Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is a longstanding California based software, database management and enterprise services provider, and currently the world’s second largest software producer by total revenue. As of this post (12:20PM CST) ORCL is currently trading up 0.82% to 40.97. The stock remains in the upper portion of its 52 week range of 33.70-43.19, and has begun to pull back off of 42.00 resistance on the daily chart after failing to re-test the year’s highs that were printed back in late June. ORCL is currently set to report earnings today, 12/17/2014 after the market close.

Over the last eight quarters of earnings data available, ORCL has traded mostly bearishly, moving lower on five out of eight sessions immediately following the EPS release. Historical volatility in ORCL has been relatively modest on these post-earnings moves, averaging approximately 4.7% during this time period. Currently the options market is pricing in a slightly larger than average directional move of approximately 5.95%, or roughly $2.40 in the underlying stock by this Friday’s monthly option expiration on 12/19. Although ORCL is currently above the Ichimoku Cloud on the daily chart, the stock remains in a downward consolidation pattern and has been unable to hold convincingly over 42.00 resistance or the relevant moving averages. Coupled with Oracle’s recent propensity to trade lower following earnings, including selling off each of the last three consecutive quarters, I will be looking for a continuation in the bearish trend and looking to get short this name into today’s earnings release.

Trade: Buying the ORCL Dec 40-39 Put Spreads for $0.25
Risk: $25 per 1 lot
Reward: $75 per 1 lot
Breakeven: $39.75

Finish Line Inc. (FINL) is an Indianapolis based sports and athletic apparel retailer that operates approximately 850 brick and mortar locations across the continental US. Finish Line also sells direct to consumer via its multiple online presences. At the time of this post (11:40AM CST) FINL is currently trading at 28.10, down a modest 0.14% on the day. Despite gapping down considerably off of the 52 week highs following last quarter’s earnings report in late September, FINL has recovered well and is currently trading back in the upper half of its 52 week range of 22.99-31.90. The stock has remained in consolidation around the 28.00 price level since early December, but will look to break out of this tight range following the fiscal year Q3 earnings release on 12/19 before the opening bell.

Over the last eight quarters of earnings data available, FINL has traded largely bullishly, moving higher six out of eight sessions immediately following the EPS release, with an average historical post-earnings move of 6.5% during this same time period. It appears as though the options market is currently prepared for another outsized move following last quarter’s -14.9% earnings reaction, as the current ATM straddle price would indicate an implied directional move of somewhere between 10-20%, or over $5.00 in the underlying stock by this week’s monthly expiration on Friday 12/19/2014, the same day as the EPS release. As previously mentioned, FINL has rebounded well after last quarter’s post-earnings sell off, and currently the stock remains in a tight bullish consolidation pattern over the Ichimoku Cloud and all relevant moving averages on the daily chart. Looking at Finish Line’s recent historical tendency to trade higher after earnings, in conjunction with the bullish technical setup, I am currently leaning bullish in FINL and will be looking to get long this name into earnings this Friday.

Trade: Buying the FINL Dec 25-30 Call Spreads for $3.00
Risk: $300 per 1 lot
Reward: $200 per 1 lot
Breakeven: $28.00

FedEx Corporation (FDX) is an international shipping, freight and business solutions provider based in Memphis, TN. At the time of this post (10:30AM CST), FDX is currently trading at 176.81, up 0.31% on the day. FDX is currently trading comfortably within the upper portion of its 52 week range of 128.17-183.51, and has remained in a strong uptrend for most of the year after gapping up over key 140 resistance on the daily chart following a positive fiscal year Q4 earnings reaction in late June. FDX stock is just one week removed from its printing 52 week highs on 12/8/2014, and the company is set to report fiscal year Q2 earnings tomorrow, 12/17/2014 before the opening bell.

Over the last eight quarters of earnings data available, FDX has traded overwhelmingly bullishly following earnings, moving higher on six out of eight sessions immediately after the EPS release. Volatility in FDX has been fairly modest post-earnings during this time period, with an average historical move of just about 3.0%. Currently the options market is pricing in a slightly larger than average move of approximately 4.36% following tomorrow’s earnings report based on the price of the ATM straddle. This percentage move would represent about a $7.75 change in FDX share prices by this week’s Friday expiration on 12/20/2014. As mentioned previously, FDX has remained in a very strong, bullish uptrend for the large majority of this year, and I am anticipating a continuation of this trend following tomorrow’s earnings release. In addition to the 52 week trend, FDX remains strong in the near term as well, trading well above the upward sloping Ichimoku Cloud and several relevant moving averages on the daily chart. Considering this ongoing bullish trend, I will be looking to get long this name before the close.

