Options Corner: LMT Lags After Downgrade

Core Viewpoint - Lockheed Martin has been underperforming compared to the industrial sector but is showing signs of a potential turnaround [2] Group 1: Company Performance - Lockheed Martin is down approximately 2% over the past year, ranking at the bottom among its defense sector peers such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and GE [2] - The stock has formed a downward sloping channel, which was briefly interrupted by an upward trend that has since been broken [3][5] - Key price levels to watch include a low of 462.25, with further downside support at 437, and resistance at 485 [4][5] Group 2: Technical Analysis - The moving averages are clustered between 467 and 474, indicating a critical inflection point [4] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is trending lower but remains above the 50 midline, suggesting potential bearish activity if it crosses below 50 [5][6] - The volume profile indicates significant trading activity around 468, which is a key threshold for bullish sentiment [6][7] Group 3: Trading Strategy - An example trade strategy involves a broken wing call butterfly, which is bullish and aims to capitalize on potential upside while avoiding the earnings report on January 27 [9][11] - The trade consists of buying a 465 strike call, selling two 485 calls, and buying a 490 call, resulting in a net debit of approximately $700 per spread [12][13] - The break-even point for this trade is set at 472, just above the expected opening price of 467, allowing for profitability with a modest upward movement [13][14]