Trading Tips Blog

Grier Eliasek, COO at Prospect Capital (PSEC), recently bought 26,750 shares across two transactions. The buys came to a total price just over $153,000, and increased the COO’s position by about 2 percent. Those buys came a few weeks after the company CFO bought 5,000 shares, paying just over $28,000 and increasing her stake by about 7 percent. Insiders have only been buyers over the last two years. In total, Prospect Capital insiders won 27.4 percent of shares. The business development company ...
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Utility company Dominion Energy (D) is down over 22 percent this year, as rising interest rates have hit interest-rate sensitive stocks hard. Shares have started to move higher, and one trader sees a continued rally higher in the months ahead. That’s based on the April 2024 $52.50 calls. With 142 days until expiration, 10,001 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 274, for a 37-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.70. Dominion shares ...
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Economic trends can shift over time, and catching them near the start can lead to big profits. The strategy is to identify which sectors will benefit from that shift, and invest with the industry leaders, who are best poised to profit. One trend coming next year is a rise in business travel. It’s been slow to recover since virtually ending during the pandemic, but 2024 looks like it will be the strongest year yet for this trend. Business travel means expensed airline ...
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Thomas Erickson, a director at 3D Systems Corp (DDD), recently added 50,000 shares to his holdings. The buy increased his position by 32 percent, and came to a total cost of $328,400. This is the first insider buy in a year, following a 20,000 share pickup from the company’s President and CEO in November 2022. Insiders made a few small buys earlier in 2022, and three insiders sold in the past 12 months. Overall, 3D Systems insiders own 2.4 percent of ...
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Pizza chain Papa John’s International (PZZA) is down 20 percent over the past year, and shares trade near their 52-week low. However, one trader sees the possibility for a sizeable jump higher in the coming weeks. That’s based on the December 15 $72.50 calls. With 16 days until expiration, 3,512 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 105, for a 33-fold rise in volume on the options trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.45 to make the bullish ...
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Market sentiment has reversed in the past month, from extreme fear to extreme greed. Some companies are making new all-time highs. But not all stocks have gone along for the ride yet. Over time, that can change. Buying companies that haven’t rallied yet can lead to better returns when the runaway market rally trades slow down. And the returns can be even better with companies posting strong earnings. Case in point? Deere & Company (DE). The agricultural equipment manufacturer beat on ...
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Theodore Samuels, a director at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY), recently bought 8,500 shares. The buy increased his stake by 31 percent, and came to a total cost of $423,385. This marks the first insider buy at the company in the past two years. Insiders have been regular sellers of shares, including sales from the CEO and CFO. Some sales have been from the exercise of stock options, but most have not. Overall, BMY insiders own about 0.1 percent of shares. The prescription ...
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Gold mining and exploration company McEwen Mining (MUX) has seen shares rally 34 percent in the past year, nearly triple the return on the S&P 500. One trader is betting on a further rally in the next few months. That’s based on the February $8 calls. With 81 days until expiration, 22,960 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 226, for a 102-fold jump in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $0.50 to make the ...
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