Whale Alerts: Your Gateway to Trading Opportunities
In the fast-paced world of trading, where every second counts, having timely insights can make all the difference. One powerful tool that traders can utilize is the whale alert. This feature can help uncover significant trading opportunities, particularly when monitoring the activities of large investors, often referred to as “whales.”
Understanding Whales in Trading
Whales are entities that operate with vast sums of money. This group includes hedge funds, institutional investors, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Their transactions can sway market prices and reveal insights into market sentiment. Here at Benzinga, we track these transactions using our options activity scanner, allowing traders to stay ahead of market movements.
By observing the behaviors of these whales, savvy traders can identify moments when the market valuation of options deviates significantly from their typical worth. A surge in trade activity can lead to either exaggerated or underestimated option prices, creating lucrative opportunities for informed trading decisions.
Today’s Highlighted Options Activity
Let’s dive into the day’s notable options activity. The following list provides an overview of key trades happening in today’s session, showcasing varying sentiments across different stocks.
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Expiration Date | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTC | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 12/18/26 | $70.00 | $43.4K | 82.1K | 24.1K |
| TSM | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $315.00 | $84.0K | 2.3K | 9.0K |
| NVDA | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 03/20/26 | $185.00 | $129.5K | 31.7K | 6.5K |
| ONDS | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 01/15/27 | $30.00 | $244.3K | 0 | 5.5K |
| SNDK | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $400.00 | $30.2K | 3.1K | 5.1K |
| SMCI | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 01/15/27 | $75.00 | $416.0K | 16.9K | 2.0K |
| DDOG | PUT | TRADE | BEARISH | 01/09/26 | $127.00 | $31.0K | 95 | 1.5K |
| SWKS | PUT | TRADE | BULLISH | 01/15/27 | $47.50 | $720.0K | 131 | 1.5K |
| AVGO | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 02/20/26 | $350.00 | $34.0K | 8.4K | 1.1K |
| CRWV | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 01/16/26 | $75.00 | $26.6K | 2.4K | 721 |
Detailed Breakdown of Today’s Options
INTC (Intel Corporation)
The INTC call option shows a bullish sentiment, set to expire on December 18, 2026. A total of 100 contracts were traded at a $70.00 strike price for a total cost of $43.4K. There were 82,152 open contracts before today with 24,102 transactions occurring today, indicating a significant increase in activity.
TSM (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing)
For TSM, the call option reflects a bullish sentiment and expires on January 16, 2026. This was a sweep trade, broken into three parts due to its volume, totaling 70 contracts at $315.00 per strike. The total cost was $84.0K, with 9,043 contracts traded today, pointing to strong interest.
NVDA (NVIDIA Corporation)
The NVDA put option suggests a bearish sentiment, expiring on March 20, 2026. A significant sweep trade comprised of 100 contracts at a $185.00 strike resulted in a total cost of $129.5K. Prior to today, there were 31,704 contracts, with 6,581 changing hands today.
ONDS (Ondas Holdings)
The ONDS call option appears to indicate bearish sentiment despite being a call trade, expiring on January 15, 2027. A total of 700 contracts were traded at $30.00, with a total expenditure of $244.3K. Interestingly, there were no prior open contracts.
SNDK (Sandisk Corporation)
In contrast, SNDK presents a bullish sentiment with a call option expiring imminently on January 16, 2026. The trades report 36 contracts at $400.00 for a total cost of $30.2K and an impressive 5,135 contracts transacted today.
SMCI (Super Micro Computer)
The SMCI call option indicates a bullish projection, also expiring on January 15, 2027. 2,000 contracts at a $75.00 strike price generated $416.0K in trade.
DDOG (Datadog)
The DDOG put option reveals a bearish perspective, with 500 contracts traded today at a strike price of $127.00, costing $31.0K.
SWKS (Skyworks Solutions)
For SWKS, the put option signals a bullish sentiment with a striking price of $47.50, leading to a total trade of $720.0K.
AVGO (Broadcom Inc.)
Lastly, the AVGO call option shows bullish sentiment with 20 contracts at $350.00 for a cost of $34.0K against a backdrop of 8,452 open contracts.
CRWV (Cerevel Therapeutics)
The CRWV call option reflects neutral sentiment, evidencing steady interest with 40 contracts at a total trade value of $26.6K.
Options Alert Terminology
Understanding certain terms is essential when interpreting options activity:
- Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract.
- Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as designated in the contract.
- Expiration Date: The date by which the contract must be exercised.
- Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract itself.
For further insights into trading strategies and to decode unusual options activity, consider checking out our Guide to Understanding Options Alerts or exploring additional news on unusual options activity.
Benzinga remains committed to providing traders with the essential tools and insights they need to navigate the complex trading landscape effectively.