Trading Tips Blog

Alzheimer’s disease treatment company Cassava Sciences (SAVA) dropped 15 percent on Monday. A leaked report suggests that the company may have manipulated data, and one trader is betting shares will continue to drop. That’s based on the November 17th $10 puts. With 30 days until expiration, 2,445 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 126, for a 19-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $0.70. Shares recently traded at about $12.50 where they ...
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The market remains well off its summer highs, and may be in for a few more rough days of trading before moving into an end-year holiday rally. That means investors have a chance to buy companies well off their highs. With so many economic uncertainties, buying great companies that lead their industry look like the best bet here. They won’t pop as much in a rally as lesser-known names, but they’ll also tend to hold their value and compound safely over ...
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Cynthia Flanders, a director at Argan (AGX), recently bought 8,500 shares. The buy increased her position by 106 percent, and came to a total cost just under $258,000. This follows up on two buys from another director in April and May, for 2,000 shares. Those mark the only insider moves since late 2021, when the company chairman sold off 10,000 shares at far higher prices than where the stock trades today. Overall, company insiders own 5.8 percent of shares. The engineering and ...
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Retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) is having a banner year, with a 276 percent rally in shares. One trader sees that rally continuing in the weeks ahead. That’s based on the December 15 $80 calls. With 59 days until expiration, 2,309 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 112, for a 21-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.05 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded for just over $60, so they ...
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The stock market usually moves higher due to just a handful of companies. Today, that’s centered around big-cap tech stocks working on artificial intelligence (AI) programs. In time, that may change. But while big names get the attention, companies that provide key services and supplies can also be big winners. That’s especially true after the big names have gotten the market’s attention and have run higher. Investing in suppliers can also provide useful signals as to the health of the economy. For ...
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Randall Weisenburger, a director at Carnival Corp (CCL), recently bought 350,000 shares. The buy increased his stake by 39 percent, and came to a total cost of $4.54 million. The director was the last buyer of shares in May 2022, with a 100,000 share buy, coming to a total cost of just under $1.2 million. The company CFO sold about one-quarter of his position back in February, marking the only insider sale in the past year. Overall, company insiders own 8 ...
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Financial services leader Morgan Stanley (MS) is trading flat over the past year, as the banking sector has been under pressure from higher interest rates and slow stock trading. One trader is betting shares will take a hit in the coming months. That’s based on the December 15 $60 puts. With 58 days until expiration, 9,965 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 162, for a 62-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid ...
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The past few weeks have seen several snack food companies take a big hit. Part of the move may have been from rising bond yields, which compete with dividend yields. Another factor is the use of Ozempic, a weight loss drug. Either way, shares of these companies have dropped off considerably in recent weeks, and now look like long-term buys. Weight loss drugs are nothing new, and many will still want to enjoy snacks or satisfy their sweet tooth. While headlines have ...
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