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Unusual Activity Report
This daily report focuses on three key components that can lead to market momentum: unusual options activity, insider buying, and institutional sponsorship. By scanning for these signals each day, we uncover potential stock movements driven by notable trades, insider transactions, and institutional investments. Using advanced algorithms and proprietary research methods, we sift through vast amounts of data to identify unique opportunities, offering timely insights highlighting emerging market momentum.
Disclaimer: All data and information presented in this report are sourced from publicly available materials intended for informational purposes only. The content is not a recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be relied upon as financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before making any investment decisions.
Standout Options Trades
This section highlights notable options trades reflecting significant sentiment—bullish, bearish, or mixed—characterized by high-dollar-value transactions or large trade sizes exceeding prior open interest. When open interest rises from the previous day, it often indicates the creation of new positions rather than the closing of existing ones, suggesting a fresh outlook on the underlying stock or ETF.
For instance, call buying generally signals an expectation of upward movement, while selling calls suggest the trader anticipates the price will stay below a certain level. Put selling reflects confidence that the price will hold above the strike, implying stability. In contrast, put buying may reveal a bearish outlook or serve as a hedge against a larger bullish position elsewhere.
Note: This report highlights large, unusual options trades identified for their size and potential impact, representing individual sentiment rather than broad market consensus. These trades are informational and are not intended as buy or sell signals. They reflect noteworthy activity observed during the trading day and should be viewed as one part of a broader analysis.
Options Flow Analysis: Trading Day 2024-12-26
The following analysis focuses on the Stock Options Flow Leaderboard for the trading day 2024-12-26. Each section highlights significant institutional activity, providing sentiment, key observations, and market expectations based on the data. All numbers represent large block trades likely executed by institutional players, not total-market figures.
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Sentiment: Bullish
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Key Activity: Put selling with $41,112,960 in premium sold, with no significant call activity.
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Total Values: Net premium of $41,097,450.
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Strike Price Considerations: The focus on put selling could indicate a belief that the stock won’t fall below certain levels.
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Market View: There’s a sense of confidence that CPRI will maintain or increase its value, possibly due to brand strength or seasonal sales.
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Sentiment: Bullish
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Key Activity: Large call buying with $29,775,000 in premium bought.
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Total Values: Net premium of $29,976,500, nearly all from call options.
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Strike Price Considerations: This might reflect optimism about new product releases or market expansion.
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Market View: Investors appear to be betting on growth or significant positive announcements from TEAM.
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Sentiment: Mixed
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Key Activity: Moderate activity with more call selling than buying, but significant put selling.
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Total Values: Net premium of $26,027,113 from put selling.
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Strike Price Considerations: The mixed signals could indicate uncertainty but with a slight lean towards stability or modest growth.
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Market View: There might be varied expectations, with some investors protecting against downturns while others see potential for stability.
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Biogen Inc. (BIIB), Amgen Inc. (AMGN), and Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS) show bullish activity through put selling, suggesting confidence in their stability or potential for growth.
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Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI) and SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN) show mixed signals with both call-and-put activities, suggesting a market in flux with varied expectations.
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Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI) exhibits significant call buying, indicating optimism about quantum computing developments.
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Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR) has a modest bullish signal but with low volumes, indicating cautious optimism or speculative trading.
Individual Options Trades: Trading Day 2024-12-26
This section focuses on unusual trades that stand out on an individual basis. These trades are highlighted for their distinctiveness, reflecting significant activity that diverges from typical market behavior.
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Multiple buy transactions of call options with expiration in January 2025 and February 2025.
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Call options for January 17, 2025, with a strike price of $1.00 were bought across various exchanges.
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Call options for February 21, 2025, with a strike price of $0.50 were also actively purchased, with some trades noted to exceed prior open interest.
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$1.00 for January 2025 expiration
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$0.50 for February 2025 expiration
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Investors buying these call options anticipate a rise in STEM’s stock price above the strike prices before the expiration dates.
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The market view appears to be optimistic, with traders betting on a significant upside for STEM stock in the near to medium term.
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO)
Sentiment: Bullish – Selling put options indicates a bullish stance, expecting the stock price to remain above the strike prices
Options Activity:
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Two sell transactions of put options, both expiring January 17, 2025.
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One trade at a strike price of $145, another at $150, both significantly exceeding prior open interest.
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$10,089,700 for the $145 strike put
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$13,779,200 for the $150 strike put
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Combined total of $23,868,900 in premiums received.
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$145
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$150
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Sellers of these put options expect VLO’s stock price to stay above $145 and $150 respectively by the expiration date.
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The market view here is optimistic, as the sellers are willing to accept the obligation to buy VLO shares at these strike prices if the stock falls below them, suggesting confidence in the stock’s stability or growth.
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Three sell transactions of put options:
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January 17, 2025, expiration with a strike price of $47.50
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January 17, 2025, expiration with a strike price of $50.00
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February 21, 2025, expiration with a strike price of $42.50
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All trades significantly exceed prior open interest, indicating large new positions.
