Carnival Corp. (CCL)

Update 6/22/2017: CCL’s price was little affected by its earnings announcement. A decline in implied volatility allowed me to exit at 27% of maximum potential profit.

Shares showed a net decline of 0.2% over the one day, entry to exit, or a -55% annual rate. The options position produced a 36.3% yield on debit for a +13,231% annual rate.

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CCL publishes earnings on Thursday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time nine days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 23%, which is 2.1 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

CCL’s IV stands in the 26th percentile of its annual range and the 83rd percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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Accenture Plc (ACN)

Update 6/26/2017: ACN gapped sharply to the downside after earnings were published and then continued trading within that day’s range for two trading sessions thereafter. I exited at 18.9% of maximum potential profit.

Shares fell by 2.9% over five days, or a -212% annual rate. The options position produced a 23.3% yield on debit for a +1,703% annual rate.

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ACN publishes earnings on Thursday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time nine days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 23%, which is double the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

ACN’s IV stands in the 57th percentile of its annual range and the 85th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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Oracle Corp. (ORCL)

Update 6/23/2017: ORCL gapped $5 to the upside after earnings were published and continued to trade around that level the next day. I exited for a loss a week before the position’s options expire.

Shares showed a net rise of 9.9% over two days, or a +1,803% annual rate. The options positoin produced a -44.6% loss on debit for a -8,139% annual rate.

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Hain Celestial Group Inc. (HAIN)

Update 6/22/2017: HAIN underwent a $3 whipsaw after earnings were published, with the net impact of a decline from its pre-earnings close. A sharp drop in implied volatility allowed an exit at 25% of maximum potential profit.

Shares showed a net rise of 2.5% over a day, entry to exit, or a +917% annual rate. The options position produced a +33.2% yield on debit for a +12,122% annual rate.

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HAIN publishes earnings on Thursday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time nine days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 57%, which is 5.2 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

HAIN’s IV stands in the 69th percentile of its annual range and the 85th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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6/21 – 3 p.m. New York time

Today’s outcomes: I have entered four new positions: ACN, CCL,  HAIN and ORCL. I exited two, both profitably: ADBE and FDX.

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Winnebago Industries Inc. (WGO)

Update 7/7/2017: WGO rose four four days after earnings were published, settling into a sideways trend thereafter. I exited a week early for a loss the day before the stock went ex-dividend, an even that increases the likelihood of exercise for in-the-money options

Shares rose by 18.4% over 17 days, or a +396% annual rate. The options position produced a -42.4% loss on debit for a -911% annual rate.

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WGO publishes earnings on Wednesday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 48%, which is 4.6 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

WGO’s IV stands in the 94th percentile of its annual range and the 91st percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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FedEx Corp. (FDX)

Update 6/21/2017: FDX declined  slightly after earnings were published. A sharp drop in implied volatility pushed profit to the 33% of maximum potential profit, allowing me a quick exit. 

shares declined by 1.2% in a day, or a -430% annual rate. The options position produced a +49.0% yield on debit for a +17,879% annual rate.

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FDX publishes earnings on Tuesday after the market close.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 27%, which is 2.6 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

FDX’s IV stands in the 67th percentile of its annual range and the 99th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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Red Hat Inc. (RHT)

Update 6/26/2017: Shares gapped sharply upward after earnings were published and remained in that high range thereafter. I exited for a profit as expiration approached

Shares rose by 8.4% over six days, or a +511% annual rate. The options position produced a -2.4% los son debit for a -1,729% annual rate.

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RHT publishes earnings on Tuesday after the market close.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 35%, which is 3.3 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

RHT’s IV stands in the 75th percentile of its annual range and the 76th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE)

Update 6/21/2017: ADBE gapped to the upside after earnings were published and then retraced much of the rise. I exited at 32% of maximum potential profit.

Shares showed a net rise of 1.6% over the day i held the position, or a +600% annual rate. The options position produced a 49.0% yield on debit for a +17,879% annual rate.

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ADBE publishes earnings on Tuesday after the market close.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 29%, which is 2.8 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

ADBE’s IV stands in the 71st percentile of its annual range and the 80th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)

Update, June 26, 2017: MSFT traded largely within a range after I entered the position, opening higher today but quickly dropping back within the range. I exited at 6.6% of maximum potential profit.

Shares rose by 0.9% over six days, or a +55% annual rate. The options position produced a +7.0% yield on debit for a +428% annual rate.

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MSFT has sufficiently high implied volatility to qualify for analysis and possibly a trade.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on June 30.

Implied volatility stands at 23%, which is 2.2 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

MSFT’s IV stands in the 68th percentile of its annual range and the 91st percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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