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Are Options Traders Betting on a Big Move in Encana (ECA) Stock?

Zacks Equity Research

Investors in Encana Corporation ECA need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Feb 15, 2019 $6.00 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?

Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?

Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Encana shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Encana is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) in the Oil and Gas – Exploration and Production – Canadian industry that ranks in the Bottom 24% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter has decreased from 13 cents a share to 12 cents.

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Given the way analysts feel about Encana right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

Looking to Trade Options?

Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for the NFLX earnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Netflix's (NFLX) Earnings with Options or check out the embedded video below for more details:


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Zacks Investment Research