Both names recently hit new lows
The U.S. stock market is soaring -- with the S&P 500 Index (SPX) fresh off a record high -- following this morning's jobs report. Among specific stocks making notable moves are oil-and-gas expert California Resources Corp (NYSE:CRC) and tobacco name Turning Point Brands Inc (NYSE:TPB). Here's a quick look at what's moving the shares of CRC and TPB.
California Resources stock is at the top of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, up 39.2% at $7.78. This comes after the company reported an adjusted third-quarter profit of 35 cents per share, compared to the consensus estimate for a per-share loss of 32 cents. Total costs for the three-month period also fell by $110 million year-over-year to $533 million.
Longer term, though, CRC stock is still down 54.2% on a year-to-date basis, and hit a three-year low of $4.68 just yesterday. Several options traders are betting on the $5 level to continue to serve as a floor for the shares, at least over the next two weeks. Amid heavy trading today, the November 5 put is most active, and it looks like speculators may be selling to open the options.
Turning Point stock has surged 20.4% to trade at $25.12, after the company announced a strategic review of its vaping distribution business, saying recent headlines have "dramatically disrupted" its third-party vaping distribution. TPB also reported third-quarter revenue of $96.8 million, well above the $80.6 million expected by analysts.
TPB stock had been selling off since hitting an all-time peak above $57 in early July, and bottomed at an 18-month low of $20.11 on Wednesday. Today's pop has the shares paring their year-to-date deficit to 8.9%, and at least some options traders are eyeing an even bigger bounce.
While volume is light on an absolute basis, options are crossing 11 times the expected intraday rate. Buy-to-open activity is detected at the November 30 call, meaning traders expect Turning Point shares to climb back above the $30 mark by expiration at the close on Friday, Nov. 15.