Options Alert: Traders Position for Potential Drop in Uranium Miner
David Russell
April 16, 2024
Uranium miner Cameco has been stuck at an old high, and one big options trader is bracing for a potential drop as earnings approach.
This large transaction was detected yesterday in CCJ, unfolding in several blocks over the course of the afternoon:
Some 30,000 May 45 puts were bought for an average premium of $1.36.
An equal number of May 41 puts were sold for $0.50.
Volume was more than 50 times open interest at both strikes, a sign new positions were initiated in both.
Puts fix the level where traders can sell a stock, so they can gain value to the downside. They can also be sold to generate a credit.
A vertical spread combines the two actions to profit from a move between two prices. The credit from selling the lower-strike puts reduces the overall cost, which increases leverage.
Monday’s position cost a net $0.86 per contract. It will be worth $4 if the stock closes under $41 on expiration — a potential profit of 365 percent from a move of about 15 percent in the underlying shares. The spread will also become worthless if the shares remain above $45.
CCJ fell 2.56 percent to $48.32 yesterday. It roughly doubled between May 2023 and January as uranium prices climbed. However it dropped in February after earnings missed estimates. The next set of numbers is due on April 30, so the put spread could be a hedge by an investor owning the shares. The strategy could protect against a drop toward the recent lows while letting them profit from a potential breakout to new highs.
Options trading is not suitable for all investors. Your TradeStation Securities’ account application to trade options will be considered and approved or disapproved based on all relevant factors, including your trading experience. See www.TradeStation.com/DisclosureOptions. Visit www.TradeStation.com/Pricing for full details on the costs and fees associated with options.
Margin trading involves risks, and it is important that you fully understand those risks before trading on margin. The Margin Disclosure Statement outlines many of those risks, including that you can lose more funds than you deposit in your margin account; your brokerage firm can force the sale of securities in your account; your brokerage firm can sell your securities without contacting you; and you are not entitled to an extension of time on a margin call. Review the Margin Disclosure Statement at www.TradeStation.com/DisclosureMargin.
David Russell is Global Head of Market Strategy at TradeStation. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience as a financial journalist and analyst, his background includes equities, emerging markets, fixed-income and derivatives. He previously worked at Bloomberg News, CNBC and E*TRADE Financial.
Russell systematically reviews countless global financial headlines and indicators in search of broad tradable trends that present opportunities repeatedly over time. Customers can expect him to keep them apprised of sector leadership, relative strength and the big stories – especially those overlooked by other commentators. He’s also a big fan of generating leverage with options to limit capital at risk.
Social-media company Snap has been trying to rebound from a summer selloff, and options traders may expect further gains. Heavy volume was detected yesterday in the 6-December 12.50 calls, with early blocks fetching for $0.24 to $0.30. Premiums more than doubled to...
Synchrony Financial jumped on strong earnings last month, and options traders seem to think the move will continue. Call volume in the consumer-lending company spiked to a four-year high yesterday, according to TradeStation data. Two contracts were especially active...
Financial markets are entering a time of potential turmoil, with uncertain timing of news events and price moves. Traders may react by turning to futures. Futures are securities that track an underlying index or market virtually around the clock. Traders can take...
Explore the Crossroads Summit
You are leaving TradeStation.com for CrossroadsSummit.com, an exciting new conference that highlights opportunity at the intersection of chaos and innovation. Click the button below to acknowledge that you understand that you are leaving TradeStation.com.
You are leaving TradeStation.com for another company’s website. Click the button below to acknowledge that you understand that you are leaving TradeStation.com.
This event is hosted on YouCanTrade. The information for this event is being provided for informational and educational purposes only.
You are leaving TradeStation Securities and going to YouCanTrade. YouCanTrade is an online media publication service which provides investment educational content, ideas and demonstrations, and does not provide investment or trading advice, research or recommendations. YouCanTrade is not a licensed financial services company or investment adviser and does not offer brokerage services of any kind.
TradeStation Securities, Inc. provides support and training channels hosted on YouCanTrade, its affiliate. Other than these support and training channels, any services offered by YouCanTrade are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by TradeStation Securities and it makes no representation regarding any YouCanTrade goods or services.
To acknowledge you are leaving TradeStation Securities to go to YouCanTrade, please click