Riverbed Options Active As Shares Soar
by Option Review - July 25th, 2012 1:45 pm
Today’s tickers: RVBD, LL & FCN
RVBD - Riverbed Technology, Inc. – Front month trading traffic on Riverbed Technology suggests the profits are flowing for one options strategist that hit it out of the park on a three-legged bullish position initiated ahead of the company’s second-quarter earnings report. Shares in the maker of computer networking products are up better than 26% to stand at $18.35 as of midday on the East Coast after the company posted better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter and said full year revenue is likely to increase more than analysts were expecting. It looks like one trader yesterday sold 2,000 puts at the Aug. $13 strike in order to partially offset premium required to buy a 2,000-lot Aug. $14/$17 call spread, all for a net premium outlay of $0.34 per contract. The sharp move to the upside in Riverbed’s shares overnight far exceeded the more than 15% rally required for the position to realize maximum possible profits. Activity in the options today suggests the trader is raking in the chips, closing out all three legs to enjoy net profits of $2.23 per contract in overnight gains. Meanwhile, traders positioning for Riverbed’s shares to extend gains in the near term picked up another 1,100 calls at the Aug. $19 strike for an average premium of $1.02 apiece. Call buyers may profit in the event shares tack on another 9% to exceed the average breakeven price of $20.02 by expiration next month.
LL - Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. – Shares in the retailer of hardwood flooring soared to a record today after the company posted better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and upped its full year profit and revenue forecasts. Lumber Liquidators shares jumped 25% to an intraday and new all-time high of $40.77 at the start of the session, sparking increased activity in options on the stock. Traders positioning for shares in Lumber Liquidators to continue higher in the near term purchased upside calls on…
Strangle Strategist Targets MSG Ahead of LeBron James’ Decision
by Option Review - July 7th, 2010 4:11 pm
Today’s tickers: MSG, MOS, LUV, ILMN, GHDX, FCN, KBH, LCC & CSX
MSG – Madison Square Garden, Inc. – Speculation as to which team will acquire the larger-than-life LeBron James continues to mount ahead of the basketball superstar’s Thursday night announcement on ESPN. One options investor put uncertainty in the marketplace to good use by purchasing a strangle on Madison Square Garden, Inc., the fully-integrated sport, entertainment and media business, which, among other things, owns and operates sports franchises including the New York Knicks. MSG’s shares are currently up 1.5% to $20.58 as of 2:50 pm (ET), but earlier surged 5.4% to an intraday high of $21.36. MSG edged onto our ‘hot by options volume’ market scanner after the trader purchased a long strangle in the July contract. The investor appears to be positioning for a dramatic shift in the price of the underlying shares ahead of July expiration. The options strategist purchased a 2,000-lot strangle, buying 2,000 calls at the July $22.5 strike for a premium of $0.60 apiece, and buying 2,000 puts at the lower July $20 strike for a premium of $0.50 each. The net cost of the transaction amount to $1.10 per contract and prepares the strangle-player to benefit nicely as long as MSG’s shares take off running in either direction. Profits are available to the investor if shares rally straight through the current 52-week high on the stock of $22.95 to trade above the effective upper breakeven price of $23.60. If LeBron James were to join the NY Knicks it has been said the value of the MSG franchise will increase significantly. The strangler will certainly benefit if the Knickerbockers turn out to be James’ new teammates because MSG shares are likely to soar. Conversely, the options strategist is poised to profit to the downside should shares trade below the lower breakeven price of $18.90 ahead of expiration day. Perhaps the investor is expecting shares of the underlying stock to suffer if LeBron ends up with a different team. Either way, the investor responsible for the strangle strategy is positioned to benefit from a wayward shift in the price of the underlying stock. But, the trader will lose the full premium paid, $1.10 per contract in this case, if shares trade within the confines of the strike prices described at expiration. Finally, the investor may profit if implied volatility on MSG, which is currently up…