Oil and gas exploration companyEnerplus Corporation (ERF) has slid in recent weeks as oil prices have trended lower. One trader sees a further decline in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the April $14 puts. With 28 days until expiration, 2,723 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 113, for a 24-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.58 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for about $14.15, so the stock would only need to drop about 1 percent for the options to move in-the-money. That’s still well over the stock’s current 52-week low...

Social media companySnap Inc (SNAP) has seen shares drop 70 percent in the past year. One trader is betting that shares have further to fall in the next six months. That’s based on the September $6 puts. With 176 days until expiration, 11,418 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 246, for a 46-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.27 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently went for about $11.50, so they’d need to drop nearly in half for the put option to move in-the-money. And shares would need to see a new 52-week low, moving past the prior...

Semiconductor companyAnalog Devices (ADI) have been a strong performer in the past year, with a 13 percent gain, amid overall losses for the sector. One trader is betting on a reversion taking shares down in the coming days. That’s based on the March 31 $175 puts. With 9 days until expiration, 2,232 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 115, for a 19-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.77. Shares recently traded for about $187, so they would need to drop $12, or about 6.5 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. Given the market’s rece...

Video game design studioElectronic Arts (EA) dropped about 10 percent over the past year. One trader sees shares rebounding in the months ahead. That’s based on the September $125 calls. With 178 days until expiration, 1,307 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 106, for a 12-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $4.65 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded for about $113, so the stock would need to rise $12, or about 11 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. EA has traded as high as $142.79 in the past year, so such a move is c...

Brazilian iron ore producerVale (VALE) is down 17 percent in the past year, with most of that decline occurring in just the past few weeks. One trader sees a potential rebound in the coming weeks. That’s based on the April $15 calls. With 32 days until expiration, 62,023 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 1,004, for a 62-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.12 to make the bullish bet. Vale shares recently went for about $15.50, so the options are already about $0.50 in-the-money. The strike price is well under the 52-week high of $21.29 ...

AirlinerUnited Airlines Holdings (UAL) has held up well over the past year, with a 12 percent gain amid the market’s overall 10 percent drop. One trader sees that outperformance continuing in the months ahead. That’s based on the January 2025 $45 calls. With 672 days until expiration, 5,497 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 143, for a 38-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $11.13 to make the bullish bet. United shares recently went for about $43, so shares would need to rise just $2.00 for the option to move in-the-money. That’s still wel...

Office real estate investment trustSL Green Realty (SLG) has seen shares slide by nearly two-thirds in the past year. One trader sees a further decline in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the May $22.50 puts. With 64 days until expiration, 9,147 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 22, for a 41-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.45 to make the downside bet. Shares recently went for about $28, so the stock would need to drop about 20 percent in the next two months for the option to move in-the-money. It would also entail SL Green dropping ...

Transaction processing services companyMarqeta (MQ) has seen shares get cut in half over the past year. One trader sees further downside in the months ahead. That’s based on the June $3.50 puts. With 93 days until expiration, 67,259 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 100, for a staggering 673-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.23 to make the downside bet. Shares recently went for about $4.25, so the stock would need to drop about 75 cents, or about 20 percent, for the trade to move in-the-money. Marqeta shares would need to set a new 52...

Money center bankU.S. Bancorp (USB) has seen shares drop about 25 percent in the past year. One trader sees a further drop for shares in the coming months. That’s based on the June 16 $30 puts. With 94 days until expiration, 5,377 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 100, for a 54-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.53 to make the bearish bet. The bank recently traded for just over $37, so it would need to lose another 20 percent, or $7, for the option to move in-the-money. That’s also well under USB’s 52-week low of $38.39. USB has see...

Industrial and manufacturing conglomerate3M Company (MMM), has seen shares lose nearly a quarter of their value over the past year. One trader sees a further decline in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the March 31 $30 puts. With 18 days until expiration, 7,134 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 112, for a 64-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.60 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for about $105.50, making this an at-the-money trade. Given that shares have just hit a new 52-week low, a drop to $105 would mark a further drop...