Shares of investment bankMorgan Stanley (MS) have nearly doubled in the last year. One trader sees the potential for a further move higher in shares in the months ahead. That’s based on the February 2022 $100 calls. Expiring in over six months, over 11,220 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 215 contracts, for a 52-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid about $5.10 to do so. The bank’s strongly performing share price stands against a relatively slow rise in revenue and growth, both of which are up only about 10 percent in the past year. But with a fat 25 perce...

Shares of casino giantLas Vegas Sands (LVS) have been trending down since mid-March, and now stand near a six-month low. One trader sees shares breaking off the low and moving higher once again. That’s based on the May 2022 $62.50 calls. With 298 days until expiration, over 35,780 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 677, for a 53-fold jump in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $2.21 on average. With shares around $47, they would need to rally 50 percent or more for the trade to move in-the-money by expiration. That’s a tall order, but shares did close on a 52-week high...

Shares of conglomerate3M (MMM) have been trading in a range for the past few months. One trader sees the shares moving higher, potentially out of its trading range and into a new rally. That’s based on the September $210 calls. Over 10,200 contracts traded against an open interest of 272, for a 38-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid about $2.42 to make the trade. With shares around $200, a move to $210 represents about a 5 percent move higher in the next 56 days before the options expire. Shares have slightly underperformed the S&P 500 in the past year. The compan...

Shares of oil refining giantValero Energy (VLO) have been sliding in the past month. However, one trader sees a potential rebound in the coming months. That’s based on the November $65 call. With 120 days until expiration, over 5,115 contracts traded against an open interest of 128, for a 40-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the call options paid about $4.18 to make the trade. Shares of the company are currently around $62.50, making this a near-the-money call. Valero has traded as high as $85 in the past year, but rising oil prices led to reduced profitability for oil refining opera...

Shares of hotel chainHilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT) have been trading in a range over the past few months. One trader is betting that when shares do break out of their range, it will be higher. That’s based on the January 2023 $130 calls. With a whopping 548 days until expiration, over 6,250 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 142, for a 44-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the contracts paid about $14.70. Shares last traded around $117, so to move in-the-money, the stock would have to rally less than 10 percent in the next year and a half. The strike price is also jus...

Shares of department store chainNordstrom (JWN) have been trading in a range year-to-date. Shares now trade at the lower end of that range, and one trader is betting on a move higher. That’s based on the August $32.50 calls. Over 8,975 contracts traded, an 84-fold jump in volume over the prior open interest of 107. The buyer of the calls paid about $2.19 to make the trade. With shares currently around $32.70, the option is an at-the-money trade, and could deliver solid returns should shares have one of their periodic bounces up to the higher end of their range in the low $40s. The...

Shares of telecom companyVerizon (VZ) have been trading in a narrow range over the past year. One trader sees shares moving higher, possibly back to the top of their trading range, if not higher. That’s based on the September $50 calls. Over 10,000 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 336, for a 30-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the options paid about $6.75 to make the trade. Shares of Verizon last traded near $56.50, leaving this option about $6.50 in-the-money, meaning the total premium paid for the option to make the trade is low. However, with a 52-week high of...

Shares of car manufacturing giantFord (F) have been doing well this year. One trader sees that trend continuing well into the next year. That’s based on the June 2022 $22 calls. The trade has 336 days left until expiration. Over 6,200 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 320, for a 19-fold rise in volume. Based on where shares last traded in the low $14 range, the stock price would need to surge over 54 percent to move in-the-money. The buyer of the options paid about $0.52 for a contract. The carmaker has seen shares rally strongly this year as the company has unveil...

Shares of semiconductor companyPhotronics Inc (PLAB) have been generally moving higher over the past few months, but with some volatile spikes in shares. One trader sees the potential for a further move higher. That’s based on the December $12.50 calls. With 155 days until expiration, over 4,273 contracts traded, a 36-fold rise in volume from the prior open interest of 117. The buyer of the calls paid $1.92 on average to make the trade. With shares near $13, the calls are slightly in-the-money. As long as shares trend higher, the option should continue to gain value. The semicondu...

Shares of digital advertising firmThe Trade Desk (TTD) have started moving higher in recent weeks after dropping and bottoming out in early May. One trader sees the potential for shares to head higher from here. That’s based on the August $75 calls. Over 61,475 contracts traded against an open interest of 2,050, for a 30-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid about $7.50 to make the trade, which expires in 37 days. The buy was made as shares traded just under $78, so the trade is nearly $3.00 in-the-money. The company has already seen shares rise 80 percent in the past y...