearish bet. Intel shares recently traded for just over $30, so they would need to drop by $5, or about 20%, for the option to ...

Commercial truck designer and manufacturer PACCAR (PCAR) is up nearly 50% over the past year. One trader sees shares pulling back in the coming weeks. That’s based on the June $100 puts. With 51 days until expiration, 10,327 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 198, for a 52-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.96 to make the bearish bet. PACCAR shares recently traded for about $114, so the stock would need to drop about 13% in the coming weeks for the option trade to move in-the-money. Shares are pulling back after hitting a 52-week hig...

Gold prices have been trending higher this year, and so have gold miners. One trader is betting that major gold miner Barrick Gold (GOLD) will see massive gains in the months ahead. That’s based on the November $25 calls. With 199 days until expiration, 3,082 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 175, for an 18-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.25 to make the bullish bet. Barrick shares recently traded for about $17, so they would need to rise $8.00, or 47%, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price is well over the stock’s 5...

Student lending service company SLM Corporation (SLM) is up 44% over the past year, roughly double the return of the S&P 500. One trader sees a potential pullback in the coming months. That’s based on the July $20 puts. With 80 days until expiration, 6,008 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 107, for a 56-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.46 to make the bearish bet. SLM shares recently traded for just under $22, so they would need to drop by about 10% in the next few months for the option to move in-the-money. That’s still well over...

Big data analytics company Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has had a strong year, with shares up 180%. One trader sees shares trending higher in the coming weeks. That’s based on the May 17 $26.50 calls. The trade has 21 days until expiration, and 7,619 contracts just traded compared to a prior open interest of 147, for a 52-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.40 to make the bullish bet. Palantir shares just traded for about $21.00, meaning the stock would need to rise $5.50, or a massive 26%, for the options to move in-the-money. Since mid-March, shares ...

Candy and confection producer The Hershey Company (HSY) is down 30% over the past year. One trader sees the potential for further downside in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the June $195 puts. With 57 days until expiration, 6,675 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 166, for a 40-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $12.25 to make the bearish bet. Hershey shares recently traded for about $187, meaning the options are about $8 in-the-money. The stock is coming off its most recent 52-week low of $178.82. While Hershey managed to see its rev...

Industrial conglomerate Honeywell (HON) has been trading in a range over the past year. One trader is betting that shares will trend to the lower end of that range in the coming weeks. That’s based on the May 17 $185 puts. With 23 days until expiration, 10,018 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 175, for a 57-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.45 to make the bearish bet. Honeywell shares recently traded for about $196, meaning shares would need to drop $11, or just over 5%, for the option to move in-the-money. Honeywell has traded betwee...