From our friends at Interactive Brokers
Delta calls active as spread play indicates further bullish move
By Andrew Wilkinson
Overall option volume on Delta Air Lines Inc. (Ticker: DAL) by 11:45am ET on Monday of 50,000 contracts is already in line with the typical 10-day average reading. The stock is trading higher at $46.63 (+1.00%) and stands in the middle of a $10.00 range tracked during the past three months. Implied volatility on its options is about 2.5% higher at 31.4%. Much of today’s option activity results from a call spread involving 10,000 contracts at the 48.0 strike expiring in September, while the opposing leg involved the same-size sale at the 55.0 strike. At the individual strike prices it appears that implied volatility is slightly higher on the nearby strike and lower at the higher strike. The 7-point wide call spread appears to have taken place shortly after the market opened and at a net premium of $2.07. From the Strategy Performance Graph below we can see the turning points associated with the transaction. The breakeven for the trade expiring in 130-days is $50.07 while the maximum profit would occur should Delta’s share price reach $55.00, at which point the investor stands to max out the gain of $4.93 per contract.
Chart – Strategy performance plot for September 48/55 call spread
Ralph Lauren Put Options In Play Ahead Of Earnings
By Caitlin Duffy
Ralph Lauren shares are on the rise ahead of the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report on Wednesday. RL is up roughly $0.60 or 0.45% Monday morning to trade at $135.00, but the stock has had a rough first half of 2015, with shares down nearly 30% since reaching a 52-week high of $187.49 back on December 31, 2014. A ratio put spread initiated on the stock this morning suggests one trader may be positioning for shares to dip following the quarterly report midweek. It looks like the trader purchased 1,000 of the May 130.0 strike puts at a premium of $2.15 each and sold 2,000 of the May 125.0 strike puts at a premium of $0.85 apiece. Net premium paid for the position amounts to $0.45 per contract. The spread makes money in the event that shares in Ralph Lauren slip 4.0% from the current level to trade below the breakeven point at $129.55, with maximum potential profits of $4.55 available should the stock drop approximately 7.0% to $125.00 by expiration this week. Shares in RL touched a 52-week low of $127.29 on March 11.
[My emphasis. Notice that 1000 puts were bought and 2000 were sold.]
The analysis provided in this article is provided for information only and is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. To the extent that this material discusses general market activity, industry or sector trends or other broad-based economic or political conditions, it should not be construed as research or investment advice. To the extent that it includes references to specific securities, commodities, currencies, or other instruments, those references do not constitute a recommendation by IB to buy, sell or hold such investments. This material does not and is not intended to take into account the particular financial conditions, investment objectives or requirements of individual customers. Before acting on this material, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, as necessary, seek professional advice.
