Options Traders Target Rallying Software Stock Before Earnings

Group 1 - Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:PLTR) stock reached a record high of $160.92, currently trading at $160.20, reflecting a year-to-date gain of 111.6% [1] - The stock has been consolidating around the $160 mark for the past week, with expectations of significant movement following the upcoming second-quarter earnings report [1] - Options traders are anticipating a next-day swing of 17.6% after the earnings report, slightly lower than the average 18.3% over the past two years [2] Group 2 - In the last 10 sessions, PLTR has seen a total of 3,435,116 calls and 2,574,202 puts exchanged, indicating high options activity [3] - The most popular options contracts have been the weekly 8/1 160-strike call and the weekly 7/25 160-strike call, with a current preference for calls over puts [4] - Despite the stock's strong performance, 16 out of 20 analysts maintain a "hold" or worse rating, suggesting potential for bullish sentiment if earnings exceed expectations [7] Group 3 - The 12-month consensus price target for PLTR is $115.48, representing a 28% discount to the current trading levels [9]