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Google (GOOG) lifted by analyst's comments

GOOG logoGoogle (NASDAQ: GOOG) shares are trading higher today as GOOG is holding its annual shareholders meeting today. In an AP article previewing the conference, an analyst at Canaccord Adams praised the company, saying, "If you want to invest in the Internet space, where else do you want to be but Google?" If you think that the stock 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 GOOG.

After hitting a one-year high of $747.24 in November, the stock hit a one-year low of $412.11 in March. GOOG opened this morning at $586.20. So far today the stock has hit a low of $582.05 and a high of $589.30. As of 12:20, GOOG is trading at $585.23, up 6.23 (1.1%). The chart for GOOG looks bullish and steady, while S&P gives the stock a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold rating.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a May bull-put credit spread below the $540 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. For this particular trade, we will make a 5.3% return in just one week as long as GOOG is above $540 at May expiration next Friday. Google would have to fall by more than 7% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

GOOG hasn't been below $540 since rising sharply in April and has shown support around $579 recently. This trade could be risky if the economy continues to weaken and the stock reverses course, but even if that happens, this position could be protected by the support the stock might find around $540, where it found some support after its initial climb after its last earnings release.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in GOOG.

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Last updated: May 18, 2008: 01:28 PM

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