HPQ ($34.80) reports their fiscal Q3 on Aug 18th after the close.
-The options market is currently implying about a 5% move following earnings vs the 4 qtr average move of about 5.3%.
-Stock is one of the worst performing names in the Dow Jones Industrial Avg down 17% ytd and down almost 30% from this years high.
-Technically the stock is sitting at a massive support level dating back to mid 2009 and about to complete a huge wedge.
[caption id="attachment_3729" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="3 Yr HPQ chart from Bloomberg LP"]
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MY VIEW: company has had its share of problems dating back to last summer when they abruptly lost their CEO savior Mark Hurd, coupled with some substantial earnings misses. They might have lowered their guidance just enough given their rock bottom valuation that any good news could send the stock back to $40, but any continued mishaps and you could see a final puke similar to that of RIMM or NOK. I think there is a distinct possibility that the stock moves given the high level of uncertainty regarding the name….Wall Street analysts are mixed with with 17 Buys, 22 Holds and 2 Sells.
-Vols look fair as we head into the earnings event, with at the money implieds offered at about 32.50 vs the 60 day realized of about 25. I want to Buy this implied move.
2 trade suggestions if you agree that earnings could cause the stock to move:
TRADE: HPQ ($34.80) BUY Aug 34 / 36 Strangle for 1.37 (I just bought this small not high conviction but I like owning this vol especially when you consider the potential for a near-term puke in the overall market, also very interested in Put Spreads)
-Buy Aug 34 Put for .74
-Buy Aug 36 Call for .63
Break-Even on Aug Exp:
Upside: btwn 36 and 37.37 lose up to 1.37 above 37.37 (up 6.5%) have unlimited profit potential
Downside: btwn 35 and 32.63 lose up to 1.37, below 32.63 (down 6.5%) have profit potential to zero.
Worst Case: btwn 34 and 36 lose 1.37
Likelihood of losing all the premium isn’t great as one of those options is probably going to be in the money even if the stock doesn’t realize an out-sized move.
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OR Pick A Direction, My Choice would be down, commit small amount of premium and play for a puke.
HPQ ($34.80) Buy the Aug 33/31 Put Spread for .32
-Buy Aug 33 Put for .49 and
-Sell Aug 31 Put at .17
Break-Even On Aug Expiration:
Downside: btwn 33 and 32.68 lose up to .32, btwn 32.68 and 31 make up to 1.68 and below 31 make full 1.68 or over 5x your money.
Upside: 33 and above lose .32
***check back as I am going to do a deeper dive on the fundamentals.
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