This week we are looking at another of the Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 List companies.  We use this list in one of our options portfolios to spot outperforming stocks and place option spreads that take advantage of the momentum.

ServiceNow (NOW) is up 35% from its low two months ago and several analysts expect the stock to continue higher. Here are two of them – Is ServiceNow (NOW) Outperforming Other Computer and Technology Stocks This Year? and 3 Tech Stocks for Growth Investors to Buy for 2020.

Technicals

From a technical perspective, NOW recently scaled above a major horizontal level that resides near $275. This level first came into play in late April and has acted as resistance on multiple occasions. The bullish break signals strength. The next area of interest will tend to be the psychological $300 price point which held the stock lower earlier this year.

NOW Chart December 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for NOW, consider this trade which is a bet that the stock will continue to advance over the next four weeks, or at least not decline very much.

Buy To Open NOW 24JAN20 282.5 Puts (NOW200124P282.5)
Sell To Open NOW 24JAN20 285 Puts (NOW200124P285) for a credit of $1.03 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when NOW was trading near $287.  Unless the stock rallies quickly from here, you should be able to get close to this amount.

Your commission on this trade will only be $1.30 per spread.  Each contract would then yield $101.70 and your broker would charge a $250 maintenance fee, making your investment $148.30 ($250 – $101.70).  If NOW closes at any price above $285 on January 24, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 69% (1007% annualized).

Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:

IBD Underlying Updates December 28, 2019

We have found that the Investor’s Business Daily Top 50 List has been a reliable source of stocks that are likely to move higher in the short run.  Recent additions to the list might be particularly good choices for this strategy, and deletions might be good indicators for exiting a position that you might already have on that stock.

As with all investments, you should only make option trades with money that you can truly afford to lose.

Happy trading,

Terry

This week we are looking at another of the Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 List companies.  We use this list in one of our options portfolios to spot outperforming stocks and place option spreads that take advantage of the momentum.

Visa (V) – A Steady Performer Poised for Gains

Visa is a popular stock among analysts. So much so that Kiplinger included it in their top 20 stocks to buy for 2020. Morgan Stanley likes the stock as well, check out the following article that discusses a price target upgrade – Morgan Stanley lifts Visa, Mastercard price targets.

Technicals

Visa rallied to a record high in the past week, clearing above a hurdle near $186 that had held it lower in September. The stock trades comfortably above its 20-day moving average which has been offering support ever since the stock climbed above it in the second half of October.

V Chart December 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for V, consider this trade which is a bet that the stock will continue to advance over the next five weeks, or at least not decline very much.

Buy To Open V 24JAN20 185 Puts (V200124P185)
Sell To Open V 24JAN20 187.5 Puts (V200124P187.5) for a credit of $0.87 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when V was trading near $188.  Unless the stock rallies quickly from here, you should be able to get close to this amount.

Your commission on this trade will only be $1.30 per spread.  Each contract would then yield $85.70 and your broker would charge a $250 maintenance fee, making your investment $164.30 ($250 – $85.70).  If V closes at any price above $187.5 on January 24, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 52% (593% annualized).

Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:

IBD Underlying Updates December 21, 2019

We have found that the Investor’s Business Daily Top 50 List has been a reliable source of stocks that are likely to move higher in the short run.  Recent additions to the list might be particularly good choices for this strategy, and deletions might be good indicators for exiting a position that you might already have on that stock.

As with all investments, you should only make option trades with money that you can truly afford to lose.

Happy trading,

Terry

This week we are looking at another of the Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 List companies.  We use this list in one of our options portfolios to spot outperforming stocks and place option spreads that take advantage of the momentum.

Merck has been in the spotlight because of a recent acquisition and as several biotech’s have produced outsized gains as of late. The following two articles discuss the acquisition and how MRK is a better option compared to one of its peers – Merck: Adding To The Pipeline and Better Buy: Eli Lilly vs. Merck.

Technicals

The recent technical development in MRK is a significant one. The stock has broken above a horizontal resistance level at $87 that had held it lower on three notable attempts since the summer. Such a consolidation, followed by a break,, is often a precursor to a much larger move to come. With the stock still trading relatively close to its breakout point there is good value as technical traders usually look to defend breakout points if they were to be retested.

MRK Chart December 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for MRK, consider this trade which is a bet that the stock will continue to advance over the next five weeks, or at least a little bit.

