Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on American Express (NYSE:AXP).
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 AXP, 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 13 uncommon options trades for American Express.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 53% bullish and 46%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $218,115, and 9 are calls, for a total amount of $818,484.
Predicted Price Range
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $150.0 to $240.0 for American Express over the recent three months.
Volume & Open Interest Development
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of American Express stands at 1332.09, with a total volume reaching 191.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in American Express, situated within the strike price corridor from $150.0 to $240.0, throughout the last 30 days.
American Express Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days
Largest Options Trades Observed:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXP | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $32.55 | $32.4 | $32.55 | $230.00 | $308.1K | 562 | 0 |
| AXP | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 01/16/26 | $29.2 | $28.3 | $28.3 | $240.00 | $113.2K | 7.6K | 0 |
| AXP | PUT | TRADE | BULLISH | 01/16/26 | $26.9 | $26.4 | $26.6 | $220.00 | $106.4K | 178 | 47 |
| AXP | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 01/17/25 | $23.45 | $23.1 | $23.45 | $220.00 | $105.5K | 967 | 3 |
| AXP | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 01/16/26 | $29.15 | $28.45 | $28.7 | $240.00 | $94.7K | 7.6K | 80 |
About American Express
American Express is a global financial institution, operating in about 130 countries, that provides consumers and businesses charge and credit card payment products. The company also operates a highly profitable merchant payment network. Since 2018, it has operated in three segments: global consumer services, global commercial services, and global merchant and network services. In addition to payment products, the company's commercial business offers expense management tools, consulting services, and business loans.
In light of the recent options history for American Express, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
Present Market Standing of American Express
- Trading volume stands at 866,778, with AXP's price down by -0.58%, positioned at $217.13.
- RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.
- Earnings announcement expected in 3 days.
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. Stay informed about the latest American Express options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.