Kroger (KR) Shows Renewed Upward Momentum Following an Earnings-Inspired Dip

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.

Several analysts have positive things to say about Kroger, here are two of them – Kroger: How The COVID-19 Crisis Could Provide Long-Term Tailwinds and Are Investors Undervaluing Kroger (KR) Right Now?

Technicals

Kroger corrected lower in June but the decline was shallow which signals underlying strength. Further, the dip that followed their recent earnings report was promptly bought up and the upward momentum has picked up notably since then. Strong support for the stock is seen at $32.70 as the 20 and 50-day moving averages have converged towards each other at that price point. Kroger has not traded below it’s 50-day moving average on a sustained basis for nearly a year as buyers continue to accumulate this stock near that particular indicator. To the upside, the $34.50 price point might be a near-term hurdle as it was in May, but a break above it would clear the path for a retest of the March high near $37.

KR Chart July 2020

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for KR, 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 KR 7AUG20 30.5 Puts (KR20087P30.5)
Sell To Open KR 7AUG20 33.5 Puts (KR20087P33.5) for a credit of $0.87 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when KR was trading at$33.50.  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 $300 maintenance fee, making your investment $214.30 ($300 – $85.70).  If KR closes at any price above $33.50 on August 7, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 40% (456% annualized).

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

IBD Underlying Updates July 4, 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