Buy To Open MRK 17JAN20 87.5 Puts (MRK200117P87.5)
Sell To Open MRK 17JAN20 90 Puts (MRK200117P90) for a credit of $0.92 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when MRK was trading near $89.  Unless the stock rallies quickly from here, you should be able to get close to this amount.

Your commission on this trade will only be $1.30 per spread.  Each contract would then yield $90.70 and your broker would charge a $250 maintenance fee, making your investment $159.30 ($250 – $90.70).  If MRK closes at any price above $90 on January 17, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 57% (650% annualized).

Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:

IBD Underlying Updates December 14, 2019

We have found that the Investor’s Business Daily Top 50 List has been a reliable source of stocks that are likely to move higher in the short run.  Recent additions to the list might be particularly good choices for this strategy, and deletions might be good indicators for exiting a position that you might already have on that stock.

As with all investments, you should only make option trades with money that you can truly afford to lose.

Happy trading,

Terry

This week we are looking at another of the Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 List companies.  We use this list in one of our options portfolios to spot outperforming stocks and place option spreads that take advantage of the momentum.

Recent media coverage suggests Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a stock that investors certainly want to own. Check out what these two articles have to say about it – Hedge Funds Got Back Into Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and  Two stocks I’d tuck away forever: Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (JAZZ), HollyFrontier Corporation (HFC).

Technicals

JAZZ is showing a textbook technical breakout. The stock traded between roughly $115 and $145 for most of the year before finally breaking higher in November. The $145 price point offered major resistance in April and July and is now seen as support. In fact, a dip toward the level in the past week was promptly bought up, offering some confirmation that buyers do view the level as support. Further, the upward momentum from the October low is unusually strong which also confirms the outlook of a technical breakout.

JAZZ Chart December 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for JAZZ, consider this trade which is a bet that the stock will continue to advance over the next six weeks, or at least a little bit.

Buy To Open JAZZ 17JAN20 145 Puts (JAZZ200117P145)
Sell To Open JAZZ 17JAN20 150 Puts (JAZZ200117P150) for a credit of $2.18 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when JAZZ was trading near $149.  Unless the stock rallies quickly from here, you should be able to get close to this amount.

Your commission on this trade will only be $1.30 per spread.  Each contract would then yield $216.70 and your broker would charge a $500 maintenance fee, making your investment $283.30 ($500 – $216.70).  If JAZZ closes at any price above $150 on January 17, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 76% (711% annualized).

Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:

IBD Underlying Updates December 7, 2019

We have found that the Investor’s Business Daily Top 50 List has been a reliable source of stocks that are likely to move higher in the short run.  Recent additions to the list might be particularly good choices for this strategy, and deletions might be good indicators for exiting a position that you might already have on that stock.

As with all investments, you should only make option trades with money that you can truly afford to lose.

Happy trading,

Terry

Momo Inc. has been getting positive media coverage as of late, check out what these two analysts had to say about the stock – 3 Undervalued Mid-Cap Stocks That Score a “Perfect 10” and Better Buy: Momo vs. Huya.

Technicals

The technicals sure look good for MOMO as the stock is seen breaking out of a consolidation pattern that had contained price action since around April. The stock broke upward from the triangle pattern in early November and showed strong buying on a dip to retest the pattern in the past week.Further, the stock trades comfortably above the 50, 100, and 200-day moving averages which have all converged between $34-$35.

MOMO Chart December 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for MOMO, consider this trade which is a bet that the stock will continue to advance over the next five weeks, at least a little bit.

Buy To Open MOMO 03JAN20 35 Puts (MOMO200103P35)
Sell To Open MOMO 03JAN20 37.5 Puts (MOMO200103P37.5) for a credit of $0.93 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when MOMO was trading near $37.5.  Unless the stock rallies quickly from here, you should be able to get close to this amount.

Your commission on this trade will only be $1.30 per spread.  Each contract would then yield $91.70 and your broker would charge a $250 maintenance fee, making your investment $158.30 ($250 – $91.70).  If MOMO closes at any price above $37.5 on January 03, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 58% (662% annualized).

Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:

IBD Underlying Updates November 30, 2019

We have found that the Investor’s Business Daily Top 50 List has been a reliable source of stocks that are likely to move higher in the short run.  Recent additions to the list might be particularly good choices for this strategy, and deletions might be good indicators for exiting a position that you might already have on that stock.

As with all investments, you should only make option trades with money that you can truly afford to lose.

Happy trading,

Terry