A big winner this Monday morning is SmileDirectClub Inc (NASDAQ:SDC), up 12.3% to trade at $9.41. That's because the teledentistry name just launched a new line of oral care products, exclusively available at Walmart (WMT) stores. In addition, Craig-Hallum initiated coverage on SDC with a "buy" rating and $20 price target, territory not achieved since its trading debut on Sept. 12.
SmileDirectClub stock opened that day at $20.50, below its initial public offering (IPO) price of $23. That set the tone for the stock for the rest of the year, culminating in a Dec. 12 bottom of $7.56. Thanks to today though -- on track for its best single-session gain ever -- the shares are poised to topple their 40-day moving average on a closing basis for the first time.
Despite the stock' channel of lower lows, analysts remain steadfast. All nine of the brokerages in coverage rate SDC a "strong buy," and the consensus 12-month price target of $19.44 is a 132% premium to Friday's closing perch of $8.38.
Options traders are getting in on the fun today. In just the first hour of trading, over 8,300 calls have changed hands, 23 times the average intraday amount and six times the number of puts traded. Leading the charge is the January 2020 10-strike call, but there are also new positions being opened at the January 2020 11-strike call.
Now is definitely an opportune time to pursue options, per the security's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 86%, which sits in the 19th percentile of its annual range. In simpler terms, options players are pricing in relatively low volatility expectations right now.