Priceline.com (PCLN) has a 52-week range indicative of some very interesting price action. The 52-week low is $98.51. The 52-week high is $273.93. The stock closed on Monday at $193.14, up just about 1% for the day.

The big brand of online travel, which competes with Expedia (EXPE), received an upgrade Monday. Soleil Securities took its rating of the company from hold to buy; however, the price target was lowered from $250 to $230 at the same time. It's always odd when that happens, but the important take-away here is the rating firm's belief in potential upside from current prices.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) closed at $18.47 Tuesday.

Soleil Securities has a Buy rating on HRB.

HRB overall option implied volatility of 45 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Jackson Hewitt (NYSE: JTX) closed Tuesday at $21.65, near a 30-month low.

Soleil Securities has a Hold rating with an $18 price target on JTX.

JTX overall option implied volatility of 59 is above its 26-week average of 43 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) closed at $20.78 Monday, near 4-year low.

YHOO is expected to report Q4 EPS tonight after the close of trading.

Soleil Securities says: "Expect in-line 4Q07, but weak 2008 guidance."

YHOO February option implied volatility of 75 is above its 26-week average of 43 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risk.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Shares of chemical maker EI DuPont de Nemours & Co. (NYSE: DD) are trading higher this morning after the company lifted both its 2007 and 2008 earnings outlook, citing strength in its agriculture and nutrition business and higher raw material prices.

The company said it expects to show a rise of 11% or more for its 2007 profit, based on better-than-predicted fourth-quarter numbers. According to Charles O. Holliday Jr. , the company's Chief Executive Officer, DuPont's quarterly sales came in above analysts' expectations, lifted by "science-driven innovations and market differentiation."

The third-biggest U.S. chemical maker now anticipates 2007 earnings per share of $3.20, excluding special items. That's at the upper end of its earlier forecast for earnings per share in a range of $3.15 and $3.20. DuPont's predictions for 2007 exclude $0.09 per share of charges and a net benefit of $.02 per share. Analysts, on average, forecast a profit of $3.19 per share.

Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) closed at $18.10.

Soleil Securities says: "We now believe that the CEO role at TWX will change hands before year-end 2007." Soleil believes there is an upside potential to the share price in the event of a Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) spin-off, a publishing segment sale and a spin-off and sale or IPO of AOL.

TWX is expected to announce EPS on 11/7.

TWX November option implied volatility of 31 is above its 26-week average of 25 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) October implied volatility at 39 into Citigroup raising target to $185.

• AAPL is recently up $1.05 cents to $145.20 in pre-open trading.
  
• Citigroup Smith Barney-SBSH says: "We are raising FY08 and FY09 earnings estimates to reflect higher gross margin and lower operating expense assumptions. Our above-consensus estimates suggest a new twelve-month target of $185. We remain buyers of AAPL."
  
• AAPL is expected to report EPS in mid-October.
  
• AAPL October option implied volatility of 39 is below its 26-week average of 42 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

AMR Corp (NYSE: AMR) implied volatility Flat prior to weak 3Q investor Update.

• AMR closed at $24.26.
  
• Soleil Securities says: "On the heels of a somewhat disturbing mid-quarter update from AMR that was released late Friday, we are slashing earnings estimates, cutting our target price to $24 from $33, and reducing our investment rating to Hold from Buy."
  
• WTI Crude futures are down 1.13% to $80.70 according to Bloomberg.
  
• AMR October option implied volatility of 50 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional risk.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.