APC – Anadarko Petroleum Corp – Shares in Anadarko are up more than 3.0% on the session at a one-month high of $80.75, and a large options trade initiated on the stock this morning suggests one trader is positioning for the price of the underlying to move up substantially from the current level during the next four months to expiration.
It looks like the trader established a bullish call butterfly spread that makes maximum possible profits in the event that APC shares rally more than 17% to $95.00 by May expiration. The trader appears to have purchased 5,000 calls at the May $85 and $105 strikes for a combined premium of $3.48 per contract, and sold 10,000 of the May $95 strike calls at a premium of $0.88 apiece. Net premium paid on the position amounts to $1.72 per contract, thus preparing the strategist to profit if shares in Anadarko rally 7.0% over the current price to exceed the effective breakeven point at $86.72. Maximum potential profits of $8.28 per contract are available on the call ‘fly if shares in the name settle at $95.00 at expiration.
