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The options activity may be turning bullish in Apple as the smart-phone giant rolls out the iPhone 14.
Some 1.1 million call contracts traded in AAPL yesterday. That was the most since the earnings came out in late July, according to TradeStation data.
Our analytics shows another trend in the put/call ratio, which climbed above 1 last month for the first time in at least five years. That bearish signal has reversed sharply this month as a series of positive headlines boost sentiment toward the stock. (See chart below.)
(Increased call volume is potentially bullish because they fix the price where investors can purchase a security. Puts are just the opposite because they give traders the right to sell. The put/call ratio compares volumes in the two kinds of options. Higher readings are typically considered bearish. It’s not a precise measure of buying and selling but it can give a general picture of sentiment.)
Yesterday’s most active options were the short-term weekly calls expiring this Friday. The 16-September 165 calls traded more than 159,000 contracts against open interest of 98,934. The 16 September 162.50 calls changed hands more than 129,000 times, about 5 times the previous positioning.
AAPL closed at $163.43 on Monday, up 3.85 percent — its biggest gain since May 27. The move came after the company revealed the new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max aren’t available for delivery until mid-October. Several analyst said the data showed strong demand for the new handset, especially compared with the previous iPhone 13.
“The extended lead times are especially impressive given that Apple has increased iPhone prices in some regions,” BofA Securities said in a note on Monday.
Wall Street also noticed longer wait times for the higher-priced Pro and Max models, which could potentially boost quarterly revenue. China appears to be especially strong after CEO Tim Cook opted not to raise prices in the country. That may relieve investors worried that China’s weak economy would hurt iPhone demand.
At least two other positive stories have emerged for AAPL in the last week:
In conclusion, AAPL has drifted for months as investors worry about higher interest rates, supply-chain problems and weakness in China. But Wall Street seems to be viewing recent developments favorably, and options traders could be following the trend.
Options trading is not suitable for all investors. Your TradeStation Securities’ account application to trade options will be considered and approved or disapproved based on all relevant factors, including your trading experience. See Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Visit www.TradeStation.com/Pricing for full details on the costs and fees associated with options.
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