Discount store chainDollar Tree (DLTR) is down 6 percent over the past year, as the dollar store space has struggled with low margins. One trader sees further downside ahead. That’s based on the June 2024 $80 puts. With 157 days until expiration, 7,603 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 124, for a 61-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.40 to make the bearish bet. Dollar Tree shares recently traded for about $135, so they would need to drop $55, or nearly 40 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price of the option is w...

Despite a trend higher in recent months, online payment platformPayPal (PYPL) is still down 21 percent over the past year. One trader expects shares to trend lower in the coming weeks. That’s based on the February 9 $51 puts. With 28 days until expiration, 6,005 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 113, for a 53-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.39 to make the bearish bet. PayPal shares recently traded for about $61, so they would need to drop about $10, or about 14 percent, for the options to move in-the-money. The strike price of th...

Engineering firmKBR (KBR) lagged the overall stock market last year, rallying about 10 percent. One trader expects shares to make up for lost ground in the first half of 2024. That’s based on the June $57.50 calls. With 162 days until expiration, 5,041 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 115, for a 44-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $2.50 to make the bullish bet. KBR shares recently traded for about $54, so they would need to rise about $3.50, or about 6.5 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price is well under KBR’...

Airline operatorUnited Airlines (UAL) has been in an uptrend for the past few weeks, and has now reversed its losses from 2023. One trader sees a further rally in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the February 16 $45 calls. With 37 days until expiration, 15,099 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 553, for a 27-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.56 to make the bullish bet. United Airlines shares recently traded for just under $43, so UAL would need to rise $2, or just under 5 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price ...

Agricultural producerArcher Daniels Midland (ADM) is out of favor with the market. Shares are down 16 percent over the past year, and one trader sees more downside in the months ahead. That’s based on the March $65 puts. With 65 days until expiration, 6,037 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 158, for a 38-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.10 to make the bearish bet. ADM shares recently traded just under $71, so shares would need to drop $6, or about 8.5 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike price of the option is ...

Construction giantFluor (FLR) is up 16 percent over the past year, slightly lagging the overall stock market. One trader sees shares rallying in the coming weeks. That’s based on the February 16, 2024 $40 calls. With 39 days until expiration, 10,429 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 170, for a 61-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.54 to make the bullish bet. Fluor recently traded for about $36.50, so the stock would need to rise about $3.50, or just under 10 percent in a little over a month for the option to move in-the-money. That...

Swiss bankUBS Group (UBS) soared over 50 percent last year, coming off extremely low valuations. One trader is betting on a pullback in shares in the coming months. That’s based on the May 17, 2024 $25 puts. With 132 days until expiration, 11,402 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 200, for a 57-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.60 to make the bearish bet. UBS shares recently traded for just over $29, so the stock would need to drop by $4, or 14 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. Such a move is possible. The bank currently...

Commerce platformShopify (SHOP) rose over 120 percent in 2023, fueled in strong part by the year-end rally. One trader is betting shares will pull back in the coming weeks following their major move. That’s based on the February 2 $64 puts. With 28 days until expiration, 8,931 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 203, for a 44-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.60 to make the bearish bet. Shopify recently traded for about $74, so shares would need to drop about $10, or nearly 15 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. Shares were...

Oil and gas exploration companyAntero Resources (AR) sank 20 percent in 2023, as energy prices trended down compared to the prior year. One trader sees a move higher in the coming weeks. That’s based on the February 16 $20 calls. With 44 days until expiration, 7,006 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 267, for a 26-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $3.35 to make the bullish bet. Antero Resources recently traded for just over $22.50, making the options just over $2.50 in-the-money. The stock has shot higher in recent weeks, having trade...

Chinese e-commerce platformAlibaba (BABA) is down 15 percent over the past year, as China’s economy has failed to grow faster following the end of its pandemic lockdowns. One trader sees a further decline in the coming weeks. That’s based on the January 26 $69 puts. With 24 days until expiration, 7,091 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 239, for a 30-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.42 to make the bearish bet. Alibaba shares recently traded for about $77. So they would need to drop $8, or about 10 percent, for the option to move in-th...