Cabelas Inc (CAB) has reached a buyout agreement with Bass Pro Shops
Cabelas Inc (NYSE:CAB), retailer of all things outdoors-y, has agreed to be bought by competitor Bass Pro Shops in a $5.5 billion deal. This values each share of CAB at $65.50 -- a 19.2% premium over Friday's close at $54.93. The news has CAB stock soaring 14.7% ahead of the bell, on pace to tap a new two-year high, and it looks like some bears are bound to get burned.
Although M&A rumors have been swirling for some time, sentiment toward the stock has been lukewarm at best. For instance, of the 12 brokerage firms tracking CAB, only three have recommend buying the shares. And short interest is elevated, representing 9.2% of the equity's total float -- or 8.7 times CAB's average daily volume.
In the options pits, action is has been relatively light on an absolute basis, though the preference has been clearly slanted toward calls in recent weeks. Specifically, 3,521 CAB calls have been bought to open in the past 10 days on the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), compared to just 144 puts. The resulting call/put volume ratio of 24.45 outranks 96% of all readings taken in the past year.
Technically, it hasn't been a bad year for Cabelas Inc (NYSE:CAB). The shares have been marching higher on the charts since last October, and are currently sitting on a nearly 18% year-to-date lead, after enjoying several bounces off their 200-day moving average since March.
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