May 22nd, 2013
Pandora (P) IV starting to jump as shares form a bull flag into earnings on 5/23 and 10,000 June $17 calls are bought at $1.30 and 5,000 far OTM calls at $0.40. P already has large size positioned in June call OI and has 21% of its float short. Shares have closed higher 3 of its last 4 earnings reports with 12%+ moves each time.
CIT Group (CIT) with a strong break through $45 key resistance today and trading 3X daily calls with 2,900 July $47 calls at $0.60 and 1,000 October $45 calls at $2.60, a name often a focus of takeover rumors.
Yum! Brands (YUM) long term views selling 1,500 January 2015 $62.50 puts and buying 1,500 of the $70/$95 call spreads, a bullish view seeing limited downside and plenty of upside.
May 21st, 2013
Boeing (BA) large trade looks to be rolling up strikes with 2,000 June $90 calls and 1,500 June $95 calls sold to close and 4,000 June $97.50 calls bought to open at $2.96.
Salesforce.com (CRM) into 5/23 earnings trades a lot of 3,000 June $50 calls bought $1.09 offer and 3,000 of the weekly $55 calls sold at $0.10 against the position, bullish outlook into results.
Devon Energy (DVN) broke its recent highs today and some large option trades where there is already large OI, a buy of 1,520 July $55 calls $5.65 and 1,350 June $57.50 calls at $3.15.
Whirlpool (WHR) with 1,000 September $125 calls bought $12.45 to $13 after the strong Home Depot (HD) results are a positive read-through.
May 20th, 2013
Royal Caribbean (RCL) with a large spread that is likely replacing a long stock position as 6,350 September $40 calls are bought to open at $1.45 and 5,250 December $35 puts are sold to open at $2.22. RCL shares have formed a large cup below $38.40 resistance and above an see a move up to $43.
General Motors (GM) with 8,000 ITM December $30 calls bought to open today $5.35 to $5.40.
Proto Labs (PRLB) re-tested its breakout and 20 day EMA and bouncing, and 1,100 June $55 calls bought to open here $3.90 to $4.50 offers, aggressive buying with IV jumping, bullish flow in this 3-D printing play.
Infoblox (BLOX) trading 5X daily calls into 5/23 earnings with a 1,000 lot of June $20 and $25 calls each bought to open near the offer on very wide spreads, pretty aggressive play. BLOX has been moving sideways for months and jumped 18% and 29.5% its last two earnings reports.
May 17th, 2013
Zynga (ZNGA) with an interesting trade adjustment as 14,000 May $3 calls sold to close $0.35 and the September $4 puts are sold to open 14,000X at $0.90 with shares at $3.37, seeing limited downside in shares.
Best Buy (BBY) will report on 5/21 and shares flagging below $27 with a few large trades today. A trader put on 3,000 June $27/$24 bull risk reversals at $0.73 and another bought the June $27/$30 ratio call spread 2,500X5,000 at $0.25.
GameStop (GME) January $40/$49 call spreads sold to close for 8,000 contracts ahead of 5/23 earnings, and 5,000 July $38/$42 call spreads closed as well showing some nervousness into earnings, and June $38/$33 put spreads bought 5,000X to open yesterday.
Conoco Phillips (COP) with 5,000 August $67.50 calls bought to open $0.28 to $0.31 today with shares at $62.60, and a slow-moving stock, but may be expecting a potential break-up or asset sales to spark a big move higher in shares.
May 16th, 2013
Cognizant Tech (CTSH) giving up some of yesterday's strong rally off $62 support but IV falling today with opening sales of 10,000 June $62.50 puts at $1.65 to $1.75, traders willing to be long this beat up large cap Tech Co. that has actually been posting fairly strong results, and down unfairly. CTSH has also seen call buying in recent days including 5,000 October $72.50 calls on 5-10.
