USB Analysis

U.S. Bancorp (USB)

USB publishes earnings on Wednesday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days later, on July 28.

Implied volatility stands at 25%, which is 2.6 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

USB’s IV stands in the 96th percentile of its annual range and the 91st percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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IBM Analysis

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM)

Update 7/24/2017: IBM gapped downward after earnings were published and continued its decline for the next three days. I exited as expiration approached.

Shares declined by 4.7% over 10 days, or a -172% annual rate. The options position produced a 32.7% loss on debit for a -1,194% annual rate.


IBM publishes earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days later, on July 28.

Implied volatility stands at 24%, which is 2.4 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

IBM’s IV stands in the 67th percentile of its annual range and the 90th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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CSX Analysis

CSX Corp. (CSX)

Update 7/24/2017: CSX gapped downward by about $1.50 after earnings were published and declined further that day, then entered a sideways movement. I exited as expiration approached.

Shares declined by 6.1% over 10 days, or a -222% annual rate. The options position produced a -27.4% loss on debit for a -1,000% annual rate.


CSX publishes earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 10 days later, on July 28.

Implied volatility stands at 34%, which is 3.5 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

CSX’s IV stands in the 71st percentile of its annual range and the 84th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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HOG Analysis

Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG)

Update 7/24/2017: HOG gapped downward after earnings were published and then rose to recover a portion of the decline, and I exited as expiration approached.

Shares declined by 5.4% over 10 days, or a -198% annual rate. The options position produced a 0.1% yield on debit for a +35% annual rate.


HOG publishes earnings on Tuesday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 11 days later, on July 28.

Implied volatility stands at 39%, which is four times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

HOG’s IV stands in the 66th percentile of its annual range and the 86th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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NFLX Analysis

Netflix Inc. (NFLX)

Update 7/24/2017: NFLX shot up after earnings were published, moving it beyond the range of profitability, and I exited as expiration approached.

Shares rose by 18.4% over 10 days, or a +670% annual rate. The options position produced a 43.7% loss on debit for a -1,594% annual rate.


NFLX publishes earnings on Monday after the closing bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time 11 days later, on July 28.

Implied volatility stands at 46%, which is 4.7 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

NFLX’s IV stands in the 56th percentile of its annual range and the 90th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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FHN Analysis

First Horizon National Corp. (FHN)

FHN publishes earnings on Friday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time eight days hence, on July 21.

Implied volatility stands at 25%, which is 2.5 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

FHN’s IV stands in the 52nd percentile of its annual range and the 48th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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PNC Analysis

The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC)

PNC publishes earnings on Friday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time eight days hence, on July 21.

Implied volatility stands at 23%, which is 2.3 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

PNC’s IV stands in the 46th percentile of its annual range and the 40th percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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INFY Analysis

Infosys Ltd. (INFY)

INFY publishes earnings on Friday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time eight days hence, on July 21.

Implied volatility stands at 32%, which is 3.2 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

INFY’s IV stands in the 55th percentile of its annual range and the peak of its most recent broad movement.

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JPM Analysis

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

Update 7/14/2017: JPM opened lower after earnings were published and then rose during the day to near it’s close of the prior session. A large decline in implied volatility made the position profitable, and I exited at 24.9% of maximum potential profit, my target level.

Shares showed a net decline of 0.7% during my one day holding period, or a -250% annual rate. The options position produced a +33.1% yield on debit for a +12,086% annual rate.


JPM publishes earnings on Friday before the opening bell.

I shall use options that trade for the last time eight days hence, on July 21.

Implied volatility stands at 19%, which is 1.9 times the VIX, a measure of the volatility of the S&P 500 index.

JPM’s IV stands in the 23rd percentile of its annual range and the 52nd percentile of its most recent broad movement.

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