Twitter Inc (TWTR) and Facebook Inc (FB) traders are setting their sights on weekly call options
A number of social media names are running higher this morning, possibly getting a lift from
LinkedIn Corp (NYSE:LNKD). Among the stocks feeling sector tailwinds are
Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) and
Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), and short-term option bulls are taking aim at additional upside.
TWTR has popped 1.7% out of the chute to trade at $37.03. As such, calls are crossing at 1.4 times the usual mid-morning rate, and triple the pace of puts. Option buyers are seemingly initiating positions at the weekly 6/5 37-, 37.50-, and 38-strike calls -- the equity's three most active options -- in the hopes TWTR will extend its momentum through expiration at this Friday's close.
Call buying has been prominent in recent weeks at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). TWTR's 10-day call/put volume ratio across those exchanges is 3.24 -- in the 83rd annual percentile.
With this morning's pop, Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) is on pace to end atop its 10-day moving average, which has acted as a speed bump since the stock's bear gap in late April. Off the charts, the company will hold its annual shareholder meeting this afternoon.
Shifting gears, FB was last seen 2.3% higher at $82.26, bringing its 2015 lead to 5.4%. Option traders are responding, too, with overall volume at more than double the typical intraday clip, and calls tripling puts.
Among the options seeing buy-to-open activity is the weekly 6/12 82.50-strike call. By purchasing these positions, traders think FB will topple the strike by next Friday's close, when the contracts expire. However, even if the option expires out of the money, the buyers can rest easy knowing they paid relatively muted prices for their bets -- as the stock's
30-day at-the-money implied volatility hit a 52-week low of 19.9% earlier.
Optimism is also detected outside of Facebook Inc's (NASDAQ:FB) options pits, as 25 of 28 analysts rate the security a "buy" or better -- versus three "holds" and not a single "sell." Should the shares resume their longer-term churn, this bullishness could wane -- giving way to potential downgrades and selling pressure.