IBM Unusual Options Activity

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on IBM IBM.

And retail traders should know.

We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.

Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with IBM, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.

Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 14 options trades for IBM.

This isn't normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 50% bullish and 50%, bearish.

Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $39,750, and 13, calls, for a total amount of $458,065.

What's The Price Target?

Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $130.0 to $210.0 for IBM over the recent three months.

Volume & Open Interest Development

In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of IBM stands at 1724.56, with a total volume reaching 1,157.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in IBM, situated within the strike price corridor from $130.0 to $210.0, throughout the last 30 days.

IBM Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview

Biggest Options Spotted:

About IBM

IBM looks to be a part of every aspect of an enterprise's IT needs. The company primarily sells software, IT services, consulting, and hardware. IBM operates in 175 countries and employs approximately 350,000 people. The company has a robust roster of 80,000 business partners to service 5,200 clients—which includes 95% of all Fortune 500. While IBM is a B2B company, IBM's outward impact is substantial. For example, IBM manages 90% of all credit card transactions globally and is responsible for 50% of all wireless connections in the world.

Following our analysis of the options activities associated with IBM, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.

Where Is IBM Standing Right Now?

• With a trading volume of 737,141, the price of IBM is up by 0.25%, reaching $183.87.
• Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.
• Next earnings report is scheduled for 71 days from now.

Professional Analyst Ratings for IBM

Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $196.6.

• In a positive move, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group has upgraded their rating to Outperform and adjusted the price target to $200.
• An analyst from BMO Capital persists with their Market Perform rating on IBM, maintaining a target price of $210.
• Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from RBC Capital keeps a Outperform rating on IBM with a target price of $200.
• An analyst from Stifel has decided to maintain their Buy rating on IBM, which currently sits at a price target of $183.
• Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Stifel keeps a Buy rating on IBM with a target price of $190.

Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest IBM options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.