Today’s tickers: CQB, BX, BAC, SWY, LLY, NFLX, MHS & UPS
CQB – Chiquita Brands International, Inc. – Shares of the marketer and distributer of bananas and other fresh produce surged 5.2% this afternoon to an intraday high of $12.68, giving bullish players a healthy appetite for call options on the stock just one week before the firm is slated to report second-quarter financial results. Chiquita Brands International popped up on our ‘hot by options volume’ market scanner after investors coveted approximately 2,900 calls at the now in-the-money November $12.5 strike for an average premium of $1.52 a-pop. Call buyers make money if, by expiration, Chiquita’s shares jump 10.6% over today’s high of $12.68 to trade above the average breakeven point to the upside at $14.02. CBQ shares last traded above $14.02 back on June 15, 2010, but traded as high as $16.84 on April 26, 2010. Investors long the calls are well positioned to accumulate significant profits should the price of the underlying shares rebound to the value recorded at the end of April.
BX – The Blackstone Group LP – Activity observed in LEAPS on the global asset manager and provider of financial advisory services suggests one strategist expects Blackstone’s shares to rise significantly by expiration in January 2012. BX’s shares are up 3.9% at $10.71 as of 3:15 pm (ET), but earlier increased as much as 5.00% to secure an intraday high of $10.83. It looks like the investor enacted a three-legged bullish transaction, selling put options to partially finance the purchase of a debit call spread. The trader sold 4,700 puts at the January 2012 $10 strike for premium of $2.30 each, purchased 4,700 calls at the January 2012 $10 strike at $2.60 in premium apiece, and finally sold 4,700 calls at the higher January 2012 $17.5 strike for a premium of $0.40 a-pop. The transaction yields a net credit of $0.10 per contract, which is safe in the investor’s wallet as long as Blackstone’s shares trade above $10.00 at expiration day. Additional profits accrue above a share price of $10.00, with maximum potential profits of $7.60 per contract available to the trader if the price of the underlying stock jumps 63.3% to trade above $17.50 by expiration day in January 2012. Bullish trading in options on the world’s biggest buyout firm arrived after the release of its second-quarter earnings report before today’s open. The company posted a 13% increase…
