Linn Energy LLC (LINE) fell to a record low earlier
Energy stocks are getting burned today as
crude continues to tank -- and
Linn Energy LLC (NASDAQ:LINE) is no exception. In fact, shares of the oil-and-gas company are among the worst off on the Nasdaq, skidding 14.1% at $3.47, and fresh off an all-time low of $3.33 -- extending their
post-earnings troubles. Suffice it to say, short-term put traders are among several groups likely celebrating the dive.
Diving right in, LINE's
Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) checks in at 1.44, with put open interest outstripping call open interest among options with a shelf-life of three months or less. On top of that, this SOIR ranks higher than more than two-thirds of readings recorded in the previous 12 months, suggesting a stronger-than-average bias toward short-term puts over calls.
This is hardly where the negativity stops, though. Among analysts tracking the stock, 90% have doled out tepid "hold" assessments. Meanwhile,
short interest soared nearly 35% during the most recent reporting period, as short sellers foresee additional downside ahead.
No matter where you think Linn Energy LLC (NASDAQ:LINE) is headed, if you're planning to place bets with short-term options, bear in mind that they're
relatively expensive right now. The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) stands at an annual peak of 111%. Along similar lines, its 30-day at-the-money implied volatility touched a 12-month high of 133.6% earlier today.