Trade: Buying the FDX Dec 180-185 Call Spreads for $1.35
Risk: $135 per 1 lot
Reward: $365 per 1 lot
Breakeven: $181.35

General Mills, Inc. (GIS) is a Minnesota based consumer processed and packaged foods manufacturer with both domestic and international distribution networks. At the time of this post (11:50AM CST), GIS is currently trading at 51.95, up 0.85% on the session. GIS has bounced around its 52 week trading range of 46.70-55.64 for most of the year, and currently sits just about in the middle of this relatively narrow range. GIS is scheduled to report earnings tomorrow, 12/17/2014, before the bell, and will be looking to buck its recent bearish trend after selling off -3.6% and -4.4% the last two quarters respectively following its earnings releases.

Despite the last two quarters of bearish post-earnings reactions, GIS has been evenly mixed overall the last eight quarters, trading higher and lower equally four out of eight times immediately following the EPS release. The average historical move during this time period has likewise been fairly unremarkable, with a directional average move of just 1.7%. Currently the options market is pricing in an large relative move of between 3-6% based on the pricing of the ATM straddle. These currently inflated volatility levels in the GIS options would appear to create an opportunity to capitalize on a neutral strategy that would benefit from a smaller than anticipated move in the options that have just over three days to expiration on this Friday, 12/20/2014. GIS has found some Ichimoku Cloud support on the daily chart, but still remains below most of the relevant moving averages and firmly entrenched in the choppy, sideways trading action that has characterized most of 2014 for the stock. I am not anticipating any significant change in character in GIS following tomorrow’s earnings release, and will therefore be looking to structure a neutral trade that will allow me to benefit from what I believe to be a lackluster reaction in conjunction with an overly priced-in move in the options.

Trade: Selling the GIS Dec 47.5-50-52.5 Iron Butterfly for $1.95
Risk: $55 per 1 lot
Reward: $195 per 1 lot
Breakeven: $48.05 and $51.95

VeriFone Systems, Inc. (PAY) is an IT services and consulting firm engaging in electronic payment solutions. The stock is currently trading around $33.00 in a 52 week range of $22.60-$38.26. The stock has been outperforming the market this year with shares rallying more than 23% year to date. The company is set to report earnings after the bell today.

PAY has been relatively strong on earnings day with shares rallying 5 of the past 8 quarters with an average move of 9.8% on earnings day. PAY is currently trading inside the Ichimoku Cloud meaning it is in neutral territory. The options market is currently implying a move of $2.50 by expiration. With the neutral chart setup I am looking to fade the move in PAY on earnings. I cannot sell a straddle because I do not want to risk blowing out my account. Instead I will look to use a strategy called an iron butterfly.

Trade: Selling the PAY Dec 30-33-36 Iron Butterfly for $2.00
Risk: $100 per 1 lot
Reward: $200 per 1 lot
Breakeven: $31.00 and $35.00

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (CY) is a semiconductor producer based in San Jose, CA. At the time of this writing (11:40AM CST), CY is currently trading at 13.66, up 0.89% on the day and just under 0.10 off of the 52 week high of 13.73 that printed earlier this morning. CY continues to see huge bullish momentum following a December 2nd announcement that its proposed merger with fellow semiconductor and microcontroller producer, Spansion Inc. (CODE), would be moving forward.

Earlier today we saw some very unusual option activity in CY that would indicate traders are positioning themselves for continued upside in this merger-play name. At around 10:30AM CST, an extremely large order in the January ’15 14.0 strike calls crossed the tape, lifting the offer on over 24,000 contracts against a comparably modest open interest of just under 850. This initial opening order represents a cash outlay of approximately $1,063,304 pre-commission, and certainly originates from a trader not short on confidence in the continued upside prospects in CY. Moments later, another smaller order came in and bought up over 1,900 more of the same contracts at an ask price of 0.50 representing another cash outlay of just under $100,00 pre-commission. I am looking to follow the order flow in CY today, and will be getting long this name, looking for more merger-fueled upside over 14 going into the New Year.

Trade: I bought the CY Jan 14 Calls for $0.50
Risk: $50 per 1 lot
Reward: Unlimited
Breakeven: $14.50

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) is a San Jose based software company that operates primarily in the digital media and marketing segments of the application software industry. Adobe software solutions are offered direct to individual and business consumers through a network of distributors, authorized retail resellers and direct download via web and mobile stores. At the time of this writing (10:40AM CST), ADBE is currently trading at 70.77, up 1.32% on the day. The stock is currently well within the upper portion of its 52 week trading range of 53.93-74.69, and has found support around 70.00 on the daily chart after re-testing and pulling back off of the year’s highs earlier this month. ADBE is set to report earnings today, 12/11/2014 after the market close.

Over the last eight quarters of earnings data, ADBE has traded resoundingly bullishly, moving higher on six out of eight sessions immediately following the EPS release. The average historical directional move during this time period has been about 6.5%. The options market is currently pricing in a slightly larger post earnings move of 7.65% this quarter, an implied move of about 5.45 in the underlying stock by the monthly option expiration on 12/20/2014. Technically, as mentioned before, ADBE remains extremely strong, rebounding over ten points since mid-October, and finding support above 70.00 on the daily chart. Additionally, ADBE remains above the upward sloping Ichimoku Cloud and just under the associated relevant moving averages. Considering ADBE’s propensity to react bullishly after earnings, coupled with the strong technicals, I am leaning bullish ADBE and will be looking to establish a long position going into this afternoon’s earnings release.

