Schaeffers Investment Research·2025-08-20 14:31Group 1: Lowe's Companies Inc (LOW) - Lowe's stock increased by 2.6%, trading at $263.09, after adjusted second-quarter earnings of $4.33 per share exceeded estimates [2] - Despite missing revenue estimates at $23.96 billion, Lowe's raised its annual sales forecast and announced plans to acquire Foundation Building Materials for $8.8 billion [2] - The stock is now trading at nearly seven-month highs and has shown positive performance year-to-date [2] - Options traders had been buying puts prior to the earnings report, with a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.79, ranking in the 92nd percentile over the past year [3] - Calls are currently favored, with over 7,000 calls traded, five times the average intraday volume, and the weekly 8/22 270 call being the most popular [4] Group 2: Target Corp (TGT) - Target's stock fell by 9.6%, trading at $95.27, following an adjusted second-quarter earnings miss of $2.05 per share, overshadowed by the announcement of CEO Brian Cornell's replacement [5] - The stock has struggled to break past the $110 level in recent months, and today's decline marks its worst daily drop since April and the lowest close since late June [5] - Puts have been popular among TGT options buyers, with a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 1.01, ranking in the 83rd percentile at the ISE/CBOE/PHLX [6] - Calls are leading today as well, with 89,000 contracts traded, ten times the average intraday volume, and the weekly 8/22 100- and 110-strikes being the most popular [6]