Trading Tips Blog

Shares of Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor ASA (EQNR) have traded flat over the past year, underperforming the energy sector. One trader sees shares closing that gap by the end of 2023. That’s based on the January 2024 $38.99 calls. With 325 days until expiration, 10,200 options traded compared to a prior open interest of 134, for a 76-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $1.60 to make the bullish bet. Shares recently traded for ...
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When it comes to tech, it’s easy for investors to get burned. That’s because any one tech company may only play to a trend that goes in and out of fashion. Investors who jumped into alternative energy, cryptocurrencies, or anything related to electric vehicles may agree. However, a tech company that can play to multiple trends can fare well for investors over time. That’s because it can continue to grow, even as some trends go out of favor with the market. That’s ...
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David MacLennan, a director at Caterpillar (CAT), recently bought 400 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 12 percent, and came to a total cost of $99,716. The director was the last buyer of Caterpillar shares back in May. Otherwise, company insiders have been sellers of shares, mostly from the exercise of stock options. The sales have included both directors and executives. Overall, company insiders own 0.15 percent of shares. The farm machinery company is up 28 percent in the past year, ...
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Shares of coffee store chain Starbucks (SUBX) are up 15 percent over the past year, bucking the market downtrend. However, one trader sees a pullback in the coming weeks. That’s based on the March $102 puts. With 18 days until expiration, 4,092 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 164, for a 25-fold rise in volume. The buyer of the puts paid $1.67. Shares recently traded around $103.50, so the stock would need to drop about $1.50 for the option ...
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The information age has rewarded those who can package data in digestible ways. That’s rewarded companies like social media firms, which have allowed for users to share content with those in their networks. And it’s allowed bigger tech companies to consolidate data that can make analytical predictions about consumer tastes and behavior. In short, content is king – and only a few companies are able to consistently profit from it. In China, Baidu (BIDU) has a similar role to the one that ...
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Daniel Schulman, President and CEO at PayPal Holdings (PYPL), recently bought 26,065 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 7 percent, and came to a total cost of $1.99 million. This marks the first insider buy since last May, when the company’s Chief Product Officer bought 7,370 shares, at a cost of $597,000. There have been three small sales since. Going back further, insider buying and selling has been more mixed, even when shares traded far higher than today. Overall, company insiders ...
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Shares of pharmaceutical drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) are up 37 percent in the past year. However, the share price has started to sag – and one trader sees the potential for a further decline in the months ahead. That’s based on the May 2023 $310 puts. With 84 days until expiration, 4,464 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 159, for a 28-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $10.25. Eli ...
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While the market has had a strong start to the year, stocks are turning down again. That’s not a problem for investors who focus on value. That includes companies with strong brands, as well as on companies that can offer steady and growing dividend payouts. These companies may not always be big winners, but they tend to hold their own in down markets. And that can lead to winning performance over time. That’s particularly true for companies that can pass on higher ...
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