Best Buy (BBY) is scheduled to unveil its fourth-quarter results Thursday morning, with analysts anticipating a profit of $1.85 per share -- little changed from the big box retailer's year-ago earnings of $1.82 per share. Best Buy has been hot-and-cold on the earnings front; during the past four quarters, the company has topped consensus bottom-line estimates twice, and fallen short on two other occasions.

Ahead of the quarterly report, one options player built a bullishly biased spread on BBY. Right after the opening bell Wednesday morning, the trader purchased 358 April 32 calls, and simultaneously sold 716 April 35 calls. In other words, two April 35 calls were sold for every one purchased April 32 call. This strategy is known as a ratio call spread, and it's typically used by traders who are bullish on the underlying equity -- but with a very specific upside target in mind.

Continue reading Best Buy Singled Out for a Ratio Call Spread Ahead of Earnings

Best Buy Singled Out for a Ratio Call Spread Ahead of Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Option volume has ramped up today on KeyCorp (KEY), with activity rising well beyond the usual level on both the call and put side of the tape. Taking a closer look at some of the major block trades on this regional banking issue, it appears that a single spread strategist is responsible for a healthy portion of this option volume.

Specifically, the trader purchased a block of 10,000 June 10 calls for $0.50 each, and simultaneously sold 10,000 June 8 puts for $0.25 each. The result was a net debit of $0.25 per pair of contracts -- which means the speculator can begin collecting profits on those purchased calls if KEY rallies beyond $10.25 by June expiration.

Continue reading Buyout Buzz Inspires Bullish KeyCorp Spread

Buyout Buzz Inspires Bullish KeyCorp Spread originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Long-Term Puts are Popular on Chesapeake Energy

Long-Term Puts are Popular on Chesapeake Energy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Online marketing specialist ValueClick (VCLK) is scheduled to unveil its fourth-quarter earnings after Tuesday's closing bell. Ahead of the announcement, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating a profit of 23 cents per share, on average, which would represent an improvement over ValueClick's year-ago earnings of 18 cents per share.

ValueClick has a strong history in the earnings spotlight, having surpassed analysts' bottom-line expectations in each of the past four quarters. However, a quick scan of the stock's sentiment backdrop reveals a nearly palpable pessimism among both traders and analysts.

Continue reading ValueClick Earnings Preview

ValueClick Earnings Preview originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cosmetics giant Avon Products (AVP) unveiled its fourth-quarter earnings this morning, and the results fell short of Wall Street's expectations. AVP's quarterly profit slipped 15% to $229.5 million, or 53 cents per share. Excluding restructuring expenses, earnings from continuing operations declined to 59 cents per share from 68 cents in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose 1.2% to $3.18 billion.

By contrast, analysts were looking for a profit of 67 cents per share on revenue of $3.28 billion. AVP's fourth-quarter performance was negatively impacted by currency fluctuations, as well as higher product costs.

Continue reading Avon Products Pulls Back After Q4 Report

Avon Products Pulls Back After Q4 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Betting Against Retail with an XRT Put Spread

Betting Against Retail with an XRT Put Spread originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shares of Level 3 Communications (LVLT) have taken a turn for the worse, after the firm's fourth-quarter earnings report landed with a thud. The company confessed to a net loss of $52 million, or 3 cents per share, narrowed from its year-ago deficit of $182 million, or 11 cents per share. Revenue for the quarter declined to $921 million from $924 million.

The results actually surpassed Wall Street's consensus forecast, which called for a net loss of 10 cents per share on revenue of $920.1 million. However, traders seem none too pleased with Level 3's earnings performance, as the stock plummeted roughly 7% Wednesday morning. In particular, it seems the market may be taking issue with Level 3's warning that it expects free cash flow to be negative for fiscal 2011.

Continue reading Level 3 Dives Following Earnings Release

Level 3 Dives Following Earnings Release originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shares of Patriot Coal (PCX) surged to a new annual high of $27.54 right out of the gate Tuesday, as traders cheered the energy issue's latest quarterly report.

Patriot announced that its fourth-quarter net profit dwindled 33% to $7.3 million, or 8 cents per share, from its year-ago results of $10.9 million, or 12 cents per share. Revenue for the quarter climbed 5% to $528.2 million, but selling and administrative expenses swelled 35% to $14 million. Likewise, Patriot's operating cost per ton increased 9.5% to $55.70.

Continue reading Patriot Coal Climbs Higher Despite Q4 Revenue Miss

Patriot Coal Climbs Higher Despite Q4 Revenue Miss originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In the wake of Friday's drastic pullback in the stock market, it looks like at least one trader is banking on more short-term volatility. Bright and early Monday, a spread speculator constructed a long straddle on the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQQ), with the trader hoping to capitalize on a substantial price swing over the next several weeks.

Specifically, the trader purchased a block of 1,205 February 56 calls, and simultaneously bought a matching block of 1,205 February 56 puts. QQQQ was hovering right at $55.69 at the time of these transactions, placing both strikes very near the money.

Continue reading Straddle Player Bets on Big Volatility for PowerShares QQQ Trust

Straddle Player Bets on Big Volatility for PowerShares QQQ Trust originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Dissecting a Long-Term Bullish Bet on Lowe's Companies

Dissecting a Long-Term Bullish Bet on Lowe's Companies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Juniper Networks (JNPR) is on the upswing, with the stock catching a 6% boost Wednesday morning on the heels of a well-received fourth-quarter earnings report. Juniper reported a quarterly profit of $190.2 million, or 35 cents per share, substantially improved from its year-ago results of $22.9 million, or 4 cents per share. Excluding items, earnings improved to 42 cents from 32 cents per share on a year-over-year basis.

