AAL

Extreme Call Activity on Intel Before Earnings

Open interest among contracts expiring within three months is extremely call-heavy

Jan 24, 2019 at 2:07 PM
facebook X logo linkedin


Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) call volume is running in the 99th annual percentile, while almost tripling the number of puts traded today. The February 52.50 call -- home to peak open interest -- is most popular today, followed by the March 52.50 call.

This call preference is part of a longer-term trend on INTC, which has a Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) at 0.48, in the lowest percentile of its annual range. In other words, short-term options traders are much more call-skewed than normal.

All this comes as the chipmaker prepares for its earnings release later today. On the whole, the options market is pricing in a 6.7% swing for the shares in tomorrow's trading. The stock was last seen trading up 2.9% at $49.34, meaning a move of this magnitude to the upside would put Intel just above $52.50, territory not seen since a July bear gap. To the downside, the equity would be trading around $46.

As for analyst sentiment on the blue chip, most brokerage firms are actually skeptical, with 15 of 29 handing out "hold" or worse recommendations, This setup leaves the door open for a round of bull notes in the case of an impressive turn in the earnings spotlight. Last quarter, INTC rose 3.1% the day after earnings.

 

Two High-Octane Trade Ideas. One Simple Goal: Intraday Profits.

Dynamite Day Trading Signals delivers two same-day options trades every week — powered by proprietary intraday analysis and 43+ years of trading expertise.

But this isn’t just another stream of alerts.

It’s a structured plan with clear entry and exit points – designed for traders who want to act fast, trade smart, and wrap up gains before the closing bell.

No guesswork. No overnight exposure – Just two well-researched setups per week — whether you prefer buying premium or selling it.

And the results speak for themselves: subscribers have locked in +245.8% total profit over the last six months (since inception!).

👉 Start your one-month trial now for just $10, and be ready for the next trade alert.