Watch These 8 Huge Put Purchases In Thursday Trade

Benzinga's newsdesk monitors options activity to notice unusual patterns. These large volume (and often out of the money) trades were initially published intraday in Benzinga Professional . These trades were placed during Wednesday’s regular session.

• QEP Resources Inc QEP Feb 17.0 Puts Sweep: 1944 @ ASK $0.70: 8767 traded vs 1 OI: Earnings 2/22 After Close (est) $17.81 Ref
• Transocean LTD RIG Jan 15.5 Puts Sweep: 1781 @ ASK $0.251: 5030 traded vs 692 OI: Earnings 2/22 After Close (est) $15.85 Ref
• GNC Holdings Inc GNC Feb 10.0 Puts Sweep: 1107 @ ASK $0.75: 5446 traded vs 783 OI: Earnings 2/9 Before Open (est) $11.11 Ref
• SeaWorld Entertainment Inc SEAS Mar 19.0 Puts: 5000 @ ASK $1.15: 5000 traded vs 306 OI: Earnings 2/23 Before Open (est) $18.87 Ref
• Best Buy Co Inc BBY Jan 41.0 Puts Sweep: 662 @ ASK $0.22: 1041 traded vs 331 OI: Earnings 2/23 Before Open (est) $43.68 Ref
• Southwest Airlines Co LUV Feb 50.0 Puts Sweep: 1843 @ ASK $1.40: 1898 traded vs 672 OI: Earnings 1/26 Before Open (est) $51.74 Ref
• Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. (ADR) TSM Jan 29.0 Puts Sweep: 1500 @ ASK $0.40: 1500 traded vs 778 OI: Earnings Today Before Open $29.79 Ref
• Himax Technologies, Inc. (ADR) HIMX Mar $8 Put; 5000 @Bid @$2.10; Ref=$6.00