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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 2025-2-4

The following analysis focuses on the Stock Options Flow Leaderboard for the trading day 2025-2-4. 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.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Significant call buying with $73.1M in premium spent on calls compared to $43.1M collected from sold calls. Put activity was comparatively lower, with $10.9M spent on puts and $14.1M collected from sold puts.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $33.2M, indicating strong institutional bullish sentiment.
Expectations: The substantial call premium suggests optimism about future upside movement. The lower put activity reinforces a lack of bearish hedging.

Meta Platforms, Inc. (META)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Call buying reached $35.5M in premium, while only $8.1M was collected from sold calls. Put buying was limited at $2.5M, with just $1.1M in premium from sold puts.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $25.9M, pointing to a positive outlook.
Expectations: Institutional traders are positioning for upside, with limited put activity suggesting confidence in stability or further gains.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Call buying at $10.1M, with negligible call selling and no reported put activity.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $10.1M, reinforcing a bullish stance.
Expectations: The absence of put activity and strong call premium inflows indicate confidence in further appreciation.

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: $10.5M in call premium bought, compared to $756K collected from sold calls. Put buying was minimal at $502K, with $167K in sold puts.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $9.5M, suggesting bullish positioning.
Expectations: Institutions are favoring upside exposure with relatively low put positioning.

Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: $11.4M in call premium bought, with $2.8M collected from sold calls. Puts were more active, with $5.6M bought and $5.4M sold.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $8.5M, indicating bullish sentiment despite some put activity.
Expectations: The significant call buying outweighs put transactions, suggesting a positive bias, though some downside hedging is present.

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: $9.8M in call premium bought, compared to $2.4M collected from sold calls. Put activity was light, with $1.1M bought and $907K sold.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $7.2M, signaling a bullish outlook.
Expectations: The strong call positioning relative to puts suggests optimism about continued strength.

AppLovin Corporation (APP)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: $8.3M in call premium bought, with $2.5M collected from sold calls. No put activity was reported.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $5.8M, reinforcing a bullish bias.
Expectations: The absence of put trades suggests a one-sided bullish outlook with institutional confidence.

Lam Research Corporation (LRCX)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: $3.3M in call premium bought, no reported call selling. Puts were relatively light, with $791K bought and $509K sold.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $3M, indicating bullish sentiment.
Expectations: The call-heavy positioning suggests an expectation of higher prices.

DaVita Inc. (DVA)
Sentiment: Bearish
Options Activity: No call activity reported. $3M in put premium bought.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of -$3M, reflecting a bearish outlook.
Expectations: The large put premium suggests downside protection or outright bearish bets.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: $2.7M in call premium bought, with $440K collected from sold calls. No put activity reported.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $2.2M, indicating bullish sentiment.
Expectations: The complete absence of puts alongside strong call activity suggests optimism for upside.

Beyond, Inc. (BYON)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: $2.3M in call premium bought, with only $245K collected from sold calls. No put activity reported.
Total Values: Net premium inflow of $2.1M, reflecting strong bullish sentiment.
Expectations: The lack of puts suggests unhedged bullish positioning.

Individual Options Trades: Trading Day 2025-2-4

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.

ATAI Life Sciences (ATAI)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Notable call buying activity across multiple expiration dates. Significant purchases of the $2.50 strike call expiring on February 21, 2025 (17 days to expire) occurred at various times throughout the trading session, with some trades executed via multi-sweep and SPHR trades. Additionally, a large call buy at the $2.50 strike for May 16, 2025 (101 days to expire) was executed, reflecting continued bullish positioning. A smaller put sale at the $1.00 strike for May 16, 2025, suggests confidence in price stability above that level.
Total Values: Call premium paid exceeded $150,000 across all transactions.
Strike Price: $1.50, $2.50
Expectations: With a spot price fluctuating around $2.10–$2.18, the heavy call buying at the $2.50 strike suggests bullish sentiment and expectations of a move higher. The put selling further reinforces confidence that the price will stay above $1.00.

Mind Medicine (MNMD)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Call buying at the $12 and $9 strikes, spanning expiration dates of February 21, 2025 (17 days to expire) and June 20, 2025 (136 days to expire). The most notable trade was a large purchase of the $12 strike call for June 2025, executed at AMEX. Smaller call purchases at the $9 strike suggest near-term bullish positioning.
Total Values: Premium paid exceeded $170,000 across transactions.
Strike Price: $7, $9, $12
Expectations: With a spot price around $7.80–$8.00, the bullish call activity, particularly at the $12 strike for June, signals an expectation of a strong upside move in the coming months.

iShares Silver Trust (SLV)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Large call purchases at the $20 strike for January 16, 2026 (346 days to expire). The bulk of the trades were executed as multi-sweep orders, suggesting aggressive positioning in anticipation of a long-term move higher.
Total Values: Premium paid surpassed $1.1 million.
Strike Price: $20
Expectations: With a spot price of $29.43, the call positioning appears speculative, possibly anticipating volatility or a shift in market dynamics favoring silver in the long term.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Heavy call buying at various strike prices and expiration dates. The most significant trades include purchases of the $25 and $35 strikes for March 7, 2025 (31 days to expire) and August 15, 2025 (192 days to expire). Additionally, a large $45 strike call buy for January 15, 2027 (710 days to expire) highlights long-term bullish sentiment.
Total Values: Premium paid exceeded $1.5 million across transactions.
Strike Price: $22, $23, $25, $35, $40, $45
Expectations: With a spot price around $23.00–$23.50, the call activity suggests bullish positioning in both the near and long term. The $45 strike call purchase for 2027 signals significant confidence in ASTS’s upside potential.

