Today’s tickers: KKD, GE & RAD
KKD - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. – Options on Krispy Kreme are more active than usual on Thursday ahead of the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report after the final bell this afternoon. Shares in KKD slipped into negative territory earlier in the session, but have since reversed course to trade up 1.1% on the day at $15.12 as of 12:05 p.m. in New York. The doughnut maker’s shares, up nearly 60% year-to-date, have more than doubled since mid-November of 2012. Some options traders appear to be positioning for shares in Krispy Kreme to pullback after earnings. Bearish options are changing hands at the April $13 strike, with upwards of 1,800 puts in play versus open interest of 153 contracts. Time and sales data suggests much of the volume was purchased in the early going at a premium of $0.35 each. Put buyers stand ready to profit at expiration next month should shares in KKD drop 16% from the current price of $15.12 to breach the effective breakeven point on the downside at $12.65. Interest in the April $14 strike puts is on the rise as well today, with around 130 contracts purchased during morning trading at a premium of $0.60 apiece.
GE - General Electric Co. – Weekly calls in play on General Electric this morning predict shares in the name will rise to the highest level since October of 2008 during the next six trading sessions. GE shares, up better than 11% year-to-date, tacked on 0.90% today to trade at $23.70 by 11:10 a.m. ET. One or more traders anticipating fresh multi-year highs in GE’s shares in the near term appear to have purchased roughly 3,000 calls at the Mar. 22 ’13 $24 strike for an average premium of $0.10 per contract. The contracts may be profitable at expiration next week in the event that General Electric Co.’s shares rally another 1.7% over the current price of $23.70 to surpass the average breakeven point on the upside at $24.10. Call buyers may…
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