There are many ways call and put options can be utilized; there's a strategy out there for every market view. Today, however, we will be discussing the differences between options that are in the money (ITM), near or at the money (ATM), and out of the money (OOTM), and the pros and cons of each for options buyers. Options 101First off, an option's relation to "the money" depends on three things: w...Read More

There are lots of stories circling about stock market volatility -- or lack thereof -- and for good reason. The last time the S&P 500 Index (SPX) dropped 3% or more was June 24, 2016 -- 333 days ago -- during the Brexit panic. The S&P is now in the midst of its longest streak without a 3% pullback since 2013, and just its fourth such stretch in 20 years, according to Schaeffer's Senior Quantitativ...Read More

Earnings season is in full force, with a number of stocks already soaring to fresh highs. Looking ahead, consumer products manufacturer Kimberly-Clark Corp (NYSE:KMB) is slated to unveil its quarterly results before Monday's open. Here's a closer look at how KMB stock has been performing ahead of earnings, and how options traders are positioning themselves.Kimberly-Clark stock is down 2% today to...Read More

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are trading higher this afternoon, all touching fresh record highs after the Senate passed a budget plan, fueling hopes for tax cuts. Bank stocks are in rally mode, and tech is on the mend, helping to overshadow disappointing earnings from blue chips General Electric (GE) and Procter & Gamble. Elsewhere, tra...Read More

Analysts are weighing in on pharmaceutical stock Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG), medical device maker Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG), and electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on shares of CELG, ISRG, and TSLA.Celgene Halts Trial of Crohn's Disease DrugCelgene stock is down 10.7% at $121.46 this morning, due to n...Read More

U.S. stocks are trading higher this morning after the Senate passed a budget proposal, moving one step closer to tax reform in the process. Among the stocks making moves this morning are industrial conglomerate General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), oil services specialist Schlumberger Limited. (NYSE:SLB), and Taser parent Axon Enterprise, Inc.(NASDAQ:AAXN). Here's a closer look at what's moving shar...Read More

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures are higher this morning, as the index looks for its sixth straight win and another record high. Markets are shaking off a rough earnings report from General Electric (GE) and poorly received Procter & Gamble (PG) earnings, with stocks pointing higher after the Senate approved a $4 trillion budget measure last night, lifting hopes for tax reform. The...Read More

After spending most of the day weighed down by Apple (AAPL) stock -- which suffered its worst day since August -- the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) managed to erase a triple-digit deficit to eke out a small gain, extending its winning streak to a fifth session. Thanks to impressive earnings from Travelers(TRV) and Verizon (VZ), the index secured a fresh record close. The S&P 500 Index (S...Read More

In the wake of its high-profile proxy battle with Nelson Peltz, Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG) will take its place in the earnings confessional bright and early tomorrow morning. Ahead of the event, the Dow stock is trading down 0.6% at $91.52 amid broad-market headwinds. Options traders, meanwhile, are blasting PG -- with more than 45,100 contracts traded, almost four times what's typically seen...Read More

Markets are slumping today, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all lower on the Black Monday anniversary. Telecom stock Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and pharmaceutical firm Uniqure NV (NASDAQ:QURE) are higher today, while tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is sinking after earnings. Here's a quick look at what is moving shares of VZ, QURE, and PM.Verizon Sto...Read More

U.S. stocks are pulling back from record highs today, as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) leads a tech sell-off. However, a stock market breather this week may not be too surprising, considering we recently sent up an overbought signal that's sounded only two other times this year. Below, we'll break down the overbought signal, and explain why a tech cool-down may have been in the cards. We'll also unveil...Read More

Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) have been sliding in recent days, falling below their 200-day moving average to trade at $12.38. In fact, if the shares closed lower today, it would mark their seventh straight loss. The sell-off was apparently good news for one VRX options trader, who seemingly just cashed out a major bearish position for a big win. At last check, more than 13...Read More

Third-quarter earnings reports continue to flood in from Dow members like American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), which is trading lower this afternoon despite an earnings beat. Another handful of blue-chip companies are expected to release quarterly earnings next week, but first, traders will digest results from General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) tomorrow morning.Here's a closer look at GE ahead...Read More

Biopharmaceutical stock Juno Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:JUNO) has been moving primarily sideways on the charts in recent months, despite managing to hit twin peaks around the $47 level in September. However, the stock just met up with a key trendline that has had bullish implications in the past. If history repeats itself, JUNO stock could be screaming "buy" right now.According to Schaeffer's Senior...Read More

Subscribers to Schaeffer's Weekly Options Trader service recently scored a 132% profit from weekly 10/13 205-strike 3M Co (NYSE:MMM) calls. Below, we'll break down why we were bullish on MMM and how the successful options trade unfolded. When we recommended the weekly calls on Sept. 29, 3M stock had just moved off an overbought condition. Plus, the Dow stock was up around 17% year-to-date, and...Read More

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the infamous 1987 "Black Monday" stock market crash, and -- despite a geopolitical environment that's fairly riddled with risk and uncertainty -- the major equity indexes have soared to multiple consecutive record highs. Meanwhile, over the last six months, the average daily CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) reading has been a mere 10.82 -- well below the VIX's five-y...Read More

Another onslaught of quarterly earnings are due this week, with big-cap companies like Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD), and Visa Inc (NYSE:V) set to report. Earnings from FAANG names Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) are also slated for release. On the economic front, traders...Read More

While the broader stock market takes a breather today, we're searching for names bullish options traders may want to target. Based on data provided by Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White, we landed on biotech stocks Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOLD) and Flexion Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:FLXN). Not only are the shares flashing potential "buy" signals, but options data suggests...Read More

Apple stock is spiraling today -- the worst Dow stock so far -- amid concerns for iPhone 8 demand and Apple Watch cellular connection failures in China. Against this backdrop, it's not too surprising to see a number of Apple suppliers on the decline, too, with chip stocks Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), Broadcom Ltd (NASDAQ:AVGO), and Qorvo Inc (NASDAQ:QRVO) all trading in the red. Here...Read More

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), S&P 500 Index (SPX), and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are all trading lower on this Black Monday anniversary, dragged into the red by tech stocks. Most notably, Apple (AAPL) stock is weighing on the Dow, as concerns about the iPhone 8 and Apple Watch overshadow an earnings beat from Verizon (VZ). U.S. stocks are also taking cues from across the pond, as politi...Read More