Trading Tips Blog

Shares of payment processing company Block (SQ) are down 75 percent from last year’s peak. One trader is betting on an oversold bounce higher for the stock from here. That’s based on the November $55 calls. With 44 days until expiration, 7,752 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 193, for a 40-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the calls paid $7.13 to make the bullish bet. The stock last traded for about $62 so the ...
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The economy is slowing. But it’s not ending. While some companies may have liquidity issues or lose market share in the coming months from a slowdown, great companies will build on their success to thrive in the next bull market ahead. Investors looking to go long today should consider industry-leading companies that have leading brands. These companies tend to get better pricing, and therefore better protection from inflation. And they tend to have higher profit margins. Those are the perfect trends to ...
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Joel Wilentz, a director at Universal Insurance Holdings (UVE), recently picked up 3,200 shares. The buy increased his holdings by 1.3 percent, and came to a total cost just under $30,000. He was joined by another director who bought 2,500 shares on the same day, paying just under $24,000. That director increased his holdings by 18 percent. Over the past three years, insider buys have been far greater than insider sales, but most of those buys occurred 2-3 years ago. Overall, Read More About This

Shares of United Airlines Holdings (UAL) have declined 36 percent in the past year amid a dropping market and higher energy costs. One trader sees further downside ahead. That’s based on the January 2025 $20 puts. With 836 days until expiration, 16,154 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 171, for a 94-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $3.11 to make the bearish bet. Shares of the airliner recently went for about ...
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There are few surefire ways to profitably invest in the short-term. But investors who target companies whose shares are being rapidly bought by institutional investors can likely see a big win in a short amount of time. That’s because some companies become known as acquisition candidates well before an official announcement. And those who buy early can own shares ahead of a buyout. The return from such a trade may not be huge, but it will likely be more consistent than ...
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Magnolia Capital Fund, a major owner of RE/MAX Holdings (RMAX), recently added 35,390 shares. The buy increased the fund’s stake by 1.7 percent, and came to a total price of just over $650,000. The fund has been a repeated buyer of shares since June, buying up anywhere from 32,000 to 47,000 shares at a time, even at prices as much as 25 percent higher as where the stock trades today. Going further back, company insiders have generally been sellers of shares ...
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Shares of Carnival Corporation (CCL) have lost 60 percent of their value in the past year. One trader sees the potential for a further decline in the coming weeks. That’s based on the November $9 put. With 46 days until expiration, 5,155 contracts traded compared to a prior open interest of 127, for a 41-fold rise in volume on the trade. The buyer of the puts paid $1.11 to make the downside bet on the company. Shares recently traded right around $7.50, ...
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Right now, the US dollar is rapidly appreciating against other currencies. International investors are moving to the dollar as a safe-haven, which is weakening other currencies. That also makes US exports more expensive on a relative basis, which tends to be bad news for multinational companies headquartered in the United States. However, not all trends last forever. And those who get into the trend at the right time can make big profits when the trend shifts. That’s particularly true when investing in ...
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