Today’s tickers: PXP, XLF, TPX & HPQ
PXP – Plains Exploration & Production Co. – A large bullish options combination play yields maximum profits to its owner if shares in Plains Exploration & Production Co. rally more than 20.0% by November expiration. The oil and gas exploration and production company’s shares are up 6.6% at $25.44 this afternoon, bringing the stock’s gains in the past week to more than 20.0%. One strategist expecting the stock to continue its run-up initiated a three-legged spread in the November contract. The trader may be looking for shares to extend gains following the company’s third-quarter earnings report on November 4.
It looks like the bullish player sold 10,000 puts at the Nov. $22 strike for a premium of $0.96 each, in order to purchase a 10,000-lot Nov. $26/$31 call spread at a net premium of $1.47 apiece. The sale of the puts reduces the price tag on the debit spread to $0.51 each, thus preparing the strategist to profit should PXP’s shares increase 4.2% over the current price of $25.44 to surpass the effective breakeven point at $26.51 at expiration. Maximum potential profits of $4.49 per contract are available to the trader in the event that shares in Plains Exploration & Production Co. jump 21.8% to exceed $31.00 by expiration day next month. Shares in PXP last traded above $31.00 back on August 17. The stock has lost nearly 40.0% of its value since it secured a multi-year high of $41.96 on July 21.
XLF – Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF – Financials kicked off the new trading session with a…
