HAL Analysis

Halliburton Co. (HAL)

HAL publishes earnings on Monday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 14 days hence, on Nov, 3.

Implied volatility stands at 26%, which is !0 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

HAL’s IV stands in the 2tth percentile of its annual range and the 72nd percentile of its most recent broad movement.

Read More »

VZ Analysis

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)

VZ publishes earnings on Thursday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time nine days hence, on Oct. 27.

Implied volatility stands at 20%, which is double the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

VZ’s IV stands in the 57th percentile of its annual range and the 34th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

Read More »

AXP Analysis

American Express Co. (AXP)

AXP publishes earnings on Wednesday after the closing bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time nine days hence, on Oct. 27.

Implied volatility stands at 20%, which is double the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

AXP’s IV stands in the 40th percentile of its annual range and the 75th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

Read More »

LRCX Analysis

Lam Research Corp. (LRCX)

LRCX publishes earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on Oct. 27.

Implied volatility stands at 34%, which is 3.3 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

LRCX’s IV stands in the 90th percentile of its annual range and the 95th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

Read More »

IBM Analysis

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)

Update 10/18/2017: IBM’S earnings came it at $3.30 per share, slightly below the $3.33 Street consensus. Shares shot up by $10.58, and the continued to rise, breaking past the $156.42 resistance level set last June. 

The rise carried the share price beyond the profit zone’s $4.50 in either direction and above the expected move of $4.85 and the maximum post-earns move of the past year, $6.47

Zacks indicators missed the move, showing neutral for the score and an upside surprise for the earnings.

Shares rose by 8.0% over my one-day holding period, or a +2,912% annual rate. The options position produced a 42.6% loss for a -15,538% annual rate.


IBM publishes earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days hence, on Oct. 27.

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

IBM’s IV stands in the 74th percentile of its annual range and at the peak of its most recent broad movement.

Read More »

JNJ Analysis

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Update 10/18/2017: JNJ’s earnings came in at $1.90 per share, exceeding the consensus forecast of $1.82. The price rose by $5 in the post-earns session, breaking out of the $3 profit range and doubling the expected move and exceeding the maximum post-earns move of the past year.

Zacks suggested there would be an upside earnings surprise, None of the telltales I use pointed toward the magnitude of the move.

Shares rose by 3.7% over my two-day holding period, or a +672% annual rate. The options position produced a 38.6% loss for a -7,037% annual rate.


JNJ publishes earnings on Tuesday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 11 days hence, on Oct. 27.

Implied volatility stands at 16%, which is !0 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

JNJ’s IV stands in the 53rd percentile of its annual range and the 43rd percentile of its most recent broad movement.

Read More »