Bullish Player Picks Up Verizon Call Spread

Today’s tickers: VZ, ALR, SIMG & NXPI VZ  - Verizon Communications, Inc. –  Activity in Verizon LEAPS suggests one strategist is positioning for shares in the communications company to trade at a substantially higher price by expiration in January 2013. Verizon’s shares are currently up 1.75% today to stand at $38.29 as of 12:15pm in New York. The stock is hovering just $0.66 below its 52-week high of $38.95 this afternoon, one day before Apple’s white iPhone 4 comes out. The phone will sell for a suggested retail price of $199 for the 16gb model at Verizon wireless stores in addition to AT&T stores and Apple’s online store. In VZ options, it looks like one bullish player purchased a call spread, picking up 4,000 deep in-the-money calls at the Jan. 2013 $35 strike at a premium of $4.86 each, and selling the same number of calls up at the Jan. 2013 $45 strike for a premium of $1.11 apiece. Net premium paid to initiate the spread amounts to $3.74 per contract, and positions the investor to make money above a breakeven share price of $38.74 through expiration in more than one year. Maximum potential profits of $6.26 per contract are available to the call-spreader should shares in VZ surge 17.5% over the next 20 months to exceed $45.00 at expiration. Verizon’s shares last traded above $45.00 back in December 2007. ALR  - Alere, Inc. –  The Waltham, MA-based medical supplies company with a focus in women’s health popped up on our scanners today after one trader initiated a large-volume spread in the January 2012 contract. Alere’s shares are down 2.6% at $37.57 just before 12:45pm. The company posted first-quarter earnings of $0.61 a share, which met analyst expectations, ahead of the opening bell this morning. It appears the investor responsible for…