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$2,132,000 for the $47.50 strike put
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$5,027,400 for the $50.00 strike put
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$1,174,200 for the $42.50 strike put
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Combined total of $8,333,600 in premiums received.
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$47.50 for January 2025
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$50.00 for January 2025
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$42.50 for February 2025
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The sellers expect DVN’s stock price to stay above these strike prices by their respective expiration dates, anticipating that they will not be obligated to buy the shares at these levels.
Market View:
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The market view here suggests optimism for DVN, with traders willing to collect premiums on the expectation that the stock will not drop below these strike prices before expiration.
- All the stocks listed show a notable trend where the number of calls significantly exceeds puts, indicating a bullish market sentiment. This suggests that traders are betting on these stocks to rise in value.
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The LEAP purchase in AMSC further supports the view of long-term bullishness.
Insider Transactions
Each day, insider transactions provide insights into the movements of key executives and shareholders within various companies. These transactions can signal confidence in future performance or a need to liquidate holdings. Today’s report identified the most significant insider purchases and sales, highlighting influential figures and companies that made notable moves. Let’s take a look at some of today’s standout transactions.
US Insider Purchases
US Insider Sales
CDN Insider Purchases
CDN Insider Sales
Institutional Spotlight: Telephone & Data Systems (TDS)
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Third Point LLC has significantly increased its stake, indicating a bullish outlook on TDS.
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The 52% new shares bought by Third Point suggest a strategic move, possibly in anticipation of growth or restructuring within TDS.
Institutional Momentum Watchlists
Welcome to the Institutional Momentum Watchlist, an exclusive feature for our members. This list highlights stocks that have recently caught the attention of institutional investors, either through new purchases or significant additions. These stocks are selected based on promising technical setups that suggest potential momentum. Our systematic approach filters for opportunities where institutional sponsorship aligns with favorable technical conditions, offering a unique edge in your trading strategy. Keep an eye on this watchlist as we update it each weekend with the latest insights from the market.
Click on the CandleGlance chart to view it in full size. Find a chart that matches your criteria or interests. You can easily save it to your watchlist on StockCharts.com for further analysis and tracking or copy and paste the ticker list into your chart provider.
US Institutional Momentum Watchlist
EXPORT – US – Institutional – 2024-12-21
ELUT, XMTR, BTDR, CKPT, RDW, PSNL, MNKD, PLTR, INOD, LENZ, KINS, APP, CCL, REAL, SRRK, VEON, ARQT, LUNR, VSCO, NEXT, NCLH, CLBT, AXGN, MDGL, PRAX, GKOS, BLFS, DOCS, TOST, VCTR, CEE, HPE, RSI, MGNI, CHWY, WRBY, ONON, DTM, PMTS, ANET, EQH, MTZ, BROS, ELDN, WEAV, CRWD, Z, WLFC, KVYO, ARES, FCNCA, WGS, DECK, GRND, CLS, MRVL, FTNT, ATAT, WTM, GLBE, FOUR, CRDO, PTCT, OSW, SSNC, DUOL, ALLT, RBLX, DASH, VRNA, UAL, AXP, AAPL, CMPO, CIEN, TW, ZM, BMY, LITE, MIR, WIX, TARS, MRCY, GOOG, OWL, GILD, QTWO, GOOGL, KRNT, LUV, RDVT, NOW, HLT, TGNA, YPF, USM, FLUT, TSM, USFD, GPI, IBKR, BLK, SWI, AVGO, VUG, ROAD, KD, TGLS, FNGS, QFIN, SAP, ETR, GMED, NFLX, PRIM, AMZN, OB, PYPL, BSX, SWIM, DOCU, HCP, AUR
Canadian Institutional Momentum Watchlist
EXPORT – CDN – Institutional – 2024-12-21
APS.TO, BB.TO, GLO.TO, CNE.TO, TWM.TO, BLDP.TO, OGI.TO, ATZ.TO, PPTA.TO, GTII.CA, CWB.TO, CAE.TO, GLXY.TO, TVE.TO, WILD.TO, ET.TO, CRON.TO, SPB.TO, GOOS.TO, MTY.TO, ARG.TO, NFI.TO, EXE.TO, CLS.TO, HITI.V, CEF.TO, ECN.TO, VNP.TO, EIF.TO, ATD.TO, TSAT.TO, MDA.TO, TOY.TO, ENB.TO, EFN.TO, WSP.TO, WELL.TO, ATRL.TO, RCH.TO, ENGH.TO, VHI.TO, GWO.TO, IFC.TO, CPX.TO, MX.TO, ALA.TO, SVM.TO, SSRM.TO, ALS.TO, PIF.TO, EMA.TO, ARE.TO, GEI.TO, CEU.TO, DXT.TO, FFH.TO
To conclude our report, we thank you for your engagement and insights. Your feedback is valuable, and we encourage you to share your recommendations. Stay attentive to the Daily Setups, the Workspace, and the Watchlists for emerging opportunities. Additionally, explore the PDFs of the scanner results provided in the Daily Setups report. Until next time, happy trading!