Ciena Corporation (CIEN) is a Maryland based telecommunications equipment and service provider, focused primarily on providing networking solutions to various large scale business enterprises. At the time of this post (11:25AM CST), CIEN is currently trading down 2.1% to 17.22 on the day. CIEN stock is currently trading in the bottom portion of its 52 week range of 13.77-27.16 after holding and bouncing off of the yearly lows that printed in mid-October. CIEN has remained in a downtrend for much of the calendar year after briefly piercing the 52 week highs following the company’s Q1 earnings report in early March of this year. In the near term (over the last two months) CIEN share prices have momentarily stabilized, and the stock looks to break upward consolidation and continue a strong bounce going into the fourth quarter earnings release on 12/11/2014 in the premarket.

Over the last eight quarters of earnings releases, CIEN has traded with mixed to bullish results, moving higher on five out of eight sessions immediately following the EPS release. CIEN has been a volatile post-earnings mover during this time period, posting an average historical move of 11.1%. Currently the options market is pricing in a move that would be right in line with this expectation, as the $1.90 expected move in the underlying stock by this Friday’s expiration would represent a directional move of 11.01%. Despite the technical downtrend for most of the year in CIEN, the stock has recently begun to consolidate bullishly and break out of the Ichimoku Cloud on the daily chart. This recent stabilization and uptrend in share prices, combined with the historical proclivity of CIEN to trade bullishly following its earnings releases has me leaning bullish this name going into earnings. I will be looking to establish a long position in CIEN before today’s close.

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) is a Vancouver based designer, creator and retailer of activewear and athletic apparel for men and women. LULU is perhaps most well known for its highly popular line of women’s yoga apparel, and delivers all of its products to end customers through its network of international brick and mortar retail locations, its corporate website, and selective distribution to various yoga studios and fitness clubs. At the time of this article’s writing (10:30AM CST), LULU is currently trading at 47.90, up 0.36% on the day. The stock is currently trading in the lower portion of its 52 week range of 36.26-69.62, and is still down over 20% from this time last year, even after bouncing off of the yearly lows that printed in early June. LULU is set to report earnings tomorrow morning, 12/11/2014 before the market open.

Over the last eight quarters of earnings, LULU has traded with mixed results, closing higher or lower evenly, four out of eight sessions following the EPS release. LULU has been a volatile post-earnings mover during this period of evenly distributed investor-sentiment reactions, posting an average historical move of 9.9%. The options market is currently pricing in a move that is fairly in line with this historical average, preparing for about a 9.6% move in LULU by this Friday’s weekly expiration, representing what would be about a $4.60 change in the price of the underlying stock. Despite being down on the year, the recent technical trend in LULU has been largely bullish over the last two months, maintaining a consistent uptrend after testing the 40.00 support level in early October. LULU’s daily chart is also pointing to a bullish continuation, as the stock price remains above the relevant moving averages and well over the upward sloping Ichimoku Cloud. For these reasons I will be looking to establish a bullish position in LULU going into tomorrow’s earnings report.

Trade: Buying the LULU Dec 12th Weekly 51-52 Call Spreads for $0.25
Risk: $25 per 1 lot
Reward: $75 per 1 lot
Breakeven: $51.25

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (KKD) is a confectionery retailer based in North Carolina that is most well recognized for its chain of brick and mortar donut stores. As of the writing of this article (12:30PM CST), KKD is currently trading up 0.70% on the day to 20.22. The stock is in the upper portion of its 52 week trading range of 14.82-21.30 after rallying hard since printing the annual lows in early August. KKD is scheduled to report earnings today, 12/9/2014 after market close.

Over the last eight quarters of earnings for KKD, the stock has traded relatively bearishly, moving lower on five out of eight sessions immediately following the EPS release. KKD has also been a fairly volatile mover during this time period, registering an average historical move of 12.8%, and notably moving over 20% on three occasions. The options market is currently pricing in a relatively tame earnings reaction this quarter, anticipating just a 10.25% move by the December monthly expiration on 12/20/2014. This would represent a $2.05 directional move in the underlying stock in just over eight trading days. Despite KKD’s rebound off lows that began in the summer, I am leaning bearish on the name going into earnings. From a technical standpoint the stock has stalled out and reversed clearly off 21.00 resistance on the daily chart. Additionally the stock has begun to break down through the relevant moving averages, moving lower towards the Ichimoku Cloud. Going into this afternoon’s EPS release I will be looking to position myself short KKD in anticipation of a continuation of this recent bearish trend.

Trade: Buying the KKD Dec 20-19 Put Spreads for $0.30
Risk: $30 per 1 lot
Reward: $70 per 1 lot
Breakeven: $19.70