Investors in Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (AUB) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Jan. 16, 2025 $22.5 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 ...

Core Insights - The article draws a parallel between certain stocks and snakes, highlighting that some stocks may appear risky but are actually safe investments, akin to king snakes mimicking coral snakes [1][3]. Stock Analysis - **CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP)**: The stock has decreased by 21% this quarter and 23% from its annual high of $78.48. However, it has maintained its prior low of around $51 and its 200-day moving average, indicating potential support. The stock only fell 0.7% post-earnings after a narrower-than-expected loss, and its experimental cholesterol treatment shows promise. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 30, suggesting it may be a good buying opportunity [5]. - **Crocs Inc (NASDAQ:CROX)**: The stock held its prior low of $73, and despite current unattractiveness, there are optimistic signs following earnings with a top-line beat and price-target hikes. Options are affordably priced, making it a potential buy for investors looking for value [7]. - **Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:PLTR)**: The stock is currently facing challenges, with a middling RSI and support at the 100-day moving average. There are concerns about a potential double top formation, and it is viewed as a target due to AI valuation concerns [9]. - **AppLovin Corp (NASDAQ:APP)**: The stock briefly breached its prior lows at $545 but quickly recovered, indicating chart support. While it is not considered oversold, the 80-day trendline is providing assistance, and $500 was a significant peak earlier in the year [11]. Volatility Insights - All four stocks mentioned have implied volatilities at modest-to-low levels, which is advantageous for options traders looking for stocks experiencing a post-earnings volatility crush [13]. Value Trap Consideration - The article also mentions the concept of value traps, referring to stocks that have performed well but may not have reached their lowest point yet, indicating potential risks for investors [14].

Core Insights - The article discusses the dynamics of implied volatility (IV) in the options market during earnings season, highlighting how it affects stock movements and option premiums [1][2] Group 1: Options Market Dynamics - Implied volatility often rises during earnings reports, leading to increased option premiums as traders seek protection or speculate on stock movements [1][2] - Large companies like Nvidia experience significant stock price fluctuations post-earnings, influencing market expectations and option pricing [2] - The options market features both debit buyers, who pay premiums for potential outcomes, and credit sellers, who underwrite the risk of those outcomes not materializing [3][4] Group 2: ProShares IQQQ ETF - The ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (IQQQ) is designed to generate strong, recurring yield without directly writing options, instead utilizing total return swap agreements [6][7] - IQQQ aims to balance high yield with long-term total return potential, a challenge for many income-focused funds [8] - The fund's income stream is derived from selling call options, which limits its upside potential but funds its yield [9][10] Group 3: Daily Call Writing Strategy - IQQQ employs a daily call writing strategy, allowing it to capture short bursts of volatility more effectively than traditional monthly strategies [10][11] - This approach provides a more flexible balance between income generation and capital appreciation, avoiding the "locked ceiling" issue of monthly covered-call strategies [11] - The fund distributes cash monthly, appealing to income-focused investors seeking predictable payouts [12][13] Group 4: Performance and Risks - Since the beginning of the year, IQQQ has gained approximately 6%, with a more impressive 20% increase over the trailing six months [15] - The fund is not immune to volatility risks, as its performance is tied to the Nasdaq-100, and it carries counterparty risk due to its reliance on swap agreements [14] - Monthly distributions may fluctuate based on market conditions and implied volatility, potentially declining during downturns [15]

Market Overview - The market is experiencing a sharp reversal from the previous week, indicating a collective sigh of relief as government operations appear to be stabilizing [2][3] - This shift allows traders to focus on actual trading rather than political uncertainties [3] Company Analysis: Oaklo - Oaklo is approaching an earnings event with current trading around $109, down from $194 in mid-October, indicating significant pressure despite a strong year-to-date performance of over 400% [4][15] - Technical analysis shows a broken uptrend and a falling wedge pattern, with a critical breakout point around $116-$117 [7][9] - The implied volatility rank (IVR) is relatively low at 46, suggesting that the stock is positioned for potential movement [12][13] - A proposed trade involves a 140 call calendar spread, with expectations of a potential profit of at least $250 [14][15] Company Analysis: Hazy Therapeutics - Hazy Therapeutics is identified as a potential swing breakout candidate, with a key resistance level around $70.50 and a target of at least $80 [16][21] - The stock has shown recovery after a significant drop post-earnings, with recent highs around $70.50 and a supportive moving average around $67.50 [18][21] - The volume profile indicates a bounce off a key volume node near $65, with the next significant point of interest at $74 [22] Company Analysis: Visa - Visa is currently trading in a rangebound manner, with recent trading around $336.35, close to a critical support level of $335 [26][34] - The implied volatility rank is low at 36, indicating a lack of fear regarding downside movement [27] - A proposed trade involves a November 21st versus November 28th 350 call calendar spread, with a potential maximum reward modeled at nearly $3 [28][34] - Technical indicators suggest a sideways trajectory, with moving averages converging and a risk of breaching the established support [30][32]

