Switch Call Options Pop After Rare Upgrade

Most analysts are skeptical of the long-term laggard

Raymond James upgraded Switch Inc (NYSE:SWCH) to "strong buy" from "market perform," while maintaining its $11.50 price target -- a nearly 63% premium to last night's close. The brokerage firm said SWCH shares look "compelling" following yesterday's earnings-induced bear gap, and the data center operator's "assets have significantly better operational potential than the current price reflects."

After plunging 23.7% Wednesday on a negative earnings reaction -- and hitting a record low of $7 in intraday trading -- SWCH stock is up 11.6% today to trade at $7.89, set for its biggest one-day gain on record. Nevertheless, the shares have been in a long-term downtrend, off 56.6% year-to-date.

Not surprisingly, sentiment toward SWCH is mostly skeptical, with the majority of analysts in coverage calling the stock a tepid "hold." Plus, the 7.75 million shares sold short represent a healthy 17.3% of the stock's available float.

However, bulls are blasting Switch's typically quiet options pits today. Roughly 760 calls and 360 puts have changed hands so far, more than double the average daily amount. Speculators may be buying to open new positions at the November 8 call for a volume-weighted average price of $0.10, which would make breakeven for the call buyers at tomorrow's close $8.10 (strike plus premium paid).