Calls Hot After Goldman Upgrades Qorvo Stock

The stock is rising on Apple and Micron tailwinds, too

The shares of Qorvo Inc (NASDAQ:QRVO) are trading up 7.7% at $74.45, thanks in part to tailwinds from newly upgraded Apple (AAPL) stock and a post-earnings Micron (MU). An upbeat analyst note for QRVO is only fanning the bullish flames -- and sparking a surge in intraday call trading.

Looking closer at that analyst note, Goldman Sachs upgraded QRVO stock to "buy" from "neutral" and raised its price target to $79 from $66. The brokerage firm said stabilizing smartphone demand and the shift to 5G technology could be positive catalysts for the security.

Plenty of analysts are still skeptical of of Qorvo stock, with 11 of 20 maintaining a "hold" or worse recommendation at last night's close. Plus, the average 12-month price target of $71.10 is a discount to current trading levels.

Options traders, meanwhile, have an unusual preference toward calls set to expire in the next three months. The stock's Schaeffer's put/call volume ratio (SOIR) of 0.34 ranks in the 16th annual percentile, indicating short-term speculators have been more call-heavy than usual toward QRVO.

This trend is continuing today, with roughly 3,850 calls traded so far -- 13 times the average intraday amount, and 15 times the number of puts on the tape. The April 70 call is most active, and it looks like new positions are being initiated at this in-the-money option.

On the charts, Qorvo stock has retraced 61.8% of its sell-off from an Aug. 7 peak at $86.50 to a Jan. 3 low of $54.74. The shares are boasting a 22.6% year-to-date gain, and are on track to close north of their 200-day moving average for the first time since Nov. 1.