Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT).
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 AMAT, 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 17 uncommon options trades for Applied Materials.
This isn’t normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 64% bullish and 29%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $1,656,690, and 8 are calls, for a total amount of $425,010.
Predicted Price Range
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $65.0 to $420.0 for Applied Materials 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 Applied Materials’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 Applied Materials’s whale trades within a strike price range from $65.0 to $420.0 in the last 30 days.
Applied Materials Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days
Noteworthy Options Activity:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMAT | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 03/20/26 | $49.3 | $46.8 | $46.85 | $410.00 | $407.4K | 30 | 213 |
| AMAT | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 03/20/26 | $49.3 | $46.7 | $46.75 | $410.00 | $308.5K | 30 | 213 |
| AMAT | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 03/20/26 | $49.55 | $47.45 | $47.45 | $410.00 | $262.8K | 30 | 115 |
| AMAT | PUT | SWEEP | BULLISH | 03/20/26 | $49.55 | $46.75 | $46.7 | $410.00 | $149.4K | 30 | 115 |
| AMAT | PUT | SWEEP | NEUTRAL | 02/27/26 | $48.05 | $45.35 | $46.7 | $420.00 | $140.1K | 0 | 60 |
About Applied Materials
Applied Materials is the largest semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment manufacturer in the world. It has a broad portfolio spanning nearly every corner of the WFE ecosystem. Applied Materials holds leading market share in deposition, which entails the layering of new materials on semiconductor wafers. It is more exposed to general-purpose logic chips made at integrated device manufacturers and foundries. It counts the largest chipmakers in the world as customers, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Applied Materials, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
Where Is Applied Materials Standing Right Now?
- With a trading volume of 1,088,894, the price of AMAT is up by 1.83%, reaching $366.53.
- Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.
- Next earnings report is scheduled for 83 days from now.
Expert Opinions on Applied Materials
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $414.0.
- Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Citigroup keeps a Buy rating on Applied Materials with a target price of $400.
- An analyst from Goldman Sachs has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Applied Materials, which currently sits at a price target of $390.
- Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Mizuho keeps a Outperform rating on Applied Materials with a target price of $410.
- Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Citigroup continues to hold a Buy rating for Applied Materials, targeting a price of $420.
- An analyst from B. Riley Securities has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $450.
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.
