Oil and gas operatorOccidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) has seen shares rise 7 precent in the past year. More importantly,Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) has been buying up shares as they drop to the low $60 range. One trader sees a bullish move ahead for the stock following the latest drop. That’s based on the March 31 $63 calls. With 21 days until expiration, 4,625 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 229, for a 20-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $1.82 Shares recently traded just over $62, to shares need to rise less than $1, or about 1.5 percent, fo...

Gold mining operatorBarrick Gold Corporation (GOLD) has seen shares slide by just over one-third in the past year. One trader is betting on a rebound in shares over the coming months. That’s based on the September $21 calls. With 190 days until expiration, 9,668 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 375, for a 26-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.30 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded just under $16, so they’d need to rise over $5, or about 33 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. That would still be a bit under the s...

AirlinerSpirit Airlines (SAVE) dropped nearly 9 percent on Monday on a report that its potential acquisition would likely face an antitrust lawsuit from the Department of Justice. One trader sees a further decline for shares ahead. That’s based on the April $17.50 puts. With 44 days until expiration, 22,833 contracts traded compared to a prior interest of 330, for a 69-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.01 to make the bearish bet. Shares recently traded for about $16.50, making the option about $1.00 in-the-money. That’s about half the price of the propos...

Consumer tech giantApple (AAPL) dropped about in-line with the overall stock market last year. Shares look ready to move higher, however, and one trader is betting on a sizeable move in the coming weeks. That’s based on the April 14 $160 calls. With 37 days until expiration, 3,871 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 110, for a 35-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.89 to make the bullish bet. Apple shares recently went for about $151, so the stock would need to rise $9, or about 6 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The strike ...

3D printing companyDesktop Metals (DM) have fallen on hard times in the past year, with shares losing over 60 percent of their value. One trader sees a further decline for shares in the months ahead. That’s based on the August $2.50 puts. With 165 days until expiration, 14,163 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 305, for a 46-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.75 to make the bearish bet. Desktop Metals shares recently traded for about $2.05, making the option about $0.45 in-the-money. The strike price is still well over the stock’s 52-we...

American Airlines Group (AAL) stock has been trading in a range over the past year. One trader sees shares breaking out and moving higher in the months ahead. That’s based on the September $21 calls. With 196 days until expiration, 32,532 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 490, for a 66-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.54. The airliner recently traded for about $16, so shares would need to rise by $5, or about 31 percent, for the options to move in-the-money. That would also see shares move close to their 52-week high of $21.42. Ameri...

Car manufacturerFord Motor Company (F) has seen shares lose over a quarter of their value in the past year. One trader is betting that the stock will see a further slide in the months ahead. That’s based on the June $12 puts. With 106 days until expiration, 20,868 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 269, for a 78-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.98. Ford shares recently traded for about $12, making this an at-the-money trade. The $12 strike price is also well above the stock’s 52-week low of $10.61, hit late last year before a strong r...

Shares of oil and gas equipment and services companySchlumberger Limited (SLB) have gained 37 percent in the past year. One trader sees the stock continuing to rally in the coming weeks. That’s based on the April $65 call. With 51 days until expiration, 35,216 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 234, for a 151-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.36 to make the bullish bet. Schlumberger shares recently went for about $54.50, so the stock would need to rise over $10, or over 19 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. That would also ...

Shares of Norwegian oil and gas companyEquinor ASA (EQNR) have traded flat over the past year, underperforming the energy sector. One trader sees shares closing that gap by the end of 2023. That’s based on the January 2024 $38.99 calls. With 325 days until expiration, 10,200 options traded compared to a prior open interest of 134, for a 76-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.60 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded for about $31.50, so Equinor would need to rally about 24 percent for the options to move in-the-money. The company has a 52-week hi...

Shares of coffee store chainStarbucks (SUBX) are up 15 percent over the past year, bucking the market downtrend. However, one trader sees a pullback in the coming weeks. That’s based on the March $102 puts. With 18 days until expiration, 4,092 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 164, for a 25-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the puts paid $1.67. Shares recently traded around $103.50, so the stock would need to drop about $1.50 for the option to move in-the-money. That’s a reasonable move, even in the span of a few weeks. And that strike price is still well over Sta...