Call Options Change Hands On Garmin

Options on Garmin Ltd. (Ticker: GRMN) are more active than usual today amid sharp declines in the price of the underlying. Options volume on Garmin is roughly three times the stock’s average daily reading just 90 minutes into the session, with more than 3,600 contracts traded so far today versus average volume of around 1,100 contracts. Shares in the maker of navigation devices fell more than 6.0% this morning to $56.78 after the stock was downgraded to ‘underperform’ from ‘sector perform’ at Pacific Crest.
Much of the volume in GRMN options is in August expiry call options, perhaps as some traders position for shares in the name to rebound in the near term. The most traded series is the Aug 60.0 strike call, with volume topping 1,600 calls in play versus open interest of 411 contracts. Time and sales data suggests most of the 60.0 calls were likely purchased at an average premium of $1.34 each. Buyers of the call options may profit at expiration next month if shares in Garmin rally more than 7.0% over the current price of $57.10 to exceed the average breakeven point at $61.34. Garmin reports second-quarter earnings on July 30th prior to the opening bell.