Unusual Options Activity

Shares of game studio Activision Blizzard (ATVI) have broken down to the lower end of their trading range over the past few months. One trader sees the possibility for a bounce back higher in the coming months. That’s based on the February 2022 $92.50 calls. With 204 days until expiration, 8,940 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 141 for a 63-fold surge in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $5.10 to make the trade. Shares have recently dropped to ...
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Shares of investment bank Morgan Stanley (MS) have nearly doubled in the last year. One trader sees the potential for a further move higher in shares in the months ahead. That’s based on the February 2022 $100 calls. Expiring in over six months, over 11,220 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 215 contracts, for a 52-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid about $5.10 to do so. The bank’s strongly performing share price stands against a relatively ...
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Shares of casino giant Las Vegas Sands (LVS) have been trending down since mid-March, and now stand near a six-month low. One trader sees shares breaking off the low and moving higher once again. That’s based on the May 2022 $62.50 calls. With 298 days until expiration, over 35,780 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 677, for a 53-fold jump in volume. The buyer of the calls paid $2.21 on average. With shares around $47, they would need to rally ...
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Shares of conglomerate 3M (MMM) have been trading in a range for the past few months. One trader sees the shares moving higher, potentially out of its trading range and into a new rally. That’s based on the September $210 calls. Over 10,200 contracts traded against an open interest of 272, for a 38-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the calls paid about $2.42 to make the trade. With shares around $200, a move to $210 represents about a 5 percent ...
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Shares of oil refining giant Valero Energy (VLO) have been sliding in the past month. However, one trader sees a potential rebound in the coming months. That’s based on the November $65 call. With 120 days until expiration, over 5,115 contracts traded against an open interest of 128, for a 40-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the call options paid about $4.18 to make the trade. Shares of the company are currently around $62.50, making this a near-the-money call. Valero has ...
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Shares of hotel chain Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT) have been trading in a range over the past few months. One trader is betting that when shares do break out of their range, it will be higher. That’s based on the January 2023 $130 calls. With a whopping 548 days until expiration, over 6,250 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 142, for a 44-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the contracts paid about $14.70. Shares last traded around $117, so ...
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Shares of department store chain Nordstrom (JWN) have been trading in a range year-to-date. Shares now trade at the lower end of that range, and one trader is betting on a move higher. That’s based on the August $32.50 calls. Over 8,975 contracts traded, an 84-fold jump in volume over the prior open interest of 107. The buyer of the calls paid about $2.19 to make the trade. With shares currently around $32.70, the option is an at-the-money trade, and could deliver ...
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Shares of telecom company Verizon (VZ) have been trading in a narrow range over the past year. One trader sees shares moving higher, possibly back to the top of their trading range, if not higher. That’s based on the September $50 calls. Over 10,000 contracts traded against a prior open interest of 336, for a 30-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the options paid about $6.75 to make the trade. Shares of Verizon last traded near $56.50, leaving this option about ...
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