Today’s tickers: PANL, C & DDS
PANL - Universal Display Corp. – A surprise third-quarter loss reported yesterday by the provider of technology and components in flat panel displays, lighting and electronics, sent shares in Universal Display Corp. down nearly 25% on Thursday morning to an intraday low of $21.55. A number of analysts cut their ratings on the stock following the earnings miss and after the company lowered its full-year revenue forecast. The stock is off its lows of the session, trading down 18% on the day at $23.03 as of 11:40 a.m. ET. Much of the trading traffic in front month calls and puts indicates some options market participants expect shares in PANL to potentially rebound in the near term, or at least stem further declines ahead of November expiration. Traders betting that PANL shares are at their lowest point for the time being sold in- and out-of-the-money put options that expire at the end of next week. It looks like the single largest put play was the sale of 500 contracts at the Nov. $23 strike for a premium of $0.65 apiece early in the trading session. The seller walks away with the full amount of premium in hand as long as shares in the name settle above $23.00 at expiration. At present, PANL shares have rebounded off an earlier low of $21.55, and the Nov. $23 strike put options are out-of-the-money. Similar positioning was observed at the lower Nov. $20, $21 and $22 strikes, with strategists selling at least a few hundred put contracts at each strike in the early going. Meanwhile, traders prepared to profit from a quick turnaround in the price of the underlying picked up around 300 calls at the Nov. $24 strike for an average premium of $0.74 per contract. Call buyers make money at expiration next week if PANL shares rally at least 7% over the current price of $23.03 to trade above the average breakeven price of $24.74.…
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