Options Traders Blast Cowen's 2019 Top Pick

The brokerage firm also lifted its price target on the stock

The shares of Glu Mobile Inc. (NASDAQ:GLUU) are trading up 5.6% at $7.48, after Cowen and Company named the mobile app maker their best pick for 2019. The brokerage firm also raised its GLUU price target to $9.50 from $8 -- territory not charted since November 2007 -- saying the stock's current price discounts next year's launches, which include a Walt Disney (DIS) Pixar game.

As a result, GLUU options are in high demand today, with the contracts crossing at 1.3 times the average intraday pace. The December 8 call is most active, and it looks like new positions are being purchased here for a volume-weighted average price of $0.20. If this is the case, breakeven for the call buyers at the close next Friday, Dec. 21, is $8.20 (strike plus premium paid).

This call-heavy trading is reflective of the broader trend seen in GLUU's options pits, with call open interest of 56,336 contracts dwarfing put open interest of 11,596. The December 6 call is home to peak open interest of 10,503 contracts, the bulk of which were initiated in late October when the security was trading near $7.

Outside of the options arena, short sellers have been covering their bearish bets, with short interest down 17.9% in the most recent reporting period. There's more sideline cash available to fuel additional upside, with the 7.17 million shares still sold short accounting for a healthy 6.3% of GLUU's float.

It's been an impressive year for GLUU shares, which are up nearly 79% from their Dec. 31 close. The stock topped out at an 11-year high of $8.42 in early November, but have since pulled back to test support at their 50-day and 120-day moving averages. Below here is Glu Mobile's 180-day trendline, which has cushioned pullbacks since March 2017.