Monthly Archives: March 2020
Has Alibaba (BABA) Reversed Into a Bullish Trend?
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.
With the markets bouncing higher, news outlets have started publishing articles on where big investors are putting their money. Have a look at what these two articles have to say about Alibaba – Bullish investors pour money into Alibaba, Amazon, Intel and Microsoft and 5 Stocks Top Earners Steven Cohen and David Tepper Agree On.
Technicals
BABA has bounced higher from an important technical support confluence that consists of a rising trendline and a horizontal level. The trendline originates from a low posted at the end of 2018 and the while the stock holds above it, the broader bullish looks to still be intact. Since turning from this support confluence, BABA has regained it’s 200-day moving average which is encouraging for bulls. Buyers should defend dips towards the trendline to maintain the upward momentum. A possible near-term target is found at $211 which has previously acted as both support and resistance.
BABA Chart March 2020
If you agree there’s further upside ahead for BABA, 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 BABA 08MAY20 185 Puts (BABA200508P185)
Sell To Open BABA 08MAY20 187.5 Puts (BABA200508P187.5) for a credit of $1.03 (selling a vertical)
This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when BABA was trading near $189. 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 BABA closes at any price above $187.5 on May 08, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 69% (787% annualized).
Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:
IBD Underlying Updates March 28, 2020
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
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) is on a Hiring Spree to Meet a Pickup in Demand
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.
Amidst all the Coronavirus chaos, Domino’s Pizza is busy searching for new workers to meet a recent increase in demand. Check out the following two articles for more details – Domino’s expects to hire 10,000 workers and Why Domino’s, Wendy’s, and Papa John’s Are Absolutely Soaring Thursday.
Technicals
DPZ recently broke above a horizontal level at $299 which is considered to be significant as the same level served the hold the stock lower on several attempts since the summer last year. The initial break higher followed its earnings report last month. The stock has pulled back since then and is currently being held higher by the same price point as well as the 200-day moving average. From a technical point of view, this is an area where the stock can reverse back into an uptrend after pulling back over the last month.
DPZ Chart March 2020
If you agree there’s further upside ahead for DPZ, 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 DPZ 24APR20 295 Puts (DPZ200424P295)
Sell To Open DPZ 24APR20 300 Puts (DPZ200424P300) for a credit of $2.23 (selling a vertical)
This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when DPZ was trading near $300. 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 $221.70 and your broker would charge a $500 maintenance fee, making your investment $278.30 ($500 – $221.70). If DPZ closes at any price above $300 on April 24, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 80% (913% annualized).
Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:
IBD Underlying Updates March 21, 2020
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
Emergent (EBS) Rallies as CEO Discusses Plans of Coronavirus Vaccine Development
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.
A few biotech companies are rallying as investors are encouraged by the prospect of a Coronavirus vaccine, and EBS is one of them. The following two articles discuss the matter in detail – Emergent (EBS) Begins Development of Treatments for COVID-19 and Emergent BioSolutions CEO Talks Coronavirus Vaccine Development.
Technicals
EBS is an outperformer and posted its highest weekly close since 2018 in the past week. In the process, the stock has overtaken a major horizontal resistance level at $66 that proved to be a hurdle on a few attempts between 2019 and 2020. On a weekly chart, the stock has posted a strong upside candle that erases several weeks of declines which can be seen as a bullish signal. Further, the stock is in a clear uptrend since bottoming out in late August and the recent upward momentum suggests the bullish trend remains intact.
EBS Chart March 2020
If you agree there’s further upside ahead for EBS, 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 EBS 17APR20 65 Puts (EBS200417P65)
Sell To Open EBS 17APR20 70 Puts (EBS200417P70) for a credit of $1.78 (selling a vertical)
This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when EBS was trading near $69. 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 $176.70 and your broker would charge a $500 maintenance fee, making your investment $323.30 ($500 – $176.70). If EBS closes at any price above $70 on April 17, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 55% (627% annualized).
Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:
IBD Underlying Updates March 14, 2020
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
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) Rallies to Two and a Half Year High
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.
While many companies have seen a sharp drop in their stock price as a result of the Coronavirus, REGN has broken to levels not seen since September 2017. Take a look at the following two articles for details – Regeneron (REGN) Gains from Focus on Coronavirus Treatments and Why Regeneron Shares Rose 31.6% in February.
Technicals
The weekly chart below shows REGN breaking higher from a downward trend channel that has contained price action for nearly five years. This type of upward break usually signals a bullish continuation. On a daily chart, the stock also shows strong upward momentum and technical signs of breaking out. The main appeal to this stock is that it is notably outperforming in a period where the markets have generally been under pressure. Further, the stock is benefiting from the same driver that is otherwise creating downward pressure in the broader equity markets.
REGN Chart March 2020
If you agree there’s further upside ahead for REGN, 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 REGN 09APR20 490 Puts (REGN200409P490)
Sell To Open REGN 09APR20 492.5 Puts (REGN200409P492.5) for a credit of $1.18 (selling a vertical)
This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when REGN was trading near $494. 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 $116.70 and your broker would charge a $250 maintenance fee, making your investment $133.30 ($250 – $116.70). If REGN closes at any price above $492.5 on April 09, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 88% (1004% annualized).
Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:
IBD Underlying Updates March 7, 2020
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
Square (SQ) Posts Small Weekly Gain Amidst a Volatile Week in the Markets
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.
While equity markets fell sharply in the past week, Square’s stock price enjoyed a boost from its positive earnings report. Check out what these analysts have to say about the stock – Square earnings net stock an upgrade as analyst sees huge market for Cash App and Better Buy: PayPal Holdings vs. Square.
Techincals
SQ has shown strength as a major horizontal level has come into play near $83 and the stock managed to close above it while the rest of the equity markets mostly posted notable losses in the past week. The upward momentum remains intact, mostly due to a strong earnings report. While above the $83 price point, this stock looks poised to make another run for all-time highs near the psychological $100 mark. SQ has traded in a range since 2019 and the bullish breach above $83 appears to be signaling a bullish breakout.
SQ Chart March 2020
If you agree there’s further upside ahead for SQ, 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 SQ 03APR20 81 Puts (SQ200403P81)
Sell To Open SQ 03APR20 83.5 Puts (SQ200403P83.5) for a credit of $1.15 (selling a vertical)
This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when SQ was trading near $83. 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 $113.70 and your broker would charge a $250 maintenance fee, making your investment $136.30 ($250 – $113.70). If SQ closes at any price above $83.5 on April 03, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 83% (947% annualized).
Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:
IBD Underlying Updates February 29, 2020
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
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