Industrials (XLI) with 25,000 September $46 calls bought to open $0.56 offers today, strong bullish action
Tech (XLK) with 25,000 September $33 calls bought to open $0.56-$0.57 as well seeing more upside in Tech stocks.
Warner Chilcott (WCRX) large trades with the name expected to see M&A interest, buyers of 6,000 July $19 calls spread vs. sales of 6,000 October $16 puts
May 15th, 2013
LAM Research (LRCX) large buyer of 1,000 December $50 calls at the $3.10 offer with shares recently clearing $45 resistance, a measured move now back to $59 highs. The $7.73B Semi Equipment Co. trades 12.77X earnings, 1.69X Book and 3.28X Cash.
Pandora (P) barely down on this Google (GOOG) streaming music news and 4,000 June $20 calls bought to open today $0.55. Pandora has 21.25% of its float short.
Ultratech (UTEK) is a stock that got hit hard on its last earnings report and looks to be basing above its 150 week EMA. Call volume is running 10X daily average today with 1,070 August $35 calls bought at $1.15 to $1.20 offers to open. The $858M Tech Co. trades 15.5X earnings, 3.5X Sales, 2.14X Book and 2.79X Cash with no debt. Maxim lowered its target to $35 on 4-19.
VF Corp (VFC) making new highs on a daily basis and today trading 3X daily calls with 1,500 June $185 calls bought $4.40 to $4.60
May 14th, 2013
Sky-Mobi (MOBI) shares have jumped nearly 100% in the past week and today trading more than 150X daily call volume with 2,387 October $2.50 calls seeing action at $0.95 to $1.20, a stock that traded up to $20 in 2011. The $98M Chinese mobile application Co. trades 0.97X Sales, 1.08X Book and 1X Cash with no debt. MOBI trounced estimates on earnings 5/13 and option traders looking for further momentum.
Discover Financial (DFS) looking like some speculative action with 3,500 January 2014 $55 calls bought to open $0.85 to $0.90 with shares at $45.88, a name that has been rumored in the past as a buyout target for Wells Fargo.
Mosaic (MOS) with a roll of 5,000 June $60 calls out to September $62.50 calls at $3.60, traders staying bullish MOS with potential for buybacks.
May 13th, 2013
Dresser Rand (DRC) large buy of 2,000 September $70 calls at $1.80 to open, a name highlighted last week by Bloomberg Real M&A as a takeover target.
NII Holdings (NIHD) has pulled back after a strong run and holding 80 day EMA support, basing above $6.50. Option traders active with 2,000 December $9/$4 bull risk reversals at $0.65 debits today.
Fusion-IO (FIO) spread sells 2,500 June $14 and $13 puts and buys 5,000 September $20 calls, action follows large June call buying last week.
May 10th, 2013
Safeway (SWY) continues to see bullish action this week with 5,000 September $25/$22 bullish risk reversals trading at $0.55 today, seeing a positive upside/downside ratio in shares, and follows the 10,000 December $27 calls bought earlier this week.
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT) been a hot stock lately and today trades 200X daily call volume in one trade, an opening buy of 2,000 September $30 OTM calls in the $0.40 to $0.50 range. Shares are not far from making 5 year highs, rallying with the rest of the Japanese stocks. The $66.7B Telecom trades 7.1X earnings, 0.62X Sales, and 0.75X Book with a 3.85% dividend yield.
Diana Shipping (DSX) with 2,575 December $11 calls bought $0.85 offer to open
May 9th, 2013
Sina Corp (SINA) seeing some profit taking in those September $60 calls that accumulated ahead of the recent news that sent shares higher and looks like 4,000 closed today, but rolling to 6,000 September $70/$85 call spreads bought at $1.60, expecting further upside.
Cobalt Energy (CIE) roll of 10,000 July $30 calls sold at $0.60 to 10,000 October $30 calls bought to open at $2
Charles River Labs (CRL) seeing some unusual call buying again with 1,650 August $50 calls bought $0.55 to $0.65 today and 2,500 May $45 calls remain in OI.
