Intel closed at USD 105.45, gaining 8.64%.
Following the significant single-day gain, notable large options trades emerged, led by a multi-million dollar bullish put spread and a substantial bearish put purchase, framing a complex but net-positive institutional sentiment.
>>>Click to claim your commission-free cards before trading!
Options Indicators
INTC’s implied volatility is 108.36%, and with an IV percentile of 100.00%, current option volatility sits at the extreme high end of its recent range, indicating that options are priced expensively rather than cheaply. With the IV/HV ratio at 1.53, implied volatility is running well above historical volatility, showing that the options market is embedding substantially richer forward volatility expectations than what the stock has recently realized. The Call/Put volume ratio is 1.87.
Large Trades
A bullish put-spread structure worth $13.32 million was the largest displayed trade, pairing the sale of 3,150 June 17, 2027 $95.00 puts with the purchase of 3,150 January 15, 2027 $95.00 puts. Both strikes sit out of the money versus the $105.45 reference stock price, and the position was classified as a Bull Put Spread with a bullish bias. This kind of same-strike, different-expiration put combination reflects a premium-oriented bullish stance, expressing confidence that INTC can remain above $95.00 while also shaping downside exposure through the longer-dated protective put leg. Strategically, it points to a constructive outlook with defined risk characteristics rather than an outright aggressive upside chase.
A put buy worth $3.90 million was the other highlighted trade, consisting of 2,500 January 15, 2027 $90.00 puts purchased outright. With the stock at $105.45, the $90.00 strike is out of the money, so this buyer is paying premium for downside protection or a bearish directional bet that requires a meaningful decline over time. As a single-leg long put, the message is straightforward: the trader is positioning for downside risk in INTC or hedging an existing long equity exposure, and the size makes it a notable bearish expression even though the strike is below the current share price.
Overall sentiment across all large trades leaned bullish, with $22.35 million in bullish flow versus $15.47 million in bearish flow, leaving a net bullish difference of $6.88 million. The directional read is moderately constructive rather than overwhelmingly aggressive: bullish activity was led by the large premium-collecting bull put spread and reinforced by call buying, while bearish flow was still meaningful through put buying and bearish call structures. Taken together, the large-trade profile suggests investors see support underneath the stock and are willing to position for stability to upside, but they are also keeping downside hedges and selective bearish views in place.
Strategy Reference
For premium sellers seeking low assignment probability, selling an out-of-the-money put like the $90.00 strike could be considered, while a vertical spread using the $95.00 and $90.00 strikes could define risk and reduce margin requirements for those with a cautiously bullish view.
Comments