What Are Investors Doing with Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Options?

Investors with significant capital have taken a mostly bearish stance on Tesla (TSLA), which is something that other market participants should pay attention to. Recent tracking of public options transactions at Benzinga revealed a notable shift in investor sentiment towards TSLA.

Today, Benzinga's options scanner flagged an impressive 495 unusual options activities centered around Tesla. This surge in options trading is not typical and may indicate upcoming developments for the company.

The sentiment among these large investors is somewhat mixed, with 39% expressing bullish views while 48% are bearish on the stock. Specifically, they have executed 224 put options, valued at $13,701,711, compared to 271 call options amounting to $20,817,562.

Price Target Insights

Given the recent volume and open interest for these options contracts, it's evident that major investors or 'whales' have been eyeing a target price range from $150.00 to $520.00 for TSLA over the past three months.

Volume and Open Interest Analysis

Currently, the average open interest for Tesla's options is around 7621.59, with total trading volumes hitting 10,126,201.00. The accompanying charts illustrate the trends in both call and put options volume and the open interest within the significant strike price range from $150.00 to $520.00 over the last 30 days.

Recent Trends in TSLA Options

Here are some of the largest options trades recently observed:

Symbol	PUT/CALL	Trade Type	Sentiment	Expiration Date	Ask	Bid	Price	Strike Price	Total Trade Value	Open Interest	Volume
TSLA	CALL	SWEEP	BULLISH	11/15/24	$6.3	$6.2	$6.3	$275.00	$609.2K	14.0K	10.1K
TSLA	PUT	SWEEP	BEARISH	01/17/25	$21.05	$20.95	$21.0	$255.00	$369.6K	6.5K	837
TSLA	PUT	SWEEP	BULLISH	11/01/24	$29.15	$29.05	$29.05	$287.50	$261.7K	670	196
TSLA	CALL	SWEEP	BEARISH	11/01/24	$4.9	$4.85	$4.85	$260.00	$239.5K	10.6K	84.3K
TSLA	CALL	SWEEP	BULLISH	11/01/24	$4.3	$4.25	$4.3	$260.00	$200.6K	10.6K	78.5K

Overview of Tesla

Tesla is a leading manufacturer of battery electric vehicles and the creator of autonomous driving software. It boasts a diverse range of vehicles, including luxury sedans, crossover SUVs, light trucks, and even a semi-truck. The company plans to expand its offerings with more affordable models, a sports car, and a robotaxi. In 2023, Tesla delivered over 1.8 million vehicles worldwide and also manufactures batteries for residential and commercial energy storage, including solar panel installations.

Current Performance of Tesla

As of now, TSLA is being traded at $258.48, reflecting a decrease of 1.53%. The current trading volume stands at 59,716,884 shares. Technical analysis shows that the stock may be nearing overbought conditions, and its next earnings report is set to be released in 85 days.

Analyst Perspectives on Tesla

In the past month, insights from five analysts have led to an average price target for Tesla of around $143.972. Some analysts have expressed more cautious views, with one from Cantor Fitzgerald reducing its rating to Neutral, targeting a price of $245. Others have set even lower targets, indicating a more bearish sentiment.

Options trading carries greater risks compared to traditional stock trading but also offers the potential for higher profits. Skilled options traders often manage these risks through education, strategic trading, and careful market monitoring.

For those interested in staying updated on Tesla's options trades, several platforms provide real-time alerts.

investors, options, trading