Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are higher this morning, up triple digits as earnings season ramps up. Better-than-expected reports from Caterpillar (CAT) and 3M (MMM) are lifting the blue-chip index toward record highs, with McDonald's (MCD) stock also pointed higher after earnings. Futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are also higher, boosted by earnings vic...Read More
Drug company Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) will report earnings tomorrow morning. Today, the stock closed almost 3% lower at $328.11, after the firm changed its existing collaboration with Eisai to develop and commercialize investigational Alzheimer's disease treatments, resulting in a downgrade from Citigroup. Below, we'll take a look at BIIB stock and how options traders are playing the shares ahead...Read More
Despite touching record highs in early trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) each closed lower today, with the Dow and S&P both breaking their six-session win streaks. General Electric (GE) stock helped weigh the Dow down, dropping amid dividend concerns sparked by the blue chip's lackluster earnings report on Friday.Traders also...Read More
Stocks are modestly lower this afternoon, though all three major U.S. benchmarks hit record highs earlier. Among specific names making big moves, data storage specialist Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ:STX) and Dow stock Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) are higher, while materials expert Arconic Inc (NYSE:ARNC) is plummeting after earnings. Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of STX, IN...Read More
Third-quarter earnings season is rolling on. In addition to several high-profile tech earnings that are due this week, New York-based airline name JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) will take its turn in the earnings confessional tomorrow. Ahead of the event, JBLU stock is down 1.6% at $20.03 -- trading near several key technical levels -- and options traders have been targeting even bigger...Read More
Nvidia isn't the only semiconductor stock on analysts' radar. Just this morning, RBC upped its price target on Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) to $100 from $96, helping the shares earlier hit a 17-year high of $96.74. The equity is now up almost 32% in 2017, and is pacing for a seventh straight positive weekly finish. But while options traders appear bullish ahead of the company's ear...Read More
As just another example of the low stock market volatility of late, the CBOE Market Volatility Index (VIX) -- or Wall Street's "fear gauge" -- is flashing a signal so rare we've seen it just four other times since 1990. Specifically, VIX premium has crested above 200%, according to Schaeffer's Quantitative Analyst Chris Prybal, which was a really bad signal for the VIX in 2016. Below, we'll explai...Read More
Third-quarter earnings reports continue to dominate the headlines this week. Tomorrow, traders will digest results from burrito chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) after the close.Here's a closer look at CMG stock ahead of earnings, and how options traders have been positioning themselves on the restaurant's shares.Earnings History Isn't On CMG's SideChipotle Mexican Grill stock has...Read More
Options trading has been heavy on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), with volume on Friday reaching its highest point since the Presidential Election. Tech powerhouses Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) andAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) are two companies with notable options volume, and both happen to report earnings later this week. Here's a closer look at how options traders have be...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is trading higher, looking to extend its winning streak to a seventh straight day, and just off a fresh record high. Traders are cheering a snap election victory for Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as increased expectations that President Donald Trump's administration will be pushing forward with tax cuts. However, as tech stocks pull back, the S&P...Read More
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is scheduled to report third-quarter earnings after tomorrow's close. AMD stock has a history of making big post-earnings moves, with the shares swinging, on average, 15.6% in the session subsequent to reporting over the past eight quarters. The options market is expecting more of the same this time around, pricing in a 13.9% move for tomorrow's trading, r...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on video streaming service maker Roku Inc (NASDAQ:ROKU), semiconductor stock NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), and biotech Aimmune Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:AIMT). Here's a quick roundup of today's bullish brokerage notes on shares of ROKU, NVDA, and AIMT.Analysts Begin Coverage on Roku StockRoku stock is trading fractionally lower at $21.80, despite news that Needham ini...Read More
Analysts are weighing in on Dow stock General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), Viaskin maker DBV Technologies SA (NASDAQ:DBVT), and pharma name Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of GE, DBVT, and VRX.General Electric Dividend Concerns Draw DowngradesIn the wake of last Friday's "unacceptable" earnings report, General Electri...Read More
U.S. stocks are pacing for a positive open this morning, as the focus stays on corporate earnings. Among the stocks making moves this morning are toy company Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), and biotech stock Global Blood Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:GBT). Here's a closer look at what's moving shares of HAS, TSLA, and GBT.Hasbro Earnings Forecast Hurt By Toys...Read More
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are higher this morning, with the index eyeing a fresh set of record highs. The Dow and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are both looking to extend their daily win streaks to seven. Traders are digesting the latest round of corporate earnings, and global stocks are higher after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a snap election. Traders are also giddy over the i...Read More
"Small-cap stocks, as measured by the Russell 2000 Index (RUT - 1,502.66), drifted slightly lower, as the round 1,500 level would not be left behind too easily... "It has only been several days since SPY 255 and SPX 2,550 have flexed their muscles, but the sideways action in this area has been quite noticeable, and could be aided by the call wall at the SPY 255 strike that I discussed last week. A...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) each touched record highs today, as a new budget plan passed by the Senate fueled optimism about tax reform. Traders also considered President Trump's comments on who will head the central bank after Fed Chair Janet Yellen's term is up, with Trump specifically naming Yellen, Fed Governor Jerome Powell...Read More
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) all chalked up new record highs this week, with the Dow closing above the 23,000 mark for the first time ever on Wednesday -- its best day in a month -- thanks to impressive earnings from IBM. Tax reform hopes helped the Dow and SPX extend their win streaks to a sixth day on Friday, after the Senate passed a b...Read More
Stocks are higher this afternoon, with the Dow, S&P 500 Index, and Nasdaq all touching record highs once again. Mining concern Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (NYSE:CLF) and fast-food firm Del Taco Restaurants Inc (NASDAQ:TACO) are sinking, while software stock Atlassian Corporation PLC (NASDAQ:TEAM) is surging after earnings. Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of CLF, TACO, and TEAM.Cleveland-C...Read More
There are many ways call and put options can be utilized; there's a strategy out there for every market view. Today, however, we will be discussing the differences between options that are in the money (ITM), near or at the money (ATM), and out of the money (OOTM), and the pros and cons of each for options buyers. Options 101First off, an option's relation to "the money" depends on three things: w...Read More