Options Bears Piling on United Airlines Stock Ahead of Earnings

Core Viewpoint - United Airlines Holdings Inc is set to report its second-quarter earnings, with analysts expecting a decline in earnings per share and a slight increase in revenue [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts project earnings of $3.86 per share, representing a 6.8% year-over-year decline, while revenue is expected to reach $15.36 billion, up 2.5% from the same quarter last year [1] Stock Performance and Reactions - Historically, United Airlines has had mixed reactions post-earnings, with the stock rising in two of the last four quarterly reports, including a 12.4% increase in October [2] - The options market is anticipating a significant price swing of 10.8%, which is higher than the average 6.5% movement over the past two years [2] Options Trading Activity - There has been increased put trading activity, with a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.17, indicating heightened bearish sentiment compared to 88% of readings from the past year [3] - The current pricing of options contracts is considered reasonable, with a Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 52%, ranking in the low 16th percentile of its annual range [4] Stock Performance Year-to-Date - Year-to-date, United Airlines stock is down 10.6%, but it recently broke out above the $85 level, coinciding with its 160-day moving average, marking its fourth consecutive week of gains [5]