Bears Load Puts Ahead of Earnings Week

Options traders are piling into downside protection across several high-profile names. Multiple ORTEX signals show a clear bearish tilt heading into a busy earnings period.

NVDA tops the put-loading list. Bears have circled the chip giant repeatedly this week. The stock is up 23.5% year-to-date. That premium is exactly what options sellers fear into an earnings report.

ADBE is another focal point. The software maker has fallen 24% year-to-date. Its RSI sits near 49 — neutral, but negative options bets have ranked among the week's heaviest. Traders are not buying the dip yet.

LULU may carry the most stress. lululemon is down 52% year-to-date. Its RSI has dropped to 31.8 — deep in oversold territory. Short score sits at 49.7. Bears are pressing via puts, and short sellers are building positions simultaneously.

MU drew the highest raw negative options volume this week. Micron has surged 256% year-to-date. That rally makes it a prime target for protective puts ahead of its Q4 results.

CHWY and WOLF round out the bearish sweep. Both stocks carry elevated short scores. Options flow has turned negative across the board for smaller-cap names heading into reporting season.

The pattern is clear. Traders are buying insurance, not hunting upside. With earnings week arriving, the put/call skew favors caution across tech, apparel, and semiconductors alike.