It appears call buyers have their sights set on Groupon Inc (GRPN) today
Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN) is sitting slightly above breakeven this afternoon at $7.16. In the options pits,
calls are running at a slightly quicker-than-usual intraday pace, and outstrip puts by a nearly 5-to-1 margin.
GRPN's most active option by far is the weekly 5/8 7-strike call, where 3,355 contracts are on the tape. It's possible traders are buying fresh positions here, expecting the shares to extend their lead atop the $7 level through the close on Friday, May 8, when the weekly options expire.
If this is the case, the speculators may be counting on GRPN to stage a post-earnings rally. The coupon firm will report quarterly results after the close on Tuesday, May 5 -- just three days before the aforementioned calls cease trading.
GRPN tends to make big moves following these events. Over the last eight quarters, the stock has averaged a move of 15.4% in the session immediately after reporting. Currently, based on straddle data, the options market is pricing in a slightly more modest 13.5% move.
On the charts, Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN) has been trendling lower since hitting a late-February high of $8.37. On a relative-strength basis, over the past two months, the shares have underperformed the broader S&P 500 Index (SPX) by 14 percentage points.