As 2015 draws to a close, Goldman identifies 15 straddle-buying opportunities on stocks with liquid options, reporting in December. Our studies analyzing historical earnings events show at-the-money straddles are systematically undervalued ahead of the event. Buying straddles ahead of earnings has returned 10% through early December vs. the long term average of 2%.
As Goldman Sachs writes, our studies analyzing historical earnings events show at-the-money straddles are systematically undervalued ahead of the event.
Buying straddles ahead of earnings has returned 10% through early December vs. the long term average of 2%.
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The average cost of a straddle on this list is only slightly above the historical earnings move despite capturing more than a week of trading days outside earnings. We see KMX, ACN and ORCL particularly inexpensive compared to prior earnings moves.
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Straddle buyers risk losing the premium paid if shares close at the strike price on expiration.
