Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM)
AKAM publishes earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell.
I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days later, on Aug. 4.
Implied volatility stands at 44%, which is 4.8 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.
AKAM’s IV stands in the 80th percentile of its annual range and the 82nd percentile of its most recent broad movement.
Hess Corp. (HES)
Update 7/28/2017: HES executed a series of wide swings of the $2 magnitude after earnings were published, declining, zig-zagging lower, and then recovering all it had lost and then some. I exited at 14% of maximum potential profit
Shares showed a net decline of 2.2% over my three-day holding period, or a -266% annual rate. The options position produced a 16.0% yield on debit for a +1,946.67% annual rate.
HES publishes earnings on Wednesday before the opening bell.
I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days later, on Aug. 4.
Implied volatility stands at 36%, which is 3.9 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.
HES’s IV stands in the 44th percentile of its annual range and the 66th percentile of its most recent broad movement.
McDonald’s Corp. (MCD)
Update 7/28/2017: MCD rose by $7 after earnings wee published and then zig-zagged its way downward over three days, losing about half of its gains. I exited at 21% of maximum potential profit, below my 25% profit.
Shares showed a net rise of 1.8% over four days, or a +163% annual rate. The options position produced a +27.0% yield on debit for a +2,462% annual rate.
MCD publishes earnings on Tuesday before the opening bell.
I shall use options that trade for the last time 11 days later, on Aug. 4.
Implied volatility stands at 20%, which is double the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.
MCD’s IV stands in the 0th percentile of its annual range and the 98th percentile of its most recent broad movement.
Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
Update 7/27/2017: CAT shares gapped upward after after earnings were published and then fell into an unprofitable sideways trend. I exited after three days for a loss in order to clear room within my options margin for other opportunities.
Shares rose by 5.7% over the the three days, or a +687% annual rate. The options position produced a 28.5% loss on debit for a -3,470% annual rate.
CAT publishes earnings on Tuesday before the opening bell.
I shall use options that trade for the last time 11 days later, on Aug. 4.
Implied volatility stands at 26%, which is 2.7 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.
CAT’s IV stands in the 57th percentile of its annual range and the 82nd percentile of its most recent broad movement.
Seagate Technology plc (STX)
Update 8/4/2017: STX fell by $10 immediately after earnings were published and then reclaimed about $4 of the decline before settling into a sideways trend for the rest of my holding period . I exited for a loss at a $6.25 premium with shares at $33.53 as expiration approached.
The losing short puts breakeven strike that defined the losing side of the trade showed a 71% chance of expiring out of the money at entry. Those odds declined to 4% at exit, above two standard deviations.
Shares declined by a net 15.8% over my 11-day holding period, or a -525% annual rate. The options position produced a -47.7% loss on debit for a -1,5825 annual rate.
STX publishes earnings on Tuesday before the opening bell.
I shall use options that trade for the last time 19 days later, on Aug.11.
Implied volatility stands at 47%, which is 4.8 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.
STX’s IV stands in the 82nd percentile of its annual range and the peak of its most recent broad movement.
The Federal Open Market Committee meets for two days, culminating in an announcement on interest rates on Wednesday at 2 p.m. New York time.
Their decision precedes public release of the first estimate of gross domestic product for the 2nd quarter, on Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Other major economic reports: Durable goods orders and international trade in goods, both on Thursday at 8:30 a.m., and two real estate reports: existing home sales on Monday and new home sales on Wednesday, each at 10 a.m.
Halliburton Co. (HAL)
Update 7/28/2017: HAL declined by $2 plus change after earnings were published and then swung into a sideways trend. As expiration approached, I exited at 5% of maximum potential profit.
Shares declined by 3.8% over seven days, or a -159% annual rate. The options position produced a +5.5% yield on debit for a +284% annual rate.
HAL publishes earnings on Monday after the closing bell.
I shall use options that trade for the last time 14 days later, on Aug. 4.
Implied volatility stands at 30%, which is 1.89 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.
HAL’s IV stands in the 46th percentile of its annual range and the 63rd percentile of its most recent broad movement.
Tim Bovee, Private Trader 
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