The Coca-Cola Co, (KO)

Update 7/26/2017: KO whipsawed within a dollar’s range after earnings were published. In order to clear space in my account for further trades, I exited below target at 17% of maximum potential profit.

Shares showed a net declined of 0.6% over my holding period of less than a day, or a -211% annual rate. The options position produced a 20.0% yield on debit for a +7,300% annual rate.

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KO 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 14%, which is 1.5 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

KO’s IV stands in the 41st percentile of its annual range and at the peak of its most recent broad movement.

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The Boeing Co. (BA)

Update 7/31/2017: BA gapped upward by $23 after earnings were published and rose an additional $23 in the ensuing two trading days. I exited for a loss as expiration approached.

Shares rose by 137% over six days, or an 834% annual rate. The options position produced a -52.4% loss on debit for a -3,190% annual rate.

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BA 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 21%, which is 2.3 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

BA’s IV stands in the 49th percentile of its annual range and the 87th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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Corning Inc. (GLW)

Update 7/26/2017: GLW fell a dollar at the market open after earnings were published, and I exited at 25% of maximum potential profit.

Shares declined by1.0% from entry to exit, or a -350% annual rate. The options positions produced a 33.3% yield on debit for a +12,167% annual rate.

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GLW 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 26%, which is 2.8 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

GLW’s IV stands in the 57th percentile of its annual range and at the peak of its most recent broad movement.

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D.R. Horton Inc. (DHI)

DHI publishes earnings onWednesday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days later, on Aug. 4.

Implied volatility stands at 27%, which is 2.9 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

DHI’s IV stands in the 50th percentile of its annual range and the 81st percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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7/25 – 10:40 a.m. New York time

I entered four positions: HES, GLW, BA and KO. I rejected two positions because of the options grids: AKAM and DHI.

No positions closed.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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