Qualcomm Strangle Suggests Range-Bound Shares Until October Expiration

Today’s tickers: QCOM, ETFC, CAL, SLB, AUY, EEM, ADSK, NFLX & JNPR QCOM - Qualcomm, Inc. – Options activity on the digital wireless communications products and services firm indicates shares of the underlying stock could remain range-bound through October expiration. Qualcomm’s shares are down more than 2% to $37.72 with approximately one hour remaining in the trading session. Analysts at Credit Suisse maintain a ‘neutral’ rating on the stock, but slashed its target share price for QCOM to $40.00 from $45.00 and lowered its earnings guidance for 2010 and 2011. According to one options investor, Qualcomm’s shares are likely to trade within a certain range for the next eight months. The trader acted on the range-bound prediction by selling a strangle. The investor sold 10,000 puts at the October $35 strike for a premium of $2.30 each and shed 10,000 calls at the higher October $44 strike for a premium of $1.30 apiece. Gross premium pocketed by the strangler amounts to $3.60 per contract. The trader keeps the full amount of premium only if Qualcomm’s shares trade above $35.00 and below $44.00 through expiration. The premium received acts as a limited buffer against losses should shares swing above or below the strike prices described above. However, losses accumulate for the investor if shares rally above the upper breakeven price of $47.60, or if the stock falls below the lower breakeven point at $31.40 ahead of expiration day in October. Qualcomm’s share price exceeded the upper breakeven point as recently as January 21, 2010, when the stock traded as high as $49.00. Finally, shares have not traded lower than $31.40 – the lower breakeven price on the strangle – since December 5, 2008, when the stock dipped down to $29.33. ETFC - E*Trade Financial Corp. – Shares of the financial services firm are down 0.65% to $1.54 in late afternoon trading, but options activity on the stock was initiated by bullish investors positioning for a rebound in share price. One optimistic individual established a ratio call spread in the October contract. The trader bought 5,000 call options at the October $2.0 strike for a premium of $0.18 each and sold 10,000 calls at the higher October $3.0 strike for about $0.04 apiece. The investor paid a net premium of $0.10 per contract for the transaction, but stands ready to accrue maximum potential profits of $0.90 per contract if E*Trade’s share price rallies to $3.00 by…