Danaher Corporation (DHR)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Notable call buying at the $215 strike for February 21, 2025 (17 days to expire). The trades were executed as multi-sweep orders, indicating urgency in positioning.
Total Values: Premium paid exceeded $600,000.
Strike Price: $215
Expectations: With a spot price around $213.55, the call buying at $215 suggests traders anticipate an imminent breakout above this level.

BP plc (BP)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Call buying at the $32 strike for March 21, 2025 (45 days to expire). Trades were executed across multiple exchanges, reflecting strong bullish interest.
Total Values: Premium paid exceeded $750,000.
Strike Price: $32
Expectations: With a spot price of $31.45, the call buying indicates traders expect BP to move higher in the coming months, possibly due to oil market strength or company-specific catalysts.

Beyond (BYON)
Sentiment: Bullish
Options Activity: Heavy call buying at multiple strike prices and expiration dates, including $10, $12.50, and $15 strikes for expirations spanning February 7, 2025 (3 days to expire) to June 20, 2025 (136 days to expire). Several large trades were executed with size exceeding prior open interest, indicating fresh bullish positioning.
Total Values: Premium paid surpassed $1.2 million across transactions.
Strike Price: $9, $10, $12.50, $15, $25, $27.50
Expectations: With a spot price fluctuating around $9.10–$9.70, the widespread call activity suggests strong bullish sentiment and expectations of significant upside.

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

John Hancock Asset-Based Lending Fund
Buyer: Manulife Private Credit Plus Fund (Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 1,476,378 (+99.1%)
Price: USD 20.32
Total Value: USD 30,000,000

Manulife Private Credit Fund
Buyer: Manulife Private Credit Plus Fund (Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 720,195 (+25.0%)
Price: USD 20.83
Total Value: USD 15,000,000

Sirius XM Holdings Inc (SIRI)
Buyer: Berkshire Hathaway Inc (Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 840,000 (+0.7%)
Price: USD 23.62
Total Value: USD 19,838,448

Metsera Inc (MTSR)
Buyer: Kristina Burow (Non-Executive Director, Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 1,432,224 (+8.4%)
Price: USD 18.00
Total Value: USD 25,780,032

Metsera Inc (MTSR)
Buyer: ARCH Venture Partners XII, LLC (Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 1,432,224 (+8.4%)
Price: USD 18.00
Total Value: USD 25,780,032

US Insider Sales

AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd (AXS)
Seller: Charles A. Davis (Non-Executive Director)
Shares Sold: 2,234,636 (-33.0%)
Price: USD 89.50
Total Value: USD 199,999,922

Stryker Corp (SYK)
Seller: Ronda E. Stryker (Non-Executive Director, Large shareholder)
Shares Sold: 96,728 (-2.5%)
Price: USD 390.90
Total Value: USD 37,810,975

Enact Holdings Inc (ACT)
Seller: Genworth Holdings, Inc. (Large shareholder)
Shares Sold: 476,668 (-0.4%)
Price: USD 32.59
Total Value: USD 15,533,371

Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD)
Seller: Andrew D. Dickinson (Chief Financial Officer)
Shares Sold: 142,180 (-52.3%)
Price: USD 97.22
Total Value: USD 13,822,740

McCormick & Company Inc (MKC)
Seller: Lawrence Erik Kurzius (Non-Executive Director)
Shares Sold: 50,000 (-15.3%)
Price: USD 76.81
Total Value: USD 3,840,320

CDN Insider Purchases

Fitzroy Minerals Inc (FTZ)
Buyer: John Campbell Smyth (Executive Director)
Shares Purchased: 1,053,500 (+30.4%)
Price: CAD 0.15
Total Value: CAD 158,025

First Phosphate Corp (PHOS)
Buyer: John Passalacqua (Executive Director, Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 301,500 (+2.7%)
Price: CAD 0.30
Total Value: CAD 90,450

BuildDirect.com Technologies Inc (BILD)
Buyer: Ryan K Beedie (Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 783,000 (+27.8%)
Price: CAD 0.43
Total Value: CAD 336,690

NU E Power Corp.
Buyer: Samuel Anthony Kyler Hardy (Non-Executive Director)
Shares Purchased: 333,333
Price: CAD 0.30
Total Value: CAD 100,000

