CVS announced a new CEO, as well as a third-quarter earnings beat
The shares of CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) are up 1.9% at $61.41 in pre-market trading, after the pharmaceutical company named Executive Vice President Karen Lynch as its next CEO. Lynch will assume the role on Feb. 1 and replace the retiring Larry Merlo. Additionally, CVS this morning announced earnings of $1.66 per share on revenue of $67.06 billion, both of which easily bested Wall Street's forecasts.
CVS is recovering from its Oct. 29 close of $55.93, it's lowest finish since the beginning of the pandemic. The equity has soared nearly 9% in that time, and is set to reclaim its 80-day moving average today for the first time since late August. Still, year-to-date, CVS has shed 17.3%.
Meanwhile, puts are popular in the options pits. CVS's 10-day put/call volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) stands higher than all but 4% of readings from the past year. So, while calls have outpaced puts on an overall basis, this ratio suggests a healthier-than-usual appetite for puts over the last two week.
Lastly, now looks like the time to enter with options, as it is currently seeing attractively priced premiums amid a volatility crush. CVS' Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 35% sits higher than just 18% of readings in its annual range, suggesting short-term options are pricing in relatively low volatility expectations.