Is the Options Market Predicting a Spike in Helen of Troy Stock?

Core Viewpoint - Investors should closely monitor Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) stock due to significant implied volatility in the options market, particularly for the Jan 16, 2026 $180 Call option [1] Company Analysis - Helen of Troy is currently rated Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) in the Cosmetics industry, which is in the bottom 14% of the Zacks Industry Rank [3] - Over the past 30 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while two analysts have revised their estimates downward, leading to a decrease in the Zacks Consensus Estimate from $2.03 per share to $1.85 [3] Options Market Insights - The high implied volatility suggests that options traders are anticipating a significant price movement for Helen of Troy shares, which could indicate an upcoming event that may lead to a substantial rally or sell-off [2][4] - Options traders often seek to sell premium on options with high implied volatility, aiming to benefit from the decay of the option's value if the underlying stock does not move as much as expected by expiration [4]