Morguard Corp (MRC)
Buyer: Sime Armoyan (Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 1,700 (+0.1%)
Price: CAD 111.99
Total Value: CAD 190,389

Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust (MRT.UN)
Buyer: Morguard Corporation (Large shareholder)
Shares Purchased: 19,100 (+0.1%)
Price: CAD 5.55
Total Value: CAD 106,005

CDN Insider Sales

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd (CP)
Seller: Laird Joseph Pitz (Officer)
Shares Sold: 18,710
Price: USD 79.02
Total Value: USD 1,478,524

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNQ)
Seller: Warren Paul Raczynski (Officer)
Shares Sold: 7,500 (-17.9%)
Price: CAD 43.70
Total Value: CAD 327,750

K92 Mining Inc (KNT)
Seller: John Lewins (Non-Executive Director)
Shares Sold: 68,700 (-2.5%)
Price: CAD 9.79
Total Value: CAD 672,422

Brompton Split Banc Corp (SBC)
Seller: Brompton Corp. (Executive Director)
Shares Sold: 15,000 (-23.0%)
Price: CAD 11.05
Total Value: CAD 165,750

Fitzroy Minerals Inc (FTZ)
Seller: John Campbell Smyth (Executive Director)
Shares Sold: 500,000 (-11.1%)
Price: CAD 0.15
Total Value: CAD 75,000

Institutional Spotlight: Boeing (BA)

The institutional sponsorship for Boeing (BA) has seen a series of significant entries, underscoring a growing interest in the stock from notable investment firms. Recent filings highlight new positions from a range of prominent players, reflecting an increasing conviction in the aerospace giant’s future performance. Steve Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management LP has acquired 765,622 shares, representing 0.42% of the company, marking a completely new position. Similarly, Terry Zhang’s Tairen Capital Ltd has taken a new stake of 241,000 shares, constituting 1.29% of BA, further signaling confidence in the stock.

Additional institutional investments include Robert Zoellner’s Alpine Associates Management Inc., with a new purchase of 60,900 shares (0.42%); George Soros’ Soros Fund Management LLC, adding 27,514 shares (0.12%); and Phill Gross’ Adage Capital Partners GP LLC, purchasing 686,638 shares (0.19%), with an increase of 23,903 shares (3.48%) to their position. Richard Schimel’s Cinctive Capital Management LP has aggressively expanded its holdings, acquiring 117,766 shares (1.04%), with a notable 85.53% increase in their position through the addition of 100,725 shares. Smaller yet notable stakes have also been taken by Patrick Quinn’s Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC and Peter Stamos’ Stamos Capital Partners LP, who respectively purchased 45,236 shares (0.70%) and 34,830 shares (1.26%), with increases of 32.99% and 9.07% in their holdings.

These new institutional investments in Boeing highlight a renewed sense of optimism in the company, driven by major investors placing sizeable bets on the stock. The increased interest from these high-profile firms underscores confidence in BA‘s future prospects, particularly as the company continues to navigate a challenging but promising sector.

Institutional Momentum Watchlists

(Stocks are sorted to highlight those with the strongest momentum at the time of the scan)

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 – 2025-02-01

VIAV, TEAM, HIMS, CRDO, RBC, CLS, CMPX, TBBK, BNTC, RDW, GTLB, KEYS, GLW, FRME, VEON, TARS, TATT, CIEN, JHG, REAL, MRCY, RSSS, REPL, AVGO, NRIM, TWST, KINS, PIPR, MRVL, PCTY, RSI, RDVT, VNO, GOOGL, PLTR, TOST, GOOG, CVNA, PRVA, SFM, AMZN, ANET, APP, ACN, TSLA, MP, VERX, AJG, DOCU, EHC, RAIL, DCGO, OWL, RZLT, BHF, LOPE, SATS, BILL, KD, AB, REVG, LLYVA, PBI, TSM, GRND, BOX, PRAX, TYL, ADSK, DPG, HTGC, LYV, PPL, BLK, NTRA, NFLX, ZWS, RYTM, META, DVAX, FOXA, EQH, ENFN, GILD, CLM, DOCS, CSCO, DUOL, CRVL, CLBT, CXDO, CDMO, WBS, DASH, KKR, VRNA, COST, MOFG, ARES, NDAQ, CNTA, FI, APD, MCO, VCTR

Canadian Institutional Momentum Watchlist

EXPORT – CDN – Institutional – 2025-02-01

CLS.TO, LNF.TO, QTRH.TO, AQN.TO, BLX.TO, TOI.V, MND.TO, ITR.V, EDV.TO, EMA.TO, CNE.TO, QBR/B.TO, IPO.TO, MX.TO, DPM.TO, BB.TO, GWO.TO, CF.TO, H.TO, CU.TO, POW.TO, AP/UN.TO, AIF.TO, ARTG.V, IFC.TO, CEF.TO, FNV.TO, SII.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!