Stocks

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on GOOGL Options

Published November 7, 2024

Investors with significant financial resources, often referred to as "market whales," are showing a bullish outlook on Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL). This trend in investor behavior is something that those in the market should take seriously. Recent data collected from options trading records reveals a major shift in sentiment towards GOOGL options, indicating potential movements in the stock's future.

Analysis from market surveillance indicates that there has been unusual trading activity concerning Alphabet's options today. Specifically, there were 9 notable actions detected through a comprehensive options scanner, highlighting an active interest level that is not typically seen.

The sentiment among these larger investors reflects a general division: 55% are betting on upward trends (bullish), while 33% have taken a more cautious or negative stance (bearish). When categorizing the type of trades, it becomes clear that there are 2 put options (indicating a betting against price increases) with a combined value of $124,452, while there are 7 call options (betting on price increases) totaling $474,678.

Projected Price Levels for Alphabet

Considering the recent volumes and open interest surrounding these options contracts, it appears that these market whales are targeting a price range between $150.00 and $360.00 for GOOGL over the last three months.

Understanding Volume and Open Interest

Monitoring volume and open interest in options can provide valuable insights for investors. This data helps assess the liquidity and overall interest in GOOGL's options trading, particularly at specific strike prices.

Options Activity Overview: Recent Highlights

During the last month, the volume and open interest have displayed significant trends in trading behavior. The following section outlines some of the most impactful options activities observed:

Key Options Transactions:

Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Expiration Date Ask Price Bid Price Price Strike Price Trade Total Open Interest Volume
GOOGL CALL Trade Bullish 02/21/25 $23.00 $23.00 $23.00 $160.00 $172.5K 1,600 75
GOOGL CALL Sweep Bullish 06/18/26 $27.35 $27.30 $27.35 $185.00 $103.9K 418 53
GOOGL CALL Sweep Bullish 01/17/25 $1.30 $1.29 $1.29 $200.00 $71.5K 89,300 1,700
GOOGL PUT Sweep Bearish 02/21/25 $9.70 $9.65 $9.65 $180.00 $70.4K 386 103
GOOGL PUT Trade Bearish 04/17/25 $9.00 $8.95 $9.00 $175.00 $54.0K 260 60

About Alphabet Inc.

Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of the prominent internet corporation Google. The California-based company generates nearly 90% of its revenue from Google-related services, primarily from advertising sales. In addition to online advertising, Alphabet earns through its subscription services (like YouTube TV and YouTube Music), its platforms (app sales and in-app purchases via Play Store), and various hardware devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, smart home products such as Chromecast). Furthermore, Alphabet's cloud services contribute around 10% of its revenues, with investments extending into emerging technologies like self-driving vehicles (Waymo), healthcare (Verily), and connectivity initiatives (Google Fiber).

Given the recent options data, it is crucial to review how Alphabet as a company is performing in the current market.

Current Financial Standing of Alphabet

  • GOOGL is currently trading at $178.20, reflecting a 0.96% increase in its stock price.
  • The Relative Strength Index (RSI) signals that the stock may be overbought at this time.
  • Upcoming earnings are expected to be reported in 82 days.

Analyst Ratings for Alphabet

Within the past month, five professional analysts have evaluated the stock, resulting in an average price target of $203.00.

Investment strategies vary:

  • An analyst from Needham has cautiously downgraded their rating to a Buy with a target price of $210.
  • Truist Securities maintains a Buy rating with a price target of $220.
  • RBC Capital continues to assign an Outperform rating with a price target of $210.
  • Bernstein holds a Market Perform rating for GOOGL, targeting $185.
  • Concerns have led an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald to adjust their rating to Neutral with a new price target of $190.

Trading options can have risks along with potential rewards. Investors who want to succeed in the market often benefit from ongoing education, strategy adjustments, tracking various indicators, and staying alert to market trends.

Stay updated on the latest in GOOGL options trading for informed decision-making.

options, investors, trading