Today’s tickers: EMN, SOA & OSK
EMN - Eastman Chemical Co. – Investors cheered the deal announced by Eastman Chemical Co. and Solutia, Inc., sending shares in both companies up sharply on Friday. Eastman will reportedly pay $3.38 billion for Solutia, the largest takeover in the diversified chemicals space in more than two years. EMN’s shares are currently up 6.0% to stand at $49.93 as of 11:30 a.m., and have rallied nearly 25.0% since the start of the New Year. Options activity on Eastman following news of the deal suggests some strategists expect shares in the manufacturer of chemicals, plastics and fibers to extend gains in coming months. Investors are favoring call options on EMN, exchanging more than 2.3 calls on the stock for every one put option in play. Call volume is heaviest in the March expiry, more specifically at the $50 and $52.5 strike prices. Nearly 3,000 calls have changed hands at the Mar. $50 strike against open interest of 379 positions. It looks like most of these contracts were purchased for an average premium of $3.10 each, thus positioning buyers to profit in the event that Eastman’s shares rally another 6.3% to surpass the average breakeven price of $53.10 by expiration. Bullish activity spread to the higher Mar. $52.5 strike, where investors appear to have purchased more than 1,000 calls at an average premium of $1.42 apiece. Higher-strike call buyers may profit at March expiration if shares in the chemical producer surge 8.0% to exceed the average breakeven price of $53.92. Eastman’s shares last traded above $53.92 back in May 2011. The Company reported fourth-quarter and full year earnings after the closing bell yesterday.
SOA - Solutia, Inc. – Shares in St. Louis, Missouri-based Solutia, Inc. jumped 43.0% to an…
