Today’s tickers: YOKU, SWHC & HOT
YOKU - Youku Inc. – Shares in the largest video-sharing website in China have been going gangbusters since the start of the New Year, but a stock and option combination play on Youku Inc. this morning suggests fortunes may reverse when the Beijing-based Company reports fourth-quarter results next week. The stock has rallied 60.0% year-to-date, gaining 4.6% in today’s session to touch an intraday high of $25.90. At first glance, the large 9,231-lot Mar. $28/$30 debit call spread purchased for a premium of $0.45 per contract on YOKU looks like a bullish bet on the Internet stock. However, the sale of 120,003 shares of the underlying stock at $25.40 each linked to the call spread on a 13 delta paints a different picture. Rather than a bet YOKU will extend its run up, the call spread appears to be a hedge against that outcome. The bearish player is limiting losses faced on the upside while positioning to profit on the short stock leg of the transaction if shares in the video-sharing site slump going forward. YOKU reports earnings on Wednesday of next week after the close.
SWHC - Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. – Gun manufacturer, Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and raised full year net sales guidance after the bell on Thursday, sending shares in the name up as much as 25.0% to an intraday- and fresh 2-year high of $7.09 this morning. It looks like some options strategists who initiated bullish positions on the stock earlier in the week are making a killing today. One trader appears to be taking profits and establishing a new bullish stance on Smith & Wesson in the April expiry calls. Open interest patterns suggest the options player originally picked up 500…
