Wachovia (NYSE: WB) shares are trading higher with most other banks after rival Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) posted a second-quarter profit that beat analysts' expectations. WB reports earnings tomorrow morning before the open and is pretty much in the same boat as BAC, so this, along with other positive earnings from financial stocks last week could imply that Wachovia will see a good reaction to their release. 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 WB.

After hitting a one-year high of $53.10 in September, the stock hit a one-year low of $7.80 last week. WB opened this morning at $13.52. So far today the stock has hit a low of $12.98 and a high of $14.66. As of 12:55, WB is trading at $13.61, up 64 cents (4.9%). The chart for WB looks bearish and steady, while S&P gives the stock its lowest 1 STARS (out of 5) strong sell rating.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider an August bull-put credit spread below the $7.50 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 4.2% return in just four weeks as long as WB is above $7.50 at October expiration. Wachovia would have to fall by more than 44% before we would start to lose money.

WB hasn't been below $7.50 at all in the past year and has shown support just below $10 recently. This trade could be risky if the company's earnings (due out tomorrow morning) disappoint, but even if that happens, this position could be protected by the support the stock might find at its year low at $7.80.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in WB or BAC.