JPMorgan Chase's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on JPMorgan Chase JPM.

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 JPM, 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 JPMorgan Chase.

This isn’t normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 25% bullish and 25%, bearish.

Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $273,966, and 2 are calls, for a total amount of $66,323.

What’s The Price Target?

Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $200.0 to $235.0 for JPMorgan Chase over the last 3 months.

Volume & Open Interest Trends

In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for JPMorgan Chase options trades today is 1218.33 with a total volume of 344.00.

In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for JPMorgan Chase’s big money trades within a strike price range of $200.0 to $235.0 over the last 30 days.

JPMorgan Chase 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot

Options Call Chart

Largest Options Trades Observed:

Symbol	PUT/CALL	Trade Type	Sentiment	Exp. Date	Ask	Bid	Price	Strike Price	Total Trade Price	Open Interest	Volume
JPM	PUT	SWEEP	BEARISH	06/20/25	$20.2	$20.1	$20.2	$235.00	$68.6K	11	34
JPM	PUT	SWEEP	NEUTRAL	12/20/24	$10.2	$10.05	$10.12	$230.00	$49.6K	596	58
JPM	PUT	SWEEP	BULLISH	12/20/24	$10.2	$10.1	$10.12	$230.00	$49.5K	596	107
JPM	PUT	SWEEP	NEUTRAL	12/20/24	$13.4	$13.25	$13.33	$235.00	$38.6K	279	30
JPM	PUT	TRADE	NEUTRAL	12/20/24	$13.2	$13.0	$13.1	$235.00	$37.9K	279	60

About JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase is one of the largest and most complex financial institutions in the United States, with nearly $4.1 trillion in assets. It is organized into four major segments–consumer and community banking, corporate and investment banking, commercial banking, and asset and wealth management. JPMorgan operates, and is subject to regulation, in multiple countries.

The high prices of electric vehicles (EVs) and concerns over charging infrastructure have led consumers to shift towards hybrids, a blend of gasoline and electric power. This trend has seen a significant surge in hybrid sales, including plug-ins, with a remarkable 65% increase in sales, outpacing the growth of pure electric vehicles.

Americans' adoption of hybrids is on the rise, with hybrids representing about 10% of all new car purchases in the U.S., surpassing the market share of pure electric vehicles.

Furthermore, as the Biden administration refines auto emissions standards to reduce the carbon footprint of passenger vehicles, manufacturers of plug-in hybrids and conventional gas-electric hybrids are poised to benefit from these regulations.

Ford Motor Company: A Deeper Dive

One of the key players in the hybrid EV market is Michigan-based Ford Motor Company (F), a company with a long history dating back to 1903. Ford specializes in a range of vehicles from trucks to luxury cars, currently boasting a market cap of $51.89 billion.

While Ford's stock saw a modest 14.5% increase over the past year, it has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 index. Despite being a long-term underperformer with a 10-year decline of nearly 15%, Ford reinstated its quarterly dividend in 2021, offering a dividend yield of 4.6%.

Ford's Financial Performance

Ford's financials have been a mixed bag, with the company reporting an EBIT loss of $4.7 billion in its electric vehicle segment in the past year. The company faced challenges like high labor costs due to strikes, leading to a total loss of $526 million in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year.

Despite these setbacks, Ford managed to beat earnings expectations, reporting adjusted earnings per share of $0.29 in the last quarter. The company's revenue of $43.21 billion also exceeded Wall Street estimates, indicating resilience in the face of operational challenges.

Toyota Motor Corporation: A Rival in the Race

On the other side of the spectrum is Toyota Motor Corporation (TM), a formidable contender in the hybrid EV market. Toyota has established itself as a pioneer in hybrid technology with popular models like the Prius, commanding a significant market share globally.

While Toyota faces stiff competition from other automakers, the company's strong brand reputation and commitment to innovation position it as a strong player in the evolving landscape of hybrid EVs.

Comparing Ford and Toyota

Investors seeking exposure to the hybrid EV market must weigh the pros and cons of investing in Ford versus Toyota. While Ford offers a compelling dividend yield and attractive valuation metrics, Toyota's established presence and technological advancements make it a formidable competitor in the long run.

Toyota vs Ford: Battle of the HybridsThe Rise of Hybrid Dominance: A Tale of Two Automakers

Following our analysis of the options activities associated with JPMorgan Chase, we pivot to a closer look at the company’s own performance.

Present Market Standing of JPMorgan Chase

Trading volume stands at 461,337, with JPM’s price up by 0.25%, positioned at $224.97.
RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.
Earnings announcement expected in 76 days.

What Analysts Are Saying About JPMorgan Chase

5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $236.6.

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* Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Overweight rating on JPMorgan Chase with a target price of $257.
* An analyst from RBC Capital persists with their Outperform rating on JPMorgan Chase, maintaining a target price of $230.
* Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Oppenheimer continues to hold a Outperform rating for JPMorgan Chase, targeting a price of $234.
* Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Oppenheimer continues to hold a Outperform rating for JPMorgan Chase, targeting a price of $232.
* An analyst from Evercore ISI Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on JPMorgan Chase, which currently sits at a price target of $230.

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 JPMorgan Chase with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts.

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