Unusual Options Activity

Semiconductor play Applied Materials (AMAT) has more than doubled since November. One trader sees the trend continuing. That’s based on the June $185 calls. Expiring in 72 days, over 9,000 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 150, for a 60-fold rise in volume. Shares would need to rise about 22 percent from their current price of $143 to close in-the-money at expiration. The buyer of the options paid about $3.10 for the contract. Thanks to a shortage in the semiconductor ...
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Shares of finance company Capital One Financial (COF) have been in a steady uptrend for the past few months. One trader sees the potential for a continued rally higher. That’s based on the June 2021 $150 calls. With 76 days left to trade, and with shares near $130, shares would need to rise another 15 percent for the option to move in-the-money. Over 4,640 contracts traded, a 39-fold rise from the prior open interest of 119. The trader paid about $2.04 for ...
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Mineral ore producer Rio Tinto Group (RIO) saw shares double in the past year, going from $45 to $92, before a pullback starting in February. Now, one trader sees a rebound in shares. That’s based on the January 2022 $86.57 calls. Over 13,862 of the contracts traded, a 60-fold jump in volume from the prior open interest of 230. The trade expires in 292 days. The buyer paid about $4.60 for each contract. With shares near $78, the option will move in-the-money ...
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Shares of Under Armour (UA) have been rallying the past few months but have stalled out in recent weeks. One trader is making a big bet on a move higher. That’s based on the April 16th $18.50 calls. The at-the-money trade has just two weeks until expiration. Yet over 35,760 contracts traded, a staggering 270-fold rise in volume from the prior open interest of 132 contracts. The call buyer paid about $0.70 for each contract. Shares have traded as high as $20 ...
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Shares of digital payments company Square (SQ) have been off in recent weeks, coming down from a high near $280 per share closer to $200. At least one trader sees further upside ahead. That’s based on the May $200 calls. Expiring in 50 days, and with shares around $215, the option is already nearly $15 in-the-money. Over 10,300 contracts traded, a 25-fold rise in volume from the prior open interest of 413. The buyer paid about $25 for the contracts, or about ...
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The past week has seen a large selloff in shares of Discovery (DISCA), as a hedge fund went through a forced liquidation. One trader sees a potential rebound in the coming months. That’s based on the May 2021 $75 calls. Expiring in 51 days, over 12,660 options traded, a 41-fold rise in volume from the prior open interest of 307. The buyer paid about $0.50 for the trade. With shares in the $40 range, a move to $75 requires a high double-digit ...
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An outsized rally in financial stocks has helped keep the overall market from dropping too much as tech stocks have sold off. Traders still see some upside in the space. That’s based on the April 30th $42.50 calls on Bank of America (BAC). With 32 days until expiration, and with shares near $39, the bet has been made that shares will keep moving at least another 3 percent higher. Nearly 4,200 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 107, for a ...
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Semiconductor giant Micron (MU) has been hovering near all-time highs, even with the recent volatility in tech. One trader sees the potential for a move higher. That’s based on the April $98 calls. Expiring in 18 days, the trade is a bet that shares will move over 15 percent higher from their current price in the mid-$80 range. Over 11,000 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 116, for a 95-fold rise in volume. The option buyer paid $0.60 for the ...
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