Options sentiment in the US market is shifting as several key catalysts drive unusual positioning this session.
Corning grabbed headlines with a $3 billion fiber cable deal with AT&T. The agreement covers AT&T's network expansion plans. Options traders often front-run large contract announcements. Corning is up 73% year-to-date. That run leaves the stock exposed to sharp reversals if momentum fades.
AT&T carries a 4.46% forward yield. It sits flat on the year. Defensive income names like AT&T tend to attract put buyers when rates move higher. The telco's Q3 earnings call is approaching.
In cybersecurity, Barclays raised its target on Zscaler to $220. ZS is down 11% in 2026. Analysts see only 5% upside to the new target. That narrow gap often generates hedging activity in the options market.
Among high-short-score names, Dave Inc. stands out. It carries a short score of 68 and days-to-cover of 5.8. The stock is up 45% year-to-date. High short interest combined with strong price gains creates squeeze conditions. Call options volume in names like this tends to spike ahead of earnings.
Riot Platforms is up 71% for the year. Its short score sits at 57. Crypto-linked names attract speculative options flow. Micron Technology tops the negative-bets screen this week. The chipmaker is up 269% in 2026. Profit-taking via put spreads is a common strategy after such moves.
ORTEX Market Intelligence content is generated by AI from a snapshot of ORTEX's proprietary data. Content is informational only and does not constitute investment advice.
