Shares of biotechnology companyAltimmune (ALT) are up 28 percent over the past year, but are also up nearly four-fold from their 52-week lows. One trader sees shares giving back some of their recent gains. That’s based on the October $13 put. With 42 days until expiration, 6,077 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 104, for a 58-fold surge in volume. The buyer of the puts paid $1.70 to get into the trade. The stock recently traded around $20, so it would need to lose $7, or about 35 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. The company is an early-stage player...

Shares of semiconductor companyTexas Instruments (TXN) are down about 14 percent in the past year, about in-line with the overall stock market. One trader sees a further decline in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the November $160 puts. With 71 days until expiration, 5,075 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 113, for a 45-fold surge in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $8.60 to get into the trade. Shares recently traded for about $163, so they would need to decline about 2 percent in order for the option to move in-the-money. The stock has a 52-week l...

Shares of uranium producerCameco (CCJ) have risen 26 percent in the past year, on renewed interest in nuclear power and rising uranium prices. One trader sees that trend continuing through the end of the year. That’s based on the December $37 calls. With 100 days until expiration, 22,667 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 101, for a 224-fold explosion higher in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $1.40 to make the trade. Shares recently traded for about $29, so they would need to rise $8, or about 28 percent for the option to move in-the-money. That would also set ...

Shares of biotech playCTI BioPharma Corp (CTIC) have soared over 100 percent in the past year. One trader sees shares giving up some of those gains in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the October $6.00 put options. With 45 days until expiration, 8,012 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 109, for a 74-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.03 to make the downside bet. The stock recently traded for about $6.50, so shares would need to drop about 10 percent for the option to move in-the-money. The stock has a 52-week low close to $1.50, so such...

Shares of oil exploration and production companyOvintiv (OVV) are up 87 percent over the past year thanks to a strong energy market. One trader sees the possibility for a short-term drop in the coming weeks. That’s based on the October $45 puts. With 46 days until expiration, 12,906 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 299, for a 43-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.43 to make the downside bet. The stock recently traded for about $50, so the stock would need to decline just over $5, or 10 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. Sha...

Shares of logistics and trading companyRyder System (R) have broken even over the past year amid a more tumultuous return for the S&P 500 index. One trader sees that outperformance continuing with a further rally in the coming weeks. That’s based on the November $80 calls. With 79 days until expiration, 5,032 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 110, for a 45-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $3.65. With shares recently going for just over $76, they would need to rise less than 5 percent for the option to move in-the-money. And with a ...

Shares of social media companyTwitter (TWTR) are down 38 percent in the past year, amid heavy volatility over the potential takeover of the company. One trader sees shares declining in the coming weeks. That’s based on the November $34 puts. With 78 days until expiration, 4,249 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 213, for a 20-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $3.70 to make the downside bet. Shares recently went for about $39, so the stock would need to drop $5, or about 13 percent for the option to move in-the-money. At this point, the...

Shares of pharmaceutical and medical supply companyAbbott Laboratories (ABT) have lost about 20 percent of their value in the past year. One trader sees a further drop in shares ahead. That’s based on the November $75 put options. With 79 days until expiration, 10,841 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 350, for a 31-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.24. Shares recently traded for $102, so they would need to lose more than a quarter of their value to move in-the-money. The stock is already at a 52-week low, so the move lower would put s...

Shares of gold exploration and production companyAlamos Gold Inc (AGI) are trading flat over the past year. One trader sees the potential for a big drop in the coming weeks. That’s based on the October 21 $7.50 puts. With 52 days until expiration, 5,257 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 187, for a 28-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.53 to make the bet. The stock last traded at $7.60, making the option about $0.10 in-the-money right now. Shares are about $1.00 of their 52-week low of $6.51. Gold stocks tend to move with the price o...

Shares of oil giantPetroleo Brasileiro (PBR) are up 36 percent in the past year thanks to strong energy prices. One trader sees the possibility of a pullback in the coming weeks. That’s based on the October 21st $14 put option. With 53 days until expiration, 150,545 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 4,570, for a 34-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.16. The stock recently traded for about $14.60, so shares would need to fall about $0.60, or just under 5 percent, for the option to move in-the-money. Shares have been prone to some sharp ...