Call Traders View Opportunity in Nike Stock's Plummet

Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) capped off earnings reports for 2023 with better-than-expected second-quarter profits of $1.03 per share, though revenue missed the mark. The retailer also slashed its annual forecast and noted it will cut hundreds of jobs to save $2 billion in the next three years, as consumers remain cautious and online sales lag, spurring more promotions.

NKE was last seen down 10.3% at $109.87, following a downgrade from TD Cowen to "perform" from "outperform," and a price-target cut to $104 from $129. Another five firms cut their price objectives as well, while two raised theirs. Coming into today, 20 of the 28 analysts covering Nike stock rated it a "buy" or better.

The shares are today gapping below the 40-day moving average for the first time since early October, pivoting lower from their highest level since May as they eye their worst day since September 2022. For 2023, Nike stock now carries a more than 6% deficit.

Options traders are viewing this pullback as an opportunity. So far today, 92,000 calls and 75,000 puts have crossed the tape, volume that 21 times what is typically seen at this point. The weekly 12/22 110-strike call is the most popular contract, with positions being opened there and expiring at the close.

Nike stock is no stranger to bullish activity. The security's Schaeffer’s open interest ratio (SOIR) sits in the 2nd percentile of its annual range, pointing to a particularly strong call bias amongst short-term options traders.