May 8th, 2013
Owens Corning (OC) more buyers in August $45 calls as shares look to clear resistance and 3,800 August $45 calls bought $1.55 to $1.60 offers for $670,000 call premium, and already 4,988 in OI from bullish buys, also size in January 2014 $45 and $50 OTM call OI.
Citi (C) large buyers active for 5,000 September $48 calls today at $3.15 to $3.30 offers with more than $2.3M call premium bought in Citi the first 2 hours of trading.
Peabody Energy (BTU) trades 2,500 January 2014 $25/$19 bull risk reversals at a $0.64 credit today, more indications of a coal bottom.
May 7th, 2013
Caterpillar (CAT) seeing some of the most bullish options flow today with 5,000 June $87.50 calls bought $3.35 to $3.50 offers today trading against OI 7,396 and 9,100 of the July $90 calls trading against OI of 2,197 with buyers paying $2.50 to $2.66. CAT traded a large spread recently selling May upside calls to buy June puts, which may have been collaring long stock. CAT has now broken above all major moving averages.
NetApp (NTAP) buyer of 5,500 September $36 calls at the $2.52 offer, already 9,000 in OI and will check the change tomorrow, but plenty of large size sits in September OI calls in NTAP.
US Air (LCC) with a roll of 5,000 September $18 calls to January 2014 $18 calls, staying long-term bullish
May 6th, 2013
Soda Stream (SODA) exotic spreads for earnings 1,500+ buying May $55 calls and selling June $65/$42.50 strangles, net $2.15 debits, bullish positioning with shares breaking out ahead of results on 5/8.
EV Energy (EVEP) 3 way spread sells 2,000 January $45 puts to buy the $50/$55 call spread. EVEP shares put in a hammer reversal on big volume Friday, so may have marked a bottom.
Anadarko Petro (APC) buyer of 2,750 August $90/$105 call spreads at $3.60, reports after the close, and November $100/$80 bull risk reversals trade 1,000X as well.
May 3rd, 2013
Hillshire Brands (HSH) opening buy of 10,000 January 2014 $40 calls at $1 looks to be replacing 250,000 shares of stock. Shares fell on earnings yesterday and July large call positions closed, but still seen as a potential takeover target in the food sector.
Dish Network (DISH) with 5,000 May $42 calls bought at $0.65 offer ahead of 5/9 earnings, shares flagging at 10 year highs and looking to breakout.
Gilead Sciences (GILD) seeing large block trades with May $55 calls being sold to close while 10,000 June $60 calls bought to open at $0.94 to $0.96 offers.
Noble (NE) January 2014 $45/$50 call spread bought 5,000X at $0.95. Noble Corp (NE) now with the September $40/$45 call spread bought 10,000X at $1.68
May 2nd, 2013
Spectra Energy (SE) with buyers of 7500 September $31 calls today at $1.10 look to be adding to the 7,900 in OI, and massive size remains in June OI as well with earnings due out tomorrow morning.
GameStop (GME) staying strong and option traders remain bullish with 3,500 October $45/$25 bullish risk reversals opened today at zero cost.
Facebook (FB) January 2015 $32/$25 bull risk reversal trades 3,500 contracts at $0.58 as the long term risk-reward is seen to be favorable with the improvements to mobile advertising.
May 1st, 2013
Gilead Sciences (GILD) with 10,000 July $45 puts sold to open at $1
International Paper (IP) July $45/$40 bull risk reversals trade 3,000X at $2.30 debit into earnings
Beazer Homes (BZH) with 4,500 May $16 calls bought to open $0.65 to $0.70 ahead of 5/2 earnings. The $408.5M homebuilder with a large put sale earlier this week trades 0.38X Sales and 1.65X Book with 32.9% of its float short.
Marathon Petro (MPC) with 7,500 June $70 puts sold to open $1.60 to $1.70 looking for shares to hold the $75 level and recover from oversold conditions.