Meanwhile, revenue for the quarter increased 26% to $1.19 billion. Gross margin retreated slightly, falling to 66.6% from 67.1%.

Continue reading Juniper Networks Jumps Higher After Q4 Earnings Beat

Juniper Networks Jumps Higher After Q4 Earnings Beat originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Blue-chip burger baron McDonald's (MCD) was in focus Monday morning after the company unveiled its fourth-quarter earnings. The fast-food chain reported net income of $1.24 billion, or $1.16 per share, slightly improved from its year-ago profit of $1.22 billion, or $1.11 per share. Revenue for the quarter climbed 4% to $6.21 billion.

The fourth-quarter results were more or less in line with Wall Street's expectations, but the same can't be said of its December sales. Global same-store sales rose 3.7% across the board, led by an 8.9% gain in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA). U.S. same-store sales increased 2.6% in December, while sales at restaurants open at least 13 months declined 0.5% in Europe.

Continue reading McDonald's Dips After Weak December Sales

McDonald's Dips After Weak December Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading State Street Takes a Hit After Q4 Report

State Street Takes a Hit After Q4 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Friday morning, the good folks at JPMorgan Chase (JPM) kicked off a wave of quarterly reports from the banking sector. Next week, we'll hear the latest earnings results from the likes of Citigroup (C), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Wells Fargo (WFC), just to name a few.

Of course, the biggest bank in the nation -- Bank of America (BAC) -- also has a quarterly report on deck. Ahead of next Friday's fourth-quarter release, one speculator opted to construct a high-volatility options strategy on BAC.

Continue reading Bank of America Singled Out for a Long Strangle Ahead of Earnings

Bank of America Singled Out for a Long Strangle Ahead of Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The shares of Nvidia (NVDA) have been tearing up the charts in 2011, thanks to a lucrative settlement with Intel (INTC) and a high-profile new partnership with ARM Holdings (ARMH). The month of January isn't quite half-over yet, but the stock is already sitting on a year-to-date gain of 51.6%.

Judging by at least one headline hitting the wires, the stock's rapid rise is making some analysts nervous. However, on Wednesday, one upbeat options trader placed a bet on additional upside from NVDA during the near term.

Continue reading Spread Speculator Bets on Additional Upside for Nvidia

Spread Speculator Bets on Additional Upside for Nvidia originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

LeapFrog Enterprises (LF) plummeted more than 25% this morning, after the company warned that its full-year earnings will fall below Wall Street's expectations. The maker of educational toys expects to bank a profit of 3 cents to 6 cents per share for fiscal 2010, way below analysts' consensus estimate of 28 cents per share.

"After a solid start to the holiday season, demand softened late in the quarter relative to our expectations," explained CEO Bill Chiasson. "While sales of interactive reading products continued to grow at retail, the growth was less than we had forecasted and contributed to lower earnings growth than expected."

Continue reading LeapFrog Takes a Nosedive on Weak FY Forecast

LeapFrog Takes a Nosedive on Weak FY Forecast originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

KB Home (KBH) is ending the week on a high note, after the homebuilder comfortably surpassed Wall Street's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings expectations. Bright and early Friday morning, KBH announced quarterly net income of $17.4 million, or 23 cents per share, on revenue of $451 million. Adjusted housing gross margins improved to 19.7% from 19%.

This marks KBH's first quarterly profit, without the aid of tax gains, in almost four years. Analysts were anticipating KBH to swallow a deficit of 17 cents per share on revenue of $441.3 million, so these results definitely qualify as a positive surprise.

Continue reading KB Home Rallies After Solid Q4 Report

KB Home Rallies After Solid Q4 Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A parade of retailers have stepped up Thursday morning to unveil their December sales results, including The Gap Inc. (GPS). The jeans giant confessed to an unexpected 3% decline in same-store sales for the month, falling well short of analysts' expectations for an increase of 2.6%.

Gap North America was hit hardest, with same-store sales tumbling 8% for the month. The only business segment to record a gain for December was Banana Republic North America, as same-store sales improved 1%.

Continue reading The Gap Plunges on Lackluster December Sales

The Gap Plunges on Lackluster December Sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nasdaq OMX Group (NDAQ) is lingering near annual-high territory, but not everyone on Wall Street is impressed with the stock's price action. Bright and early Tuesday morning, the exchange operator was singled out for a bearishly biased options strategy.

Shortly after the opening bell, a block of 1,950 March 24 puts traded near the ask price at $1.20, indicating they were most likely purchased. At the same time, a block of 3,900 March 21 puts changed hands near the bid price at $0.30, suggesting they were probably sold. Volume is easily outstripping open interest at both strikes, so it's safe to assume that we're seeing the initiation of a new spread position.

Continue reading Dissecting a Ratio Put Spread on Nasdaq OMX Group

Dissecting a Ratio Put Spread on Nasdaq OMX Group originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) gapped higher out of the gate Monday morning, as traders cheered the latest round of data from Macau. Casino revenues in the popular gambling destination rose 58% in 2010 to a record 188.34 billion patacas, or roughly $23.51 billion, according to the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.

Revenue for the month of December ballooned 66.4% to an all-time monthly high of 18.883 billion patacas, or approximately $2.36 billion.

Continue reading Las Vegas Sands Catches a Lift from Rising Macau Revenues

Las Vegas Sands Catches a Lift from Rising Macau Revenues originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.