Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) opened at $54.00. So far today the stock has hit a low of $53.15 and a high of $54.97. As of 10:45, ABT is trading at $54.00, up $0.61 (1.1%).

After hitting a one-year high of $59.50 in May, the stock has dipped down to previous support levels right around $54. Shares are gaining today after the company's Q2 earnings of 0.69 per share surpassed expectations of 0.68. Technical indicators for ABT are bearish and steady, while S&P gives the stock a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy rating.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider an November bull-put credit spread below the $47.50 range. A bull-put credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of put options to hedge risk and leverage returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 8.7% return in just 4 months as long as ABT is above $47.50 at November expiration. ABT would have to fall by more than 12% before we would start to lose money.

ABT hasn't been below $47.50 November and has shown support around $53 recently. This trade could be risky if the company's next earnings (due out in mid-October) are not as well-received. Even if that happens, it looks like this position could be protected the strong support the stock found just around $53, plus its 200 day moving average, which is currently at $52 and rising.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.
DISCLOSURE: At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in ABT.