Aeropostale Inc (ARO) and Avago Technologies Ltd (AVGO) are set to report earnings on Wednesday
The peak of earnings season is behind us, but there are still a few names yet to report. Next to step into the earnings spotlight are retailer Aeropostale Inc (NYSE:ARO) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) supplier Avago Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:AVGO). Below, we'll take the pre-earnings temperature of ARO and AVGO.
Retailers are in the spotlight this week, as traders crunch numbers after the biggest shopping weekend of the year. In addition, ARO will unveil its third-quarter figures after the close tomorrow. Analysts at Trefis aren't expecting much, opining that Aeropostale Inc's "overall performance in the U.S. likely remained poor in the third quarter due to a consistent decline in foot traffic and hefty promotional activities."
In fact, ARO has dropped in the session subsequent to its last eight earnings reports, falling an average of 17.4%. This go-round, option traders are pricing in a much bigger-than-usual swing of 45.5%, per ARO's near-term at-the-money (ATM) straddle. While the shares are 2.8% higher today at $0.56, ARO has surrendered more than 76% in 2015, so it's no surprise to find that not one analyst considers the equity worthy of a "buy" or better rating.
AVGO is up 1.2% at $132.02, bringing its year-to-date lead to 31.3%. Perhaps traders are encouraged by signs of solid online spending on Cyber Monday, with Apple's iPad Mini among the best-selling electronics, according to Adobe. Ahead of tomorrow night's earnings release, AVGO option buyers have initiated bearish bets at a faster-than-usual clip, though. On the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the stock sports a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 0.81 -- higher than 78% of all other readings from the past year.
Near-term traders are paying up to bet on AVGO, too, as the equity's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 56% registers in the 73rd percentile of its annual range. Historically, Avago Technologies Ltd has moved higher in the session after seven of its last eight earnings reports, averaging a one-day swing of 6.9%. Today, the stock's near-term ATM straddle is pricing in a 7.6% move. Another positive earnings reaction could send option bears scrambling for the exits.