Apple bulls are confident that the stock will see a huge rise of about 36% as they take to the options market placing long-term bets. In recent days, increased interest has been seen in Apple’s 130-strike call option expiring in January, reports CNBC.
In the past few sessions, about 10,000 contracts have been purchased, representing positions on some $100 million worth of Apple shares. Though it's not possible to determine the full extent of any position a given trader has on a stock, if Apple shares rise above roughly $133 -- representing a 36% rally by early 2018 -- the buyers of these options are bound to see profits.
Speaking on CNBC’s Trading Nation, Dennis Davitt of Harvest Volatility Management said:
Up 40 percent in 18 months sounds shocking — until you realize that Apple was trading at that level a year ago. So it’s definitely within striking distance to get to that point… What you’re seeing right now is people who are underweight and unsure buying calls to get exposure.
Davitt explained that the calls are trading at roughly $3, representing a potentially more efficient way to gain exposure to the stock.
Surprise Announcement Could Drive Apple Up Sharply
Max Wolff of Manhattan Venture Partners said call options are for investors who wish to keep some of their “powder dry” while retaining some exposure to the possibility that the company will be able to rally back to where it once was. Though Wolff does not expect the stock to “rocket ship” back to $130, if there is a surprise announcement like increased dividends or a buyback, it would take just one day to get options investors at least half way there.
In a recent research note, Argus Research shed light on Apple’s transformation from a hardware enterprise to a business with a focus on software and services. The sell-side firm reiterated its Buy rating on the stock with a price objective of $135.
On Wednesday, Apple shares closed down 0.33% at $97.14. Year-to-date, the stock is down by more than 9%, while in the last year, it is down almost 24%. The stock has a 52-week high of $132.97 and a 52-week low of $89.47.