Now I have enough data to write a well-grounded options article.
Options activity this week points to two clear themes: semiconductor momentum plays and speculative retail positioning.
Micron Technology tops the screen for both negative options bets and bullish call flow over the past seven days. The stock is up 172% year-to-date. Traders are loading both sides ahead of its Q2 2026 results, with expiries clustered between May 18 and August 21. That dense options calendar signals heightened uncertainty about the chip cycle.
NVIDIA shows the second-highest negative bet volume among large caps. Despite a 26% YTD gain and a $5.7 trillion market cap, bearish flow is growing. Its next major earnings report is Q1 2027 — still distant — so this put activity looks like near-term hedging rather than fundamental fear.
GameStop stands out for a different reason. Its options score ranks among the highest in the screen. Days to cover sit at a lofty 17.9. Only six expiry dates are available through July. That thin options structure, combined with a 77 short score, creates squeeze-risk conditions familiar from 2021.
Cytokinetics is the wildcard. The biotech carries a 59 short score and 38% upside to analyst targets. Its options chain runs only to August 21. That sparse structure, paired with a high short score, suggests traders are pricing in a binary catalyst — likely a clinical readout.
Live Nation rounds out the notable names. With 10.3 days to cover and a 67 short score, bullish options bets are building in entertainment ahead of summer concert season.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
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.
