Investors in DT Midstream, Inc. (DTM) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the March 20, 2026 $55 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also ...

Investors in The Allstate Corporation (ALL) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Mar 20, 2026 $130.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It co ...

When markets are range-bound, it can be difficult to predict where stocks are going. Short option strategies may benefit from uncertainty, though they can also carry massive risks. Directionally-bound credit spreads may work, though, it requires a solid belief in your anticipated market direction. So where does that leave the risk-averse investors? Well, there are short iron condors, a four-legged income-generating strategy that pays off if the stock stays within a specific price range. More News from B ...

Earnings season is winding down, but all eyes will be on Nvidia (NVDA) this Wednesday in what could be a market shaping announcement. Other important companies due to report this week include Discovery (WBD), Snowflake (SNOW), Salesforce (CRM), Home Depot (HD), Dell Technologies (DELL), Baidu (BIDU) and Realty Income (O) More News from Barchart Before a company reports earnings, implied volatility is usually high because the market is unsure about the outcome of the report. Speculators and hedgers crea ...

We’ll jump right into the thick of things with big-box retailer Target (TGT). After a rough period where TGT stock lost more than 38% of value over the past five years, the retail icon is on a comeback trail. Since the beginning of January, TGT has moved up more than 19%, earning it a 96% Strong Buy rating from the Barchart Technical Opinion indicator.To be clear, the smart money is transactionally sophisticated, not necessarily prescient. Insights gathered from the volatility skew should serve as a springb ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors should closely monitor IBM stock due to significant implied volatility in the options market, particularly for the Feb. 20, 2026 $165 Call option, indicating expectations of a substantial price movement [1] Group 1: Implied Volatility - Implied volatility reflects market expectations for future price movements, with high levels suggesting potential for a significant rally or sell-off [2] - Options with high implied volatility are often sought by traders looking to sell premium, as this strategy can capitalize on time decay [4] Group 2: Analyst Sentiment - IBM currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) within the Computer - Integrated Systems industry, which is in the top 12% of the Zacks Industry Rank [3] - Over the past 60 days, three analysts have raised their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while one has lowered them, resulting in a net increase of the Zacks Consensus Estimate from $1.76 to $1.78 per share [3]

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is near its all-time high, while the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) has risen to around 20, indicating increased market skepticism despite high stock prices [1][2]. Market Conditions - The elevated VIX suggests significant hedging activity, indicating that investors are cautious rather than overly optimistic about current stock prices [2]. - With the SPX closing within 2% of its all-time high and the VIX above 20, historical data shows that the SPX tends to gain an average of 3.71% over the next three months, compared to just 1.47% when the VIX is below 20 [3][4]. Performance Metrics - When the VIX is above 20, the percentage of positive returns is similar to when it is below 20, but the average positive returns are larger, indicating that sidelined capital may drive market gains [5]. - Historical data shows that the SPX has an average return of 0.42% over two weeks, 0.87% over one month, and 3.71% over three months when the VIX is above 20 [6]. Comparative Analysis - The short-term results indicate that the SPX averages a return of 0.93% over the next month with 74% of returns positive when the VIX is elevated, compared to a typical average return of 0.79% with 64% positive [8]. - However, longer-term results show bearish returns from three months to a year after elevated VIX signals compared to typical SPX returns [8]. Historical Context - The current setup with the SPX near its highs and the VIX above 20 is the first instance since October of the previous year, with 19 similar signals observed in the past month [9][10]. - Historical data since 1996 shows that the SPX has an average return of 0.38% over two weeks and 2.32% over three months across all instances, with a higher average return of 0.75% over two weeks and 1.72% over three months after the first signal in the past month [11].

Core Viewpoint - Investors in First BanCorp. should closely monitor the stock due to significant movements in the options market, particularly the March 20, 2026 $15 Put which has high implied volatility [1] Group 1: Implied Volatility - Implied volatility indicates the market's expectation of future price movement, with high levels suggesting anticipation of a significant price change or an upcoming event that could trigger a rally or sell-off [2] - High implied volatility in options can attract traders looking to sell premium, as they aim to benefit from the decay of options value if the stock does not move as much as expected [4] Group 2: Analyst Insights - First BanCorp currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) in the Banks – Southeast industry, which is in the top 27% of the Zacks Industry Rank [3] - Over the past 60 days, one analyst has raised earnings estimates for the current quarter, resulting in an increase of the Zacks Consensus Estimate from 52 cents per share to 53 cents [3]

Investors in Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. (SMBC) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Mar 20, 2026 $30 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It ...

Investors in Cencora, Inc. (COR) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Mar 20, 2026 $130 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean ...