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Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) shares are trading higher today after some of its rivals have reported soft outlooks. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) reaffirmed its forecast for fourth-quarter earnings and revenue growth yesterday. MOT expects earnings of 12 cents to 14 cents per share, which is in-line with previous estimates. Palm (NASDAQ: PALM) also cut its outlook yesterday after the close yesterday and analysts are of the opinion that MOT and PALM could be losing market share to companies like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), and Nokia. If you think that NOK won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on NOK.After hitting a one-year low of $18.87 in January, the stock hit a one-year high of $42.22 in November. NOK opened this morning at $39.45. So far today the stock has hit a low of $39.14 and a high of $39.51. As of 11:05, NOK is trading at $ 39.20, up 21 cents(0.5%). The chart for NOK looks bullish but deteriorating, while S&P gives the stock a negative 2 STARS (out of 5) sell rating.
For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a January bull-put credit spread below the $35 range. A bull-put credit spread is an options position that combines the purchase and sale of put options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. This particular trade will make a 6.3% return in just 6 weeks as long as NOK is above $35 at January expiration. Nokia would have to fall by more than 10% before we would start to lose money.
NOK hasn't been below $35 since September and has shown support around $38 recently. This trade could be risky if gadgets don't sell well over the holiday season, but even if that happens, this position could be protected by support the stock has found at its 50 day moving average, which is currently at $38 and rising.
Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in NOK, MOT, AAPL, RIMM, or PALM.
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