Trading Tips Blog

Copper producer Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is up 44% in the past year, beating the overall S&P 500 by about 10 points. However, one trader is betting on shares pulling back over the coming weeks. That’s based on the December 20 $40 puts. With 74 days until expiration, 6,566 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 147, for a 45-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.47 to make the bearish bet. FCX shares recently traded ...
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While the overall stock market tends to trend higher over time, individual sectors within the market tend to take the lead. At the tail end of the 2022 bear market, tech companies kicked off the rally as AI became a bullish theme. Since then, the market has rushed higher. Other sectors have started to show some signs of life in recent months. That trend will likely continue now that interest rates are coming down. Lower interest rates make it easier for companies ...
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Kevin Vann, CFO of Helmerich & Payne (HP), recently bought 3,300 shares. The buy came to a total cost of $99,627, and is a new position for the CFO. The buy is also the first insider purchase over the past two years. Insiders have been periodic sellers of shares over the last 24 months, with the most recent sale coming from the company’s prior CFO. The company President and CEO was also a seller of shares in late 2022. Overall, Helmerich ...
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Payment technology company Global Payments Inc (GPN) is down 11% over the past year. One trader sees further downside in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the November 15 $85 puts. With 42 days until expiration, 6,093 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 190, for a 32-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.20 to make the bearish bet. Global Payments shares recently traded for about $97.50, so the stock would need to ...
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The goal of any company is to grow its products and services. However, sometimes a company is structurally prevented from growth. That could come from having a local or regional monopoly, like a railroad or utility. Sometimes, other government restrictions can hold back a stock. When those restrictions disappear, however, a company can suddenly get set to grow. And that could lead to a catch-up rally reflecting the opportunity for faster growth. For instance, regulators just cleared megabank Wells Fargo (WFC) from ...
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Stephen Mahoney, President and CEO of Viridian Therapeutics (VRDN), recently bought 21,400 shares. The buy is an initial stake for the CEO, and came to a total cost of $499,262. He was joined by the company COO, who bought 5,000 shares. That buy increased the COO’s stake by 500%, and cost $117,050. A major holder has also been a buyer earlier this year. Going further back, insider activity has been more mixed, with more insiders selling in 2022 and 2023 when ...
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Digital platform Sea Limited (SE) is up 121% over the past year, and is up nearly 50% alone since August. One trader sees shares pulling back over the coming months. That’s based on the December 20 $82.50 puts. With 78 days until expiration, 10,001 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 320, for a 31-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $2.70 to make the bearish bet. Sea Limited shares recently traded for ...
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Activist investors sometimes get a bad rap. But often times, they buy a significant stake in a company, at last 5%, and push for management to make changes. For a struggling company whose share price has lagged, that can be a good thing. Even the news of an activist investor getting in can be a sign that improvements are on the way. The only question is whether the activist pushes for them, or if management steps up. Shares of struggling pharmacy store ...
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