Shares in Hewlett-Packard (Ticker: HPQ) popped more than 3.0% to a new 52-week high of $29.82 this morning on an upgrade to ‘buy’ from ‘neutral’ with a price target increase to $39.00 from $29.00 at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
The stock rose almost 90% during 2013, starting the year at $14.79 and closing it out at $27.98. Activity in August expiry options today suggests one trader is positioning for the price of the underlying to soar again during 2014. It looks like the strategist purchased a 2,000-lot Aug $34/$38 bull call spread at an average net premium of $0.74 per contract. The trade starts making money if shares in HP rally 16.5% over today’s high of $29.82 to exceed the breakeven price of $34.74, with maximum potential profits of $3.26 per contract available on the spread in the event that shares jump 27% to $38.00 by August expiration. Shares in Hewlett-Packard last traded above $38.00 in May of 2011.
