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Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Occidental Petroleum.

Looking at options history for Occidental Petroleum OXY we detected 10 trades.

If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 40% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 60% with bearish.

From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $146,300 and 6, calls, for a total amount of $255,160.

Predicted Price Range

Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $50.0 to $55.0 for Occidental Petroleum over the last 3 months.

Insights into Volume & Open Interest

Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Occidental Petroleum’s options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Occidental Petroleum’s substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $50.0 to $55.0 over the preceding 30 days.

Occidental Petroleum 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot

Biggest Options Spotted:

About Occidental Petroleum

Occidental Petroleum is an independent exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East. At the end of 2023, the company reported net proved reserves of nearly 4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Net production averaged 1,234 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2023 at a ratio of roughly 50% oil and natural gas liquids and 50% natural gas.

In light of the recent options history for Occidental Petroleum, it’s now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.

Present Market Standing of Occidental Petroleum

• With a trading volume of 4,452,147, the price of OXY is up by 0.61%, reaching $51.85.
• Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.
• Next earnings report is scheduled for 82 days from now.

What Analysts Are Saying About Occidental Petroleum

Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $65.6.

Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move

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* An analyst from Susquehanna has decided to maintain their Positive rating on Occidental Petroleum, which currently sits at a price target of $65.
* Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Raymond James continues to hold a Strong Buy rating for Occidental Petroleum, targeting a price of $78.
* An analyst from Stephens & Co. has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Occidental Petroleum, which currently sits at a price target of $71.
* An analyst from JP Morgan downgraded its action to Neutral with a price target of $56.
* An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Occidental Petroleum, which currently sits at a price target of $58.

Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Occidental Petroleum options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.

Despite flat earnings and challenging market conditions, Cresco Labs Inc. CRLBF remains an “Overweight” stock, according to analysis firm Zuanic & Associates. In his latest report, Zuanic underscores Cresco’s strong positioning in emerging adult-use markets such as Pennsylvania and Ohio while identifying valuation advantages that set the company apart.

Cresco trades at 5.5x forward EBITDA, below Green Thumb Industries Inc. GTBIF at 7x and Curaleaf Holdings Inc. CURLF at 10x. 

“This discount presents an appealing entry point for investors looking beyond short-term volatility,” Zuanic writes.

• Get Benzinga’s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can’t afford to miss out if you’re serious about the business.

Market Dynamics: Cresco In The Tier 1 Landscape

Zuanic’s report benchmarks Cresco against other Tier 1 multi-state operators (MSOs), including Green Thumb, Trulieve Cannabis Corp. TCNNF, Verano Holdings Corp. VRNOF, and Curaleaf. 

While Cresco’s third-quarter revenue of $180 million fell 2% sequentially, the decline aligns with broader industry trends, with peers like Curaleaf and Verano posting declines of 3% and 5%, respectively. By contrast, Green Thumb achieved a 2% increase, reaching $287 million.

Adjusted EBITDA margins further illustrate Cresco’s position: the company held steady at 29% in Q3, compared to Green Thumb at 31% (-200 basis points) and Trulieve at 34% (-100 basis points). However, Cresco lags in adjusted cash flow. 

Its negative $3 million adjusted figure for the first nine months of 2024, factoring in tax liabilities, contrasts sharply with Green Thumb’s $139 million (17% of sales) and Trulieve’s $37 million (4% of sales). Zuanic highlights cash flow conversion as a critical area where Cresco ‘lags’ its competitors.” 

Read Also: Nebraska’s Cannabis Legalization Faces Courtroom Showdown Over Alleged Fraud

Valuation Analysis: Digging Into The Numbers

Cresco’s valuation metrics reveal potential upside. Its enterprise value (EV) to current sales ratio stands at 1.6x, lower than Curaleaf and Green Thumb, both at 2.2x. This discount extends to EV-to-EBITDA multiples, with Cresco trading at 5.5x compared to Green Thumb at 7x and Curaleaf at 10x. 

These figures include tax liabilities, financial net debt, and other obligations. “Cresco’s lower EV multiples, alongside its gross cash holdings of $157 million, make it a compelling value play among Tier 1 operators,” Zuanic explains.

Strategic Hurdles And Growth Catalysts

Despite these advantages, Zuanic identifies several hurdles. Cresco’s total leverage, including financial and tax liabilities, amounts to 80% of trailing sales, the highest among Tier 1 MSOs. In contrast, Green Thumb’s leverage is just 9%. Moreover, while Cresco holds promising positions in Pennsylvania and Ohio, Zuanic emphasizes the need for a strategic partner to close the scale gap with peers like Green Thumb and Curaleaf. “A partnership would help Cresco achieve operational efficiencies and capitalize on upcoming recreational markets,” he notes.

Zuanic’s projections account for regulatory uncertainty, including delays in Pennsylvania’s adult-use legalization timeline to mid-2026 and the potential impact of federal rescheduling challenges. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic about Cresco’s long-term prospects. “We see Cresco as a buy for investors with a one-to-two-year horizon, particularly given its discounted valuation,” he concludes.

For a deeper dive into his methodology and projections, visit Zuanic & Associates’ research portal.

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Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Meta Platforms. Our analysis of options history for Meta Platforms META revealed 34 unusual trades.

Delving into the details, we found 52% of traders were bullish, while 32% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 5 were puts, with a value of $1,346,507, and 29 were calls, valued at $1,577,731.

