Today’s tickers: TRIP, SWHC & ARO
TRIP - TripAdvisor, Inc. – Shares in the online travel company rallied nearly 7% to a fresh record high of $50.88 on Wednesday morning on positive comments and a target share price increase to $52.00 from $50.00 at Deutsche Bank. TripAdvisor’s shares have increased more than 75% during the past four months, rebounding explosively off a 52-week low of $28.63 set back in November of 2012. Options traders positioning for TRIP’s shares to extend gains during the next few months appear to be buying upside calls across several expiries today. Near-term bulls snapped up around 1,600 calls at the Mar. $55 strike for an average premium of $0.09 apiece this morning, and may profit at expiration next week in the event that shares in the name surge 8.3% to top the average breakeven point at $55.09. The $55 strike call options expiring in April and June are also active, with traders picking up around 550 lots at the June $55 strike for an average premium of $0.80 each, and roughly 650 of the June $55 strike calls at an average premium of $2.29 a-pop in the early going today. Finally, it looks like one options strategist has generated substantial paper profits on a bullish spread initiated back on February 12th. The sizable one-by-two ratio call spread, constructed with the purchase of 1,500 Mar. $47 calls at a premium of $2.40 each against the sale of 3,000 Mar. $50 calls at a premium of $1.20 apiece, was purchased flat and makes maximum potential profits of $3.00 per contract if shares in TRIP settle at $50.00 at March expiration next week.
SWHC - Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. – Gun manufacturer, Smith & Wesson, raised its profit and sales forecast for fiscal 2013, reported third-quarter net income that more than tripled versus the year ago quarter on a near 40% rise in sales for the period, yet shares in the firearms maker are selling off today, down 6% at $9.60 as of the midday…
