SmileDirectClub Sell-Off Sparks Red-Hot Options Volume

SDC stock slipped into single-digit territory for the first time ever earlier

It's been a terrible week for SmileDirectClub Inc (NASDAQ:SDC) stock, which is headed toward its fourth straight loss today -- down 8.3% at $10.06, and earlier sinking into single-digit territory for the first time ever. While one short seller is targeting even more downside for the teledentistry stock, today's options traders are betting on a quick bounce.

With roughly 90 minutes left in today's trading, 33,150 calls are on the tape -- eight times what's typically seen at this point, and a new record high. The November 10 call is most active, and it looks like new positions are being purchased here for a volume-weighted average price of $1.73. If this is the case, breakeven for the call buyers at the close on Friday, Nov. 15, is $11.73 (strike plus premium paid).

Bulls also appear to be initiating new positions at the 10-strike call in the October and January 2020 series, while buy-to-open activity is also detected at the November 12.50 call. This optimism is just more of the same for SDC options traders, per the stock's top-heavy 10-day call/put volume ratio of 2.26 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX).

This upbeat outlook is shared by the analyst community, too, with all nine covering brokerages maintaining a "strong buy" rating on SmileDirectClub. Plus, the average 12-month price target of $21.78 is a nearly 116% premium to SDC stock's current price. Should the equity continue to struggle, a shift in sentiment could create bigger headwinds for the shares.