Shares ofNew York Community Bank (NYCB) have been under pressure in recent months. One trader is betting that shares will see some further downside this year. That’s based on the January 2025 $2.50 puts. With 312 days until expiration, 39,135 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 356, for a 110-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.40 to make the bearish bet. NYCB recently traded for about $3.60, so shares would need to drop by about $1.10, or about 30 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price is still a bit over the stoc...

Gold prices have broken to new all-time highs of $2,150 per ounce this week. One trader is betting the trend will continue, which will benefit gold stocks such asIAMGOLD (IAG). That’s based on the September $5 calls. With 195 days until expiration, 5,509 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 120, for a 46-fold rise volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.15 to make the bullish bet. IAG shares recently traded for about $3. So shares would need to rise another $2, or 66 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. Such a move is possible for a gold minin...

Tech giantMicrosoft (MSFT) has been a big winner from the tech stock rally, with shares up 63 percent over the past year. One trader sees shares continuing higher through the end of 2026. That’s based on the December 2026 $370 calls. With 1,016 days until expiration, 7,006 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 115, for a 70-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $104 to make the bullish bet. Microsoft shares recently traded at about $400, making the options about $30 in-the-money. Shares are slightly down from their all-time high of $420.82. ...

Video conferencing companyZoom Video Communications (ZM) is trading flat over the past year. One trader sees shares trending lower in the months ahead. That’s based on the June $80 puts. With 107 days until expiration, 48,505 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 365, for a massive 133-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $11.40 to make the bearish bet. Zoom shares recently traded for about $70, meaning the $80 puts are already about $10 in-the-money. The stock is closer to its 52-week high of $75.90 than its low of $58.87. Operationally, Zo...

Oil pipeline companyKinder Morgan (KMI) is trading flat over the past year. Declining energy prices and a lack of interest in the space have kept a lid on shares. One trader sees a jump higher in the month ahead. That’s based on the April 5th $18 call option. With 31 days until expiration, 8,153 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 141, for a 58-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.16. Kinder Morgan shares recently traded for about $17.50, so the stock would need to rally about 3 percent for the calls to move in-the-money. The strike pr...

Digital payment companyBlock (SQ) has been an underperforming stock in the past year, with shares just breaking even after a big earnings beat. One trader sees shares trending lower in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the May $70 puts. With 73 days until expiration, 26,315 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 1,128, for a 23-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $3.30 to make the bearish bet. Block recently trade near $80 per share, so the stock would need to drop $10, or 13.5 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. Block hit a 52-week...

Dating appBumble (BMBL) is down 45 percent over the past year, and sank 15 percent following earnings earlier this week. One trader sees further weakness ahead for shares in the coming weeks. That’s based on the April $10 puts. With 48 days until expiration, 39,751 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 1,067 for a 37-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.30 to make the bearish bet. The company has struggled operationally in the past year, reporting losses even as revenues rose by 13 percent. The dating app market is a rich one with low bar...

Payroll processing companyAutomatic Data Processing (ADP) is up 15 percent over the past year, slightly underperforming the overall stock market. One trader sees further upside in the months ahead. That’s based on the April $270 calls. With 49 days until expiration, 3,731 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 108, for a 35-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.65 to make the bullish bet. ADP shares recently traded for about $251, so they would need to rise by $19, or just under 8 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price...

Shares of conglomerateBerkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) dropped slightly after reporting record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2023. One trader sees shares trending higher in the coming weeks. That’s based on the April $430 calls. With 51 days until expiration, 11,615 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 292, for a 40-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $2.75 to make the bullish bet. Berkshire shares recently traded for about $410, so they would need to rise $20, or just under 5 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price of ...

Telecom providerFrontier Communications Parent (FYBR) is down 17 percent over the past year as the telecom space has been a poorly-performing part of the market. One trader sees further downside ahead. That’s based on the May $22.50 puts. With 80 days left until expiration, 10,530 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 295, for a 36-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.50 to make the bearish bet. Frontier shares recently traded for about $22.10, so the options are already about $0.40 in-the-money. Shares have been trending lower in recent ...