A trader bought 3,000 NXPI Jan 45 Puts for $3.68 (2.1 times usual volume) with stock at $42.25
A trader bought 1,000 VAR Dec 70 Puts for $0.15 (3 times usual volume) with stock at $79.15
A trader bought 5,000 CHMT Dec 25 Puts for $0.25 (6.4 times usual volume) with stock at $26.65
A trader bought 1,000 LFC Jul 50 Puts for $5.16 (3.3 times usual volume) with stock at $49.40
A trader sold 500 PLXS Jun 45 Calls to buy Jun 30 Puts for $1.00 credit (27.3 times usual volume) with stock at $40.54

A trader bought 1,300 GPK Jun 10 Calls for $0.50 (150 times usual volume) with stock at $8.96
A trader bought 1,000 SEE Jan 30-32 Call Spreads for $1.45 (2.6 times usual volume) with stock at $32.08
A trader bought 2,500 FTNT Mar 19 Calls for $0.90 (2 times usual volume) with stock at $16.58
A trader bought 500 BABY Jan 25 Calls for $0.65 (5.3 times usual volume) with stock at $22.78

A trader bought 2,500 FTNT Mar 19 Calls for $0.90 (2 times usual volume) with stock at $16.58
A trader bought 3,000 NXPI Jan 45 Puts for $3.68 (2.1 times usual volume) with stock at $42.25
A trader bought 1,300 GPK Jun 10 Calls for $0.50 (150 times usual volume) with stock at $8.96
A trader bought 1,000 SEE Jan 30-32 Call Spreads for $1.45 (2.6 times usual volume) with stock at $32.08
A trader bought 1,000 VAR Dec 70 Puts for $0.15 (3 times usual volume) with stock at $79.15

Bank of Montreal (BMO) is a financial services provider that provides retail banking, investment banking and wealth management in the U.S. and Canada.  The company’s stock is currently trading around $69.40 per share in a 52 week range of $55.61-$71.26. The stock has been strong this year but is lagging the market some having added only 13.25% to share prices this year.  BMO is set to report their most recent quarterly earnings tomorrow before the market open. BMO has been a strong stock on earnings day over the past 8 quarters. On earnings day the stock has rallied 6 times of the past 8 releases. The stock is also trading very well on a chart. Shares of BMO are trading well above the Ichimoku Cloud and are just off of their 52 week highs.  The future cloud is also upward sloping indicating there could be more upside in store for BMO. We believe that the strong historical performance in BMO and the bullish chart set up present a good opportunity to get long ahead of earnings.  With December options implying a mo0ve of $2.00 by expiration we will look to set up a trade with an upside target around $72.00. (more…)

A trader sold 1,500 COTY May 17.5 Calls for $0.60 (6.1 times usual volume) with stock at $16.55
A trader bought 4,500 TJX Dec 65 Calls for $0.55 (3.2 times usual volume) with stock at $63.45
A trader bought 2,100 LTD Dec 65 Calls for $1.90 (3 times usual volume) with stock at $65.76
A trader bought 800 THO Dec 55 Puts for $2.90 (7.8 times usual volume) with stock at $54.08
A trader bought 600 PTIE Dec 5 Calls for $0.15 (6 times usual volume) with stock at $4.79

Radware Ltd. (RDWR) develops and markets networking solutions to enterprises. The company’s stock is currently trading around $16.90 in a 52 week range of $13.42-$19.33. The stock has been underperforming the market most of the year having only added 2.6% to share prices year to date. Recent action in RDWR has been much more positive however with the stock rallying nearly 20% in the past month.  Options action in RDWR during today’s session indicates that traders believe this near term trend will continue.  Early this morning a trader sold 1,324 Jun 17 puts for $1.50, a block that represents over 2.5 times the average daily option volume in RDWR. This is an extremely bullish trade that indicates this trader’s strong belief that the stock will close above $17.00 on June expiration. The stock looks good on a chart as well. Shares are trading well above the Ichimoku Cloud and the future cloud is upward sloping suggesting there could be more upside in RDWR to come. With stock trading just below the strike we believe this unusual option activity provides a great signal for a covered call trade in RDWR. (more…)

A trader bought 1,700 GREK Dec 24 Calls for $0.20 (3.3 times usual volume) with stock at $22.20
A trader bought 2,700 IVZ Jan 35 Calls for $1.05 (3.2 times usual volume) with stock at $34.76
A trader bought 1,500 AUQ  Jan 2015 Calls for $1.00 (4.2 times usual volume) with stock at $3.62
A trader bought 1,000 SEE Jan 30-32 Call Spreads for $1.45 (2.6 times usual volume) with stock at $32.29
A trader bought 3,500 IMGN Dec 15 Calls for $0.425 (4.2 times usual volume) with stock at $14.07

A trader bought 1,700 DGX Dec 60 Puts for $0.55 (6.1 times usual volume) with stock at $61.19
A trader bought 800 SXL Feb 70-65 Put Spreads for $1.70 (14.5 times usual volume) with stock at $70.39
A trader bought 2,800 MNST Mar 45 Puts for $0.60 (2.1 times usual volume) with stock at $59.05
A trader bought 1,000 TAN Jan 36 Puts for $0.53 (3.1 times usual volume) with stock at $38.88

A trader bought 1,000 SEE Jan 30-32 Call Spreads for $1.45 (2.6 times usual volume) with stock at $32.29
A trader bought 3,500 IMGN Dec 15 Calls for $0.425 (4.2 times usual volume) with stock at $14.07
A trader bought 2,800 MNST Mar 45 Puts for $0.60 (2.1 times usual volume) with stock at $59.05
A trader bought 2,700 IVZ Jan 35 Calls for $1.05 (3.2 times usual volume) with stock at $34.76
A trader bought 1,000 TAN Jan 36 Puts for $0.53 (3.1 times usual volume) with stock at $38.88

Sysco Corporation (SYY) is a distributor of food products to restaurants, healthcare facilities, and hotels in North America. The company’s stock is currently trading around $33.80 in a 52 week range of $30.55-$36.05. The stock has been underperforming the market this year having added only 7% to share prices year to date.  Despite its underperformance this year we have seen some very bullish options activity this week in SYY. Yesterday nearly 10 times the average daily option volume in SYY traded with most of that volume coming from heavy call trading in January. By the close nearly 6,000 Jan 34 calls and 14,000 Jan 35 calls had traded in SYY. These traders seem to be betting on continuation of the move SYY saw after they reported earnings on November 4^th. With shares of SYY now trading above the cloud and the future cloud sloping upward we believe that this activity signals a great opportunity for a long stock swing trade. (more…)