Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Mastercard MA.
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MA, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did?
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Mastercard.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 37%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $99,405, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $261,546.
Projected Price Targets
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $520.0 to $540.0 for Mastercard over the last 3 months.
Volume & Open Interest Trends
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Mastercard'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 Mastercard's whale activity within a strike price range from $520.0 to $540.0 in the last 30 days.
Mastercard Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview
Noteworthy Options Activity:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | CALL | TRADE | BULLISH | 01/17/25 | $12.0 | $10.95 | $12.0 | $530.00 | $55.2K | 468 | 134 |
| MA | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 02/21/25 | $23.25 | $22.7 | $23.08 | $540.00 | $51.0K | 102 | 44 |
| MA | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 01/17/25 | $12.95 | $10.4 | $11.75 | $530.00 | $49.3K | 468 | 19 |
| MA | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 02/21/25 | $23.25 | $23.05 | $23.05 | $540.00 | $48.4K | 102 | 22 |
| MA | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 01/17/25 | $12.9 | $10.4 | $11.5 | $530.00 | $48.3K | 468 | 104 |
About Mastercard
Mastercard is the second-largest payment processor in the world, having processed close to over $9 trillion in volume during 2023. Mastercard operates in over 200 countries and processes transactions in over 150 currencies.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Mastercard, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
Where Is Mastercard Standing Right Now?
- With a volume of 657,865, the price of MA is down -0.06% at $530.0.
- RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.
- Next earnings are expected to be released in 43 days.
Professional Analyst Ratings for Mastercard
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $614.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods keeps a Outperform rating on Mastercard with a target price of $618. * An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Buy rating on Mastercard, maintaining a target price of $610.
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 Mastercard with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.
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