Investors Turn Bearish on Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT)

Recent trading activity suggests that major financial players are adopting a bearish stance on Applied Materials, commonly referred to as AMAT. An in-depth examination of options trading history for AMAT has uncovered nine unusual trades that indicate a significant trend.

The details from our analysis reveal that only 11% of traders are taking a bullish approach, while a significant majority, 88%, are leaning bearish. Among the trades we observed, there were five put options with a total worth of $262,794, contrasted with four call options valued at $357,716.

Predicted Price Range

The trading activity implies that large investors are targeting a price range for Applied Materials between $145.0 and $200.0 over the past three months. This significant fluctuation range indicates a strategic perspective on where the stock may head in the near future.

Volume and Open Interest Analysis

Analyzing trading volume and open interest is crucial in understanding the liquidity and market sentiment for options tied to Applied Materials. Through this lens, we can derive essential insights into the active interest levels for various strike prices. Below, we provide a summary of the volume and open interest trends for both calls and puts concerning key trades in the $145.0 to $200.0 strike price range from the past month.

Options Activity Overview: Last 30 Days

Significant Options Activity:

Symbol	PUT/CALL	Trade Type	Sentiment	Exp. Date	Ask	Bid	Price	Strike Price	Total Trade Price	Open Interest	Volume
AMAT	CALL	SWEEP	BEARISH	12/20/24	$43.15	$40.5	$40.5	$145.00	$141.7K	62	0
AMAT	CALL	SWEEP	BEARISH	09/19/25	$20.85	$20.55	$20.55	$195.00	$127.4K	158	62
AMAT	PUT	SWEEP	BEARISH	03/21/25	$5.15	$4.9	$5.15	$160.00	$103.0K	615	200
AMAT	CALL	TRADE	BEARISH	02/21/25	$12.05	$11.95	$11.95	$185.00	$59.7K	561	111
AMAT	PUT	SWEEP	BEARISH	01/17/25	$12.2	$12.05	$12.2	$190.00	$58.5K	1.9K	53

About Applied Materials

Applied Materials is recognized as the leading manufacturer of semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment globally. The company offers an extensive range of products and services across the wafer fabrication ecosystem. Holding a dominant market share in deposition technology, Applied Materials primarily focuses on the application of new material layers on semiconductor wafers. The company has forged strong relationships with some of the largest chip manufacturers in the world, such as TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.

While we have closely monitored the options trading patterns of AMAT, it is equally important to assess the company's market performance.

Current Market Status of Applied Materials

• The current trading volume stands at 1,445,230, with AMAT experiencing a slight decrease of 0.61%, settling at $182.05.
• Recent Relative Strength Index (RSI) figures suggest that the stock is in a neutral zone, hovering between overbought and oversold conditions.
• The next earnings report is expected in 71 days.

Expert Analyst Ratings for Applied Materials

Over the last month, insights from five industry analysts have emerged, indicating an average target price of $205.8 for AMAT.

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Some key analyst insights include:

• A Morgan Stanley analyst maintains an Equal-Weight rating for Applied Materials with a target price of $179.
• Susquehanna maintains a Neutral rating with a target price of $170.
• Deutsche Bank holds a Hold rating with a $200 target price.
• TD Cowen assigns a Buy rating with a target price set at $230.
• In contrast, Cantor Fitzgerald has downgraded their rating to Overweight, now setting a price target of $250.

Options trading carries inherent risks compared to traditional stock trading, yet it offers the potential for greater rewards. Experienced options traders mitigate this risk by educating themselves, managing positions carefully, and monitoring various market indicators closely.

For those looking to stay informed on the latest options trading activities related to Applied Materials, real-time alerts are available to streamline this process.

investors, bearish, options