Today’s tickers: SWY, THC & LNCR
SWY – Safeway, Inc. – Options trades initiated on grocery store chain operator, Safeway, Inc., this morning suggests predictions regarding the performance of the stock over the near- and longer-term are mixed. Shares in the second-largest U.S. grocer are up 2.1% at $18.02 just after midday, rising in sympathy with Kroger Co., which reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, announced board approval of a $1 billion stock buyback program, and raised its full year earnings forecast. Safeway’s shares have been hard-hit in 2012; touching down at $17.53 yesterday, the lowest year-to-date price for the stock. However, the purchase of some 1,000 calls at the July $19 strike for a premium of $0.30 apiece may mean some traders are keeping an eye on the stock’s upside potential. Call buyers may be prepping for SWY shares to rebound should the company report better-than-expected second-quarter earnings on July 19th. Traders long the calls profit if shares in SWY rally another 7.1% to top $19.30 at expiration next month. Meanwhile, activity in longer-dated December expiry puts points to possible weakening in the price of the underlying in the second half of the year. It looks like one trader purchased a block of 2,000 puts at the Dec. $16 strike for a premium of $1.15 apiece. The options may represent an outright bearish bet that the stock has further to fall, or could be a hedge to protect the value of a long position in the underlying shares. The long puts make money, or yield downside protection, come expiration day should shares in SWY plunge 17.6% from the current price to breach the effective breakeven point on the downside at $14.85.
THC – Tenet Healthcare Corp. – A large block of call options purchased on health care services provider, Tenet Healthcare Corp., this morning suggests one strategist may be positioning for shares in the name to extend recent gains. Shares in THC received a boost earlier…
