HTZ – Hertz Global Holdings Inc. – Investors in car rental company Hertz Global Holdings Inc. are taking it on the chin today, with shares in the name sliding as much as 13% in the early going to a three-month low of $22.47. Shares fell after Hertz lowered its full year 2013 earnings and revenue guidance, primarily due to weaker than expected U.S. airport car rentals, according to a press release issued by the company.
October expiry put options changing hands on the stock this morning indicates one or more traders are bracing for shares in the name to weaken further in the near term. Around 2,000 of the Oct $23 strike puts appear to have been purchased, most of the contracts at a premium of $1.00 each. Put buyers make money at expiration next month if shares in HTZ decline 2.0% from today’s low of $22.47 to breach the breakeven point on the downside at $22.00. Shares in Hertz last traded below $22.00 in April.
CAG – ConAgra Foods, Inc. – Shares in the provider of Chef Boyardee, Hunt’s and other branded consumer food products are in negative territory on Thursday morning, off 0.25% at $30.37 as of 10:45 a.m. ET. The stock has been hit hard in recent weeks, currently down more than 18% from a multi-year high of $37.28 reached at the beginning of August.
Trading in ConAgra call options this morning, however, suggests some strategists may be positioning for the price of the underlying to rebound during the final months of 2013. The most traded options contracts on CAG thus far in the session are the Dec $32 strike calls, with volume topping 5,500 contracts versus open interest of 1,615 contracts. Time and sales data suggests most of the volume was purchased within 15 minutes of the opening bell at a premium of $0.55 each. Call buyers may profit at December expiration in the event that ConAgra’s shares rally 7.0% over the current price of $30.28 to exceed the breakeven point at $32.55.
