Today Unusual Options Activity

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OptionSpotter hunts down unusual options activity, exposing hidden plays for big gains. Sharp, fast, and always ahead—OptionSpotter turns insights into profits.
 

•  23 Dec 2024
 

Today unusual options activity signals that large investors or institutions are making moves based on privileged information or expectations of upcoming events. Today, several companies have experienced notable options trades, which could have important implications for their future performance.

$DLTR has seen a sharp increase in options activity, with wealthy investors taking a notably bullish stance. Although we can’t pinpoint whether these trades are coming from institutional players or individual high rollers, the sheer volume of activity suggests that someone may have insider knowledge. Historically, when such large-scale options activity appears, it often precedes a big move. Retail traders should monitor DLTR closely as the market may be pricing in a major upcoming event.

Microsoft $MSFT, the options market has been quite active as well, with a mix of both bullish and bearish trades. The majority of trades are leaning slightly bullish, with 42% of traders taking long positions in calls, while 38% are betting on bearish moves. A notable number of calls valued at over $2.5 million highlight the optimism surrounding Microsoft. However, the presence of a significant amount of put trades suggests that some investors may be hedging against potential downside risks. Traders should consider this mixed sentiment carefully before making their move.

Netflix $NFLX is another stock with unusual options activity that warrants attention. More than 40 trades were detected, with a significant proportion leaning bearish. This could indicate that major investors foresee some challenges ahead for Netflix, or that they are preparing for potential volatility in its stock price. The high volume of call options might suggest that some traders still believe in Netflix's potential to rise, but the overall bearish activity could point to caution.

Pfizer $PFE has also experienced heightened options activity today. The presence of large trades in both calls and puts shows that investors are bracing for volatility. With such significant movement in the options market, traders should consider that Pfizer could be preparing for an important announcement or event that might significantly affect its stock price. Given the magnitude of these trades, it is worth watching how Pfizer performs in the coming days.

Snowflake $SNOW has seen a more pronounced bearish tilt in its options market today. The majority of trades were in puts, reflecting a negative outlook from large investors. This could signal that Snowflake is expected to face some headwinds in the short term. Traders should keep a close eye on Snowflake’s stock in the coming weeks, as the bearish sentiment could suggest a price correction or some turbulence ahead.

United Airlines $UAL is also experiencing a surge in options activity, with many investors taking bearish positions. A significant number of put options trades could indicate that these whales are anticipating a drop in the stock price. Whether this is related to broader market conditions or specific to United Airlines' performance, this bearish sentiment should not be ignored. Traders might want to consider the potential downside risks before making any significant investments in UAL.

Lastly, UnitedHealth Group $UNH has also drawn attention in the options market, with a noticeable number of bearish trades. The balance of calls and puts suggests that investors are bracing for some uncertainty, though there are still a considerable number of calls signaling hope for upward movement. Given the health sector's volatility, this mixed sentiment could indicate that traders are uncertain about UnitedHealth's immediate future performance, making it a stock to watch closely in the coming days.