Looking At PepsiCo's Recent Unusual Options Activity

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on PepsiCo PEP.

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 PEP, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.

Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 8 options trades for PepsiCo.

This isn't normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 75%, bearish.

Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $32,800, and 7, calls, for a total amount of $854,189.

Expected Price Movements

After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $125.0 and $200.0 for PepsiCo, spanning the last three months.

Analyzing Volume & Open Interest

In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of PepsiCo stands at 762.5, with a total volume reaching 831.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in PepsiCo, situated within the strike price corridor from $125.0 to $200.0, throughout the last 30 days.

PepsiCo Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview

Significant Options Trades Detected:

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is a global leader in snacks and beverages, owning well-known household brands including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Lay's, Cheetos, and Doritos, among others. The company dominates the global savory snacks market and also ranks as the second-largest beverage provider in the world (behind Coca-Cola) with diversified exposure to carbonated soft drinks, or CSD, as well as water, sports, and energy offerings. Convenience foods account for approximately 55% of its total revenue, with beverages making up the rest. Pepsi owns the bulk of its manufacturing and distribution capacity in the United States and overseas. International markets make up 40% of total sales and one third of operating profits.

Having examined the options trading patterns of PepsiCo, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance

Where Is PepsiCo Standing Right Now?

• Currently trading with a volume of 2,345,576, the PEP's price is down by -0.01%, now at $166.54.
• RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
• Anticipated earnings release is in 14 days.

Expert Opinions on PepsiCo

Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $179.0.

• An analyst from Barclays has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on PepsiCo, which currently sits at a price target of $179.

Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.

If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for PepsiCo, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts.