Apple Stock Powers the Dow After iPhone Sales, Bull Notes

Core Insights - Apple Inc's stock is currently up 4.3% to $263.18, buoyed by strong iPhone 17 sales in the U.S. and China, leading to upgrades from analysts [1] - The stock has reached a record high of $264.37 and is showing a positive trend above its year-to-date breakeven level [4] - Options trading indicates a strong bias towards calls, with significant volume in recent sessions [1][2] Options Activity - In the last 10 sessions, Apple saw 4,931,726 calls and 2,449,264 puts exchanged, totaling 7,380,990 options [2] - The January 2026 290-strike call was the most actively traded option during this period, with notable interest in November 265 and 220-strike calls [1] Volatility and Earnings Outlook - The Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) for Apple is at 28%, placing it in the 19th percentile of the past 12 months, indicating that options premiums are currently affordably priced [6] - The stock's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) is ranked at 79 out of 100, suggesting that Apple has historically outperformed options traders' volatility expectations [7]