Ctrip.Com Put Buyers Active Ahead of Earnings
Ctrip.com stock has a mixed history of earnings reactions
The shares of Ctrip.Com International Ltd (NASDAQ:CTRP) are up 1.5% this afternoon at $34.66. The online travel site is slated to report earnings after the market closes this Monday, Sept. 9. Below, we will take a look as to how the stock has been faring on the charts, as well as what the options market is pricing in for the equity's post-earnings move.
CTRP has been rapidly moving lower in recent months, down more than 25% from its mid-April annual high of $46.50. The selling stalled near the $31 region in late August, but a bounce from here is encountering pressure near $34-$35 region, home to the stock's 30-day moving average and Aug. 5 bear gap highs.
Long puts have been popular among CTRP options traders. This is per the stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 2.21 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). This ratio ranks in the 89th percentile of its annual range, indicating puts have been bought to open over calls at an accelerated clip.
Looking at CTRP's earnings history, the security has closed lower the day after earnings five times over the past eight quarters. However, this past March, the stock closed 19.8% higher the next day. This time around, the options market is pricing in a one-day, post-earnings swing of 10.1%, regardless of direction, compared to an average post-earnings move of 7.3% over the past two years.
Elsewhere on Wall Street, analysts have been overwhelmingly optimistic toward Ctrip.com stock. As of last night's close, 11 of 16 covering firms were sporting a "buy" or "strong buy" rating on the security. Meanwhile, the stock's average 12-month price target of $44.93 comes in 29% above current trading levels.