Although we know (perhaps better than most) that there are many uses of stock options, we tend to focus quite a bit on using options to speculate -- in which case traders are typically buying and selling the options contracts themselves, without ever touching the underlying shares. However, option buyers do have the right to use their call and put options as a means of buying and selling shares, t...Read More

Shares of Wynn Resorts, Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) gapped 8.7% higher on Jan. 22, after the casino concern reported earnings. And while the stock has sold off since then after sexual misconduct allegations prompted Steve Wynn to step down as CEO, one options trader today appears to be betting on another positive earnings reaction. Specifically, the May 170 call is WYNN's most active option so far today...Read More

U.S. stocks are dragging again today following President Donald Trump's tariff tweet. As for some of today's most notable movers, drug stocks Zosano Pharma Corp (NASDAQ:ZSAN), Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:CNAT), and Verona Pharma (NASDAQ:VRNA) are three names we're tracking today. Let's take a closer look at what's moving shares of ZSAN, CNAT, and VRNA. Patent News Lifts ZSAN StockZosano s...Read More

Alternative energy concern JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings on Monday. Overall, JinkoSolar stock has had underwhelming year on the charts, already shedding 24% in 2018. At last check, shares of the solar concern were trading up 1% at $18.20 -- but running into resistance around their 20-day moving average. In terms of earnings reactions, JinkoS...Read More

On Sunday, March 4, members of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) will unveil the results of a vote on a "grand coalition" with Chancellor Angela Merkel's more conservative Christian Democrats (CDU). Ahead of the reveal -- and with European stocks in a tizzy on trade war fears -- the iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) is pacing for its lowest close in nearly six months. However, if history is any in...Read More

After snapping their best monthly win streak in years, stocks continued to struggle as the calendar turned to March. Focus early in the week centered on the congressional testimony of new Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Powell's suggestion that more than three rate hikes are possible in 2018 rattled markets and sparked another rise in bond yields. But it was President Donald Trump's announcement of steep...Read More

Shares of Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) bottomed at an annual low of $47.26 back in May, but have been soaring on the charts ever since -- up almost 73%. What's more, LULU stock topped out at a record high of $83.59 on Tuesday, and were last seen trading not far from here at $81.17. And with earnings not due until late March, it could be a prime time for options traders to bet on a short-...Read More

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) stock is sticking close to breakeven today, last seen up fractionally to trade at $94.42. However, the toy stock is pacing for its biggest weekly loss since early November, weighed down by a rough start to the week for rivalMattel (MAT) had a rough start to the week. Nevertheless, it could be time to buy the Hasbro dip, if past is precedent.According to Schaeffer's Seni...Read More

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) has come off its session lows, but is still staring at a more than 200-point deficit at midday, as talk of a trade war from President Donald Trump rattles the global stock market. A sharp drop for McDonald's (MCD) stock is only putting additional pressure on the blue-chip index. If the Dow loses 1% again today, it'll be the fourth straight drop of that magni...Read More

It's been a rough year for General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) shares, to say the least. In fact, GE stock just wrapped up a 12th straight monthly loss -- not only the longest monthly losing streak among both current and former Dow stocks, but the longest among all optionable, liquid stocks right now. As such, we decided to take a look at how GE's plunge compares to other stocks, and how blue chips...Read More

Shares of McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) are down 4.1% this morning at $149.31, as they continue to pull back from their Jan. 29 record high of $178.70. Sparking today's sell-off is a price-target cut to $170 from $190 at RBC, which cited lackluster early sales data for the fast food company's new dollar menu. As such, MCD stock is pacing for its lowest weekly settlement since May, down 8.1% fo...Read More

Among the stocks moving after earnings are retailers J C Penney Company Inc (NYSE:JCP) and Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL). Both companies reported lackluster same-store sales, much to the delight of remaining shorts. Below, we will take a look at how the clothing and footwear concerns are faring on the charts.JCP Plummets on Profit ForecastShares of J C Penney stock are trading lower, after the comp...Read More

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) stock is lower today with the broader market,despite bullish attention from Morgan Stanley. Specifically, analysts there initiated coverage on the Dow component with an "overweight" rating and price target of $185, a 20% increase from the shares' current perch of $147.79.Caterpillar stock carved out an impressive channel of higher highs in 2017 that culminated in a rec...Read More

Futures are signaling another negative session for U.S. stocks, following yesterday's third straight drop of at least 1% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) -- the longest such stretch since January 2016. After President Donald Trump announced plans to impose new steel and aluminum tariffs, he tweeted, "When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every co...Read More

Shares of American Outdoor Brands Corp (NASDAQ:AOBC) -- formerly Smith & Wesson -- have plunged 11.8% in electronic trading, after the gunmaker said fiscal third-quarter sales dropped 32.6% year-over-year to $157.4 million, well below analysts' estimate. AOBC also gave a lower-than-expected current-quarter profit forecast, and in the wake of several retailers saying they would raise the age restri...Read More

The stock market got torched yet again today, as President Donald Trump'scomments that the U.S. will implement tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting next week overshadowed a more moderate congressional testimony from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. After trading in positive territory at midday, theDow was down more than 586 points at its session low around 2:30 p.m. ET. And while the blue-chip...Read More

Subscribers to Schaeffer's Weekly Options Trader service recently scored a 225% profit with United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) weekly 2/23 34.50-strike calls. We're going to take a look back to see why we were initially bullish on X when we recommended the call, and how the options trade unfolded. We entered our bullish X position on Feb. 13, just after the shares notched a close back above...Read More

U.S. stocks are pacing for a third straight day of losses after President Donald Trump said his administration will begin instituting tariffs on steel and aluminum imports next week. As for some of today's most notable movers, healthcare stocks Tenax Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:TENX) and Mylan N.V. (NASDAQ:MYL) are trading sharply higher, while regulatory concerns are weighing on blockchain name Over...Read More

Next week is all about jobs. The ADP's private-sector payrolls report will get the ball rolling on Wednesday, followed by weekly jobless claims on Thursday, and the highly anticipated nonfarm payrolls report on Friday, which could have Fed rate-hike implications. And speaking of the Fed, New York Fed President William Dudley is among the central bankers slated for speeches. Meanwhile, retail earni...Read More

Options traders are blasting Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), as the chip stock sells off with the broader equities market. At last check, AMD shares were down 1.4% to trade at $11.94, and 363,931 puts are on the tape -- seven times what's typically seen at this point in the day, and volume pacing in the 100th annual percentile.Most of the action has centered at the weekly 3/23 11-strike...Read More