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

There was an article published about J2 Global on SeekingAlpha in July that was titled “J2 Global is a Sleeper”. There’s a lot of truth to this, this stock is not very well known or covered in media but from the articles that are written about the company, quite a few of them have good things to say about it. Here are two of them – J2 Global’s Charts Send Bullish Signals and J2 Global (JCOM) Stock Analysis offering an attractive story

Technicals

JCOM has broken higher from a major technical pattern. The weekly chart below shows that the roughly $91 price point offered a major hurdle since the stock price first approached it in early 2017. After consolidating in a range below the level for more than two years, it finally broke higher last month. In the past week, there has been a pullback, offering an attractive entry with major support from the breakout point nearby. Breakouts like this tend to signal a significant upside considering it is on a weekly chart. The technical break should create demand among technical traders and keep the stock price bid, likely even ahead of the $91 breakout point.

JCOM Chart November 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for JCOM, 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 JCOM 20DEC19 90 Puts (JCOM191220P90)
Sell To Open JCOM 20DEC19 95 Puts (JCOM191220P95) for a credit of $1.48 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when JCOM was trading near $95.  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 $146.70 and your broker would charge a $500 maintenance fee, making your investment $353.30 ($500 – $146.70).  If JCOM closes at any price above $95 on December 20, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 42% (613% annualized).

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

IBD Underlying Updates November 23, 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

Consider Alibaba (BABA) Following the Technical Break

With the stock markets gaining upward momentum Alibaba is gaining attention. The following two analysts have included the stock in their top picks of stocks to own – These 3 ‘Strong Buy’ Giants Still Have Room for Growth, Say Analysts and 5 Mega Cap Stocks Hedge Funds Are Crazy About.

From a technical standpoint, BABA has scaled above a fairly important resistance level at $181. This is a level that held the stock lower since July and the upward break suggests the stock has resumed within its uptrend. Further, the stock has also regained its 20-day moving average and has been trading in a bullish trendline channel which originates from a low printed in early October. There has been a strong show of buying on a retest of the horizontal level in the past week which is also a bullish sign.

BABA Chart November 2019

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 20DEC19 180 Puts (BABA191220P180)
Sell To Open BABA 20DEC19 185 Puts (BABA191220P185) for a credit of $2 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when BABA was trading near $185.  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 $198.70 and your broker would charge a $500 maintenance fee, making your investment $301.30 ($500 – $198.70).  If BABA closes at any price above $185 on December 20, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 66% (753% annualized).

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

IBD Underlying Updates November 16, 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

According to the following article, CBRE is one of the two most actively traded stocks in the Property Management industry. Further, out of the two, they believe it offers better value – CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) and Fortive Corporation (FTV) Go Head-to-head. While CBRE’s stock price came under a bit of pressure following its latest earnings report, there were some positive takeaways from it. The main one being an upgrade in earnings per share estimates among analysts. Full details can be found here – CBRE Group, Inc. Third-Quarter Results Just Came Out: Here’s What Analysts Are Forecasting For Next Year

CBRE’s stock price is trading in an ascending triangle which is considered a continuation pattern. The price reaction from the company’s recent earnings report was not positive, however, the decline was brief and well supported by the 100-day moving average. More importantly, the stock has since recovered to nearly fully erase the loss which is a sign of strength. These things combined offer a bullish signal and if the stock breaks above triangle resistance around $56, it could enter into a technical breakout.

CBRE Chart November 2019

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

Buy To Open CBRE 20DEC19 50 Puts (CBRE191220P50)
Sell To Open CBRE 20DEC19 55 Puts (CBRE191220P55) for a credit of $1.18 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when CBRE was trading near $55.  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 $500 maintenance fee, making your investment $383.30 ($500 – $116.70).  If CBRE closes at any price above $55 on December 20, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 30% (262% annualized).

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

IBD Underlying Updates November 9, 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

Recent headlines are suggesting that now might be a good time to get into PYPL, take a look at what these two analysts are saying about the stock – Why I Just Bought PayPal Stock and PayPal’s Momentum Is Spreading Across the World.

Technicals

There are several recent developments that signal PayPal’s stock may have resumed within its broader bullish trend. For starters, the stock has regained its 50-day moving average. This is an indicator that PYPL traded below for much of the correction that started in July. There is a horizontal level near the moving average that is currently creating a nice support confluence. This level falls near $104 and originates from a low posted in late May. Perhaps the strongest signal is that the stock is bouncing from the 50-week moving average, this is an indicator the stock has not traded below on a sustained basis for at least 5 years. Further, a bullish reversal candlestick has printed on both a weekly and monthly chart.

PYPL Chart November 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for PYPL, 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 PYPL 06DEC19 102 Puts (PYPL191206P102)
Sell To Open PYPL 06DEC19 105 Puts (PYPL191206P105) for a credit of $1.13 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when PYPL was trading near $105.  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 $111.70 and your broker would charge a $300 maintenance fee, making your investment $188.30 ($300 – $111.70).  If PYPL closes at any price above $105 on December 06, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 59% (673% annualized).

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

IBD Underlying Updates November 2, 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

Visa’s earnings report in the past week has boosted sentiment among analysts. The following two articles include two upward price target revisions and a case for why the stock can continue to strengthen from here – Visa Analysts Encouraged By Q4 Results, 2020 Guidance and Visa stock gains after forecast paints a picture of continued strength in 2020.

The rally that followed the earnings report has lifted Visa’s stock back above all of the commonly looked at moving averages (20, 50 & 100-day). What’s appealing about V is the long-term trend and that dips have been shallow over the year which points to strong demand. There was a correction lower since early September, but the post-earnings upward momentum suggests the stock may have resumed within its broader uptrend.

Visa Chart October 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 29NOV19 175 Puts (V191129P175)
Sell To Open V 29NOV19 177.5 Puts (V191129P177.5) for a credit of $0.99 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when V was trading near $178.  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 $97.05 and your broker would charge a $250 maintenance fee, making your investment $152.30 ($250 – $97.05).  If V closes at any price above $177.5 on November 29, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 63% (730% annualized).

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

IBD Underlying Updates October 26, 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