Can The Trade Desk (TTD) Continue the Upward Momentum Into Earnings?

This week we are looking at another of the Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 List companies.  We use this list in one of our options portfolios to spot outperforming stocks and place option spreads that take advantage of the momentum.

Terry

Can The Trade Desk (TTD) Continue the Upward Momentum Into Earnings?

TTD has had a spectacular gain in the first half of the year, check out this article which outlines four reasons why it could continue higher – Is The Trade Desk a Buy?. Also take a look at this article published by Zack’s – The Trade Desk Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know.

From a technical perspective, TTD is testing a horizontal level that had acted as resistance in May. Just below it, there is some further support from the 50-day moving average. So far, the decline from the top in early June has not had a lot of momentum behind it. This combined with the hold above the mentioned moving average signals that the broader trend remains firmly to the upside.

TTD Chart July 2019

If you agree there’s further upside ahead for TTD, consider this trade which is a bet that the stock will continue to advance over the next three weeks, or at least not decline very much.

Buy To Open TTD 09AUG19 230 Puts (TTD190809P230)
Sell To Open TTD 09AUG19 235 Puts (TTD190809P235) for a credit of $2.48 (selling a vertical)

This price was $0.02 less than the mid-point of the option spread when TTD was trading near $235.  Unless the stock rallies quickly from here, you should be able to get close to this amount.

Your commission on this trade will only be $2.50 per spread (the rate charged by thinkorswim for Terry’s Tips’ subscribers).  Each contract would then yield $245.50 and your broker would charge a $500 maintenance fee, making your investment $254.50 ($500 – $245.50).  If TTD closes at any price above $235 on August 9, both options would expire worthless, and your return on the spread would be 96% (1947% annualized).

Changes to Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) Top 50 This Week:

IBD Underlying Updates July 18, 2019

We have found that the Investor’s Business Daily Top 50 List has been a reliable source of stocks that are likely to move higher in the short run.  Recent additions to the list might be particularly good choices for this strategy, and deletions might be good indicators for exiting a position that you might already have on that stock.

As with all investments, you should only make option trades with money that you can truly afford to lose.

Happy trading,

Terry