Projected Price Targets

Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $5.0 to $700.0 for Meta Platforms over the recent three months.

Volume & Open Interest Trends

Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Meta Platforms’s options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Meta Platforms’s significant trades, within a strike price range of $5.0 to $700.0, over the past month.

Meta Platforms Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days

Largest Options Trades Observed:

About Meta Platforms

Meta is the largest social media company in the world, boasting close to 4 billion monthly active users worldwide. The firm’s “Family of Apps,” its core business, consists of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. End users can leverage these applications for a variety of different purposes, from keeping in touch with friends to following celebrities and running digital businesses for free. Meta packages customer data, gleaned from its application ecosystem and sells ads to digital advertisers. While the firm has been investing heavily in its Reality Labs business, it remains a very small part of Meta’s overall sales.

In light of the recent options history for Meta Platforms, it’s now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.

Present Market Standing of Meta Platforms

• Trading volume stands at 6,535,996, with META’s price down by -0.59%, positioned at $559.77.
• RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
• Earnings announcement expected in 69 days.

What The Experts Say On Meta Platforms

A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $642.4.

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* Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Buy rating for Meta Platforms, targeting a price of $705.
* An analyst from Susquehanna has decided to maintain their Positive rating on Meta Platforms, which currently sits at a price target of $675.
* Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Buy rating on Meta Platforms with a target price of $719.
* Maintaining their stance, an analyst from BMO Capital continues to hold a Market Perform rating for Meta Platforms, targeting a price of $530.
* An analyst from Scotiabank has decided to maintain their Sector Perform rating on Meta Platforms, which currently sits at a price target of $583.

Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Meta Platforms with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.

TILT Holdings TLLTF is at a critical juncture as it explores divesting its plant-touching business (PTB), which generates 75% of its revenue but continues to struggle with declining margins. Massachusetts operations, contributing two-thirds of revenue, are under pressure from market saturation, while Pennsylvania’s wholesale arm faces reduced purchases as vertically integrated operators prioritize in-house products. 

Gross margins across TILT fell from 18% in Q1 to 14% in Q3, reflecting challenges across all divisions. Analyst Pablo Zuanic values the PTB between $20–$30 million, a modest sum given the company’s $3 million market cap and heavy debt burden.

• Get Benzinga’s exclusive analysis and the top news about the cannabis industry and markets daily in your inbox for free. Subscribe to our newsletter here. You can’t afford to miss out if you’re serious about the business.

Debt Remains A Major Hurdle Despite Positive Cash Flow

TILT’s financial health is constrained by $62 million in net debt, with $12 million due in 2025 and $38 million in 2026, alongside $44 million in lease obligations. However, Zuanic highlights a positive development: TILT generated $2 million in operating cash flow in Q3 2024. 

Jupiter’s Challenges: A Dual Front

Jupiter, TILT’s vape subsidiary, is contending with both operational setbacks and broader market shifts. U.S. sales dropped to $9.4 million in Q3 2024, down from $15 million in the same period last year, even after adjusting for the transition of half its sales to a 15% distribution fee model. 

Canadian sales grew 11% to $6.4 million but saw gross margins collapse from 29% to zero. Zuanic calculates that Jupiter’s distribution fees could generate $9 million annually at 100% gross margins, with the remaining $53 million in sales yielding 20% margins. This would produce $20 million in gross profit, making Jupiter potentially profitable with $10 million in EBITDA. 

However, Zuanic remains cautious about the sustainability of these projections given continued market share erosion. 

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Competitive Landscape And CCELL Partnership

Jupiter’s long-standing partnership with CCELL is adapting to shifting market dynamics. CCELL has diversified its production outside China to mitigate geopolitical risks, while also strengthening direct U.S. customer support. Zuanic raises concerns about potential overlap between CCELL’s direct operations and Jupiter’s business, warning that structural changes may be necessary to preserve market leadership. 

Consumer preferences are shifting toward all-in-one devices (AIOs), prompting Jupiter to invest in proprietary technologies and bolster its supply chain. Despite these efforts, the company has yet to reverse a five-year trend of declining market share. Zuanic underscores the importance of aligning innovation with operational efficiency to stay competitive. For a deeper dive into his methodology and projections, visit Zuanic & Associates’ research portal.

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Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Wells Fargo.

Looking at options history for Wells Fargo WFC we detected 10 trades.

If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 50% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 40% with bearish.

From the overall spotted trades, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $459,983 and 6, calls, for a total amount of $1,644,858.

Projected Price Targets

Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $70.0 to $105.0 for Wells Fargo during the past quarter.

Insights into Volume & Open Interest

Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Wells Fargo’s options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Wells Fargo’s whale trades within a strike price range from $70.0 to $105.0 in the last 30 days.

Wells Fargo Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days

Biggest Options Spotted:

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the United States, with approximately $1.9 trillion in balance sheet assets. The company has four primary segments: consumer banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management. It is almost entirely focused on the U.S.

After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Wells Fargo, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.

Wells Fargo’s Current Market Status

• Trading volume stands at 6,445,834, with WFC’s price up by 1.14%, positioned at $75.68.
• RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.
• Earnings announcement expected in 54 days.

What Analysts Are Saying About Wells Fargo

Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $79.5.

Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move

Benzinga Edge’s Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access.
* An analyst from Citigroup has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Wells Fargo, which currently sits at a price target of $82.
* Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Evercore ISI Group keeps a Outperform rating on Wells Fargo with a target price of $77.

Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Wells Fargo options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.