Today’s tickers: LEAP, TUMI & FOSL
LEAP - Leap Wireless International, Inc. – The wireless carrier’s shares have been hard-hit in recent months, down more than 50% off the 2012 high of $11.29 as of the close of trading on Monday. The stock plunged another 22% this morning to touch down at a new 52-week low of $4.28 after the company reported a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss and revealed net subscriber losses of around 289,000 customers. Options on Leap Wireless International are more active than usual today, and it looks like one strategist is positioning to benefit from a recovery in the shares over the long term. Speculation the company may be a takeover target for one of the larger carriers has sparked sharp rallies in Leap’s shares in the past; perhaps the bull call spread initiated in the January 2014 expiry this morning is preparing to benefit from a potential repeat performance in the future. Regardless of the impetus for the position, the parameters appear to be as follows. The trader purchased a roughly 2,500-lot Jan. 2014 $5.0/$10 call spread at an average net premium of $1.10 per contract. Profits are available on the trade in the event LEAP shares surge 40% to top the average breakeven price of $6.10 at expiration. The maximum payoff on the position amounts to $3.90 per contract should the stock more than double to settle above $10.00 by expiration in January 2014.
TUMI - Tumi Holdings, Inc. – Shares in the provider of premium travel products and luggage jumped more than 22% today to $22.74 after the company posted better-than-expected earnings and sales for the second quarter. Pre-earnings bullish bets, including a block of 2,692 Aug. $20 call options purchased for a premium of $0.65 each yesterday morning, have roughly tripled in value overnight given the current premium on the $20 calls of $2.35 as of midday in New York. The stock still trades at a 14% discount to…
