Research in Motion (RIMM, $97.84, down $5.60) fell back below $100 on Monday ahead of its scheduled earnings report on Thursday. The stock has been making $10 swings almost on a daily basis which leads me to believe the stock will make a substantial move by the end of the week.
There are some analysts who expect RIMM to post solid quarterly results, with revenues of $2.6 billion and earnings-per-share of $0.87. Although early October’s availability of the company’s 3G Bold and Kickstart have acted as a near-term catalyst, there’s a report out that says RIMM’s September sell-through numbers are looking “slightly disappointing” ahead of the new product launches. This was on top of a “flat” August.
There are too many variables to consider a trade for RIMM, especially with earnings coming out. To me, it is looking as though RIMM’s new products are going to have a bigger impact on the company’s next quarter, not this one.
Worldwide smartphone sales grew nearly 16% in Q2 from a year earlier and smartphones control about 11% of the mobile device market. That’s good news for RIMM because it shows there is still plenty of market share to capture. However, with so many competitors coming into the fray, RIMM will be fighting for that market share with the likes of Apple (AAPL, $131.05, down $9.86) and even Google (GOOG, $430.14, down $19.01).
The stock hit a low of $88 on September 18 which tested multi-year support. I profiled a RIMM strangle option trade earlier this month that netted us a 35%-40% profit. I would almost go out on a limb and recommend the same trade but it’s just too risky. The recent low has me leaning towards RIMM testing those lows again but a good earnings report may help the shares from sinking.
Rick Rouse
Rick@OptionsMentoring.com
Why not a strangle again ? I would guess it will jump if earnings are well but sellers will sell into the rally, so you’ll get a up and down move.
In case earnings are bad, this stock can go down to the 80ties.
In both cases, one should be able to make some profit.
Yeap, there’s a good chance of an 8%-10% profit when it is all said and done but the premiums are jacked up a little because of the volatility. I like the thought process though…