J.C. Penney Co. shares are bucking the trend on Friday morning, trading up 2.7% at $9.64 amid a down day for equities. Fresh interest in September expiry call options on the beleaguered department store operator suggest one or more traders are positioning for the price of the underlying to potentially rally sharply during the next seven weeks.
The most traded series in JCP options are the Sep 12.0 strike calls, with upwards of 16,000 contracts in play against open interest of just 758 contracts. Time and sales data suggests most of the volume was purchased at a premium of $0.13 each within the first 10 minutes of the opening bell. Call buyers may profit at expiration next month if shares in JCP soar 26% over the current price of $9.64 to exceed the effective breakeven price of $12.13. Shares in the name last traded above $12.13 in September 2013. J.C. Penney is set to report second-quarter results after the close of trading on August 14th.
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