Core Viewpoint - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (NYSE:RCL) stock is experiencing a pullback to a potential support level while maintaining a long-term uptrend, with significant historical price points influencing current trading behavior [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - RCL is outperforming the S&P 500 Index (SPX) in 2025 with a 24% lead, despite a disappointing fiscal fourth-quarter profit outlook that led to several earnings revisions lower [2] - The stock has seen a post-earnings pullback from the call-heavy 320-strike to the 270-strike, where puts are now dominating [2] Group 2: Technical Indicators - The stock is near its January closing high at $274, which aligns with major peaks from 2018 and 2020, and is also supported by a rising 12-month moving average that has provided buying opportunities since 2023 [1] - Implied volatility (IV) on January options matches the 63-day historical volatility (HV), indicating stability in market expectations [3] Group 3: Short Selling and Options - It would take short sellers more than five sessions to cover their bearish bets, potentially providing a floor for RCL as it approaches long-term support [3] - A recommended January 16, 2026 call option has a leverage ratio of 6.30, suggesting that a 16% rise in the underlying equity would double the option's value [3]

Investors in Churchill Downs Incorporated (CHDN) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because he Dec. 19, 2025 $55 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 c ...

Group 1 - Bitcoin (BTC) is trading down around the $102,000 level, with limited macro data influencing the market this week, indicating a potential for sideways movement until a significant development occurs [2] - Funding rates for perpetual futures are increasing, with Binance showing nearly 6% annualized, while some lower-tier exchanges are in the 10-12% range, suggesting growing market interest [2] - Options markets display significant open interest for call options above the $112,000 level for the end of November expiry, while there are also several hundred contracts open for puts at the 85,000/90,000 strike level, indicating mixed market sentiment [2] Group 2 - Z-Cash (ZEC) has surged 9% and surpassed the $500 level, with previous extreme funding rates of -400% annualized now normalized to 2% annualized, reflecting a strong bullish trend [3] - The limited trading venues for ZEC and regulatory challenges for privacy coins have created a favorable environment for price appreciation, leading to a resurgence in arbitrage opportunities [3] - Recent integrations into other protocols and the availability of more markets have contributed to Z-Cash's upward momentum, raising questions about the sustainability of the privacy coin trend [3]

Group 1 - The stock of Array Technologies, Inc. (ARRY) is experiencing significant attention due to high implied volatility in the options market, particularly for the Nov. 21, 2025 $1.00 Call option [1] - Implied volatility indicates the market's expectation of future price movement, suggesting that investors anticipate a significant change in Array Technologies' stock price, potentially due to an upcoming event [2] - Array Technologies holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) in the Solar industry, which is in the top 28% of the Zacks Industry Rank, indicating a positive outlook among analysts [3] Group 2 - The high implied volatility may signal a developing trading opportunity, as options traders often seek to sell premium on options with elevated implied volatility, aiming to benefit from time decay [4] - Analysts have noted a positive shift in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Array Technologies, with earnings per share moving from 7 cents to 8 cents over the last 60 days, reflecting improved expectations [3]

Time now for Options Corner. Joining us to take a deeper look at the chart itself is Rick Dukat, lead market technician. All right, Rick, let's talk about this chart for Tesla.It started out bumpy this year. It's gotten better for the company. What do you notice on in terms of trends.>> You know, Diane, the first trillion is always the hardest as they say here. I'm just teasing. Obviously, that's an amazing amount of money to even consider here.But Tesla's kind of a difficult company to make sense of in som ...

Group 1 - Walmart operates a vast network of discount department stores, supercenters, and e-commerce platforms, offering a wide range of products at everyday low prices [1] - The company runs Sam's Club and has expanded its digital footprint through online shopping and delivery services, leveraging its scale and supply chain efficiency [2] - Walmart has consistently exceeded expectations in its earnings announcements, maintaining a strong performance [2] Group 2 - Implied volatility for Walmart stock is currently high at 28.68%, indicating a favorable environment for option selling ahead of the earnings announcement on November 20th [3] - A bull put spread strategy is recommended for those with a bullish outlook, involving selling a naked put and buying a further out-of-the-money put to limit risk [4] - Bull put spreads provide defined-risk strategies, allowing traders to know their maximum potential loss upfront and benefit from time decay as expiration approaches [5] Group 3 - Bull put spreads are expected to benefit from a drop in implied volatility following the earnings announcement, which typically occurs [6]