There has been renewed interest in the cryptocurrency sector under President Donald Trump, amid speculation that the current administration may loosen currents regulations. Subscribers to Schaeffer's Grand Slam Countdown tripled their money with our iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:IBIT) 4/25 49.50-51.50 strike call debit spread, so now is a good time to unpack the reasoning behind this winning bet.

At the time of our recommendation on April 20, IBIT's pullback into its April lows was holding at its 20-day moving average, its average volume weight average price (VWAP) since inception, as well as the intersection of the 20-, 50-, and 200-day trendlines. Plus, the security had taken out several three levels of interest in the $47-$68 region just the week prior, including 10% above its April 8 low.

Implied volatility (IV) for IBIT options was quite modest, sitting in the low 7th percentile of annual readings. Additionally, it was 26 points below average true-range based volatility.

Shares were just beginning to rally when subscribers initiated their positions, ultimately stringing together seven-straight gains to close above the $52.50 level for the first time since February. Right before the equity snapped its win streak, subscribers closed their positions and collected their 225% profit.

Fintech stocks SoFi Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SOFI) and PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:PYPL) are in focus today, after both companies announced better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and revenue results. SoFi Technologies also lifted its full-year forecast, while PayPal maintained its profit outlook. 

SOFI was last seen up 1.9% at $13.45, heading for its sixth-straight win. Though the stock jumped over the $14 level earlier today, it will be interesting to see if it is ultimately rejected there once again, as it was in late March. Year to date, the equity is down 13.4%. 

PYPL was up 2% at $66.26 at last check, though the 50-day moving average appears to be keeping a cap on gains. Since the start of the year, the stock is down 22.8%. 

Sector peer Block Inc (NYSE:XYZ) will announce its latest earnings report after the close on Thursday, May 1. Analysts expect earnings of 48 cents per share, compared to the 47 cents per share reported in the same quarter a year ago. XYZ was last seen up 0.9% at $58.84 today, brushing off a hefty price-target cut from Deutsche Bank to $75 from $125. 

Stocks are higher this afternoon, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) up 228 points and eyeing its sixth-straight win -- its best streak since July 2024. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are also higher, the latter pacing for a sixth consecutive gain -- the longest since November 2024.

Investors are brushing off consumer confidence data, which took a turn for the worse in April. The Conference Board’s index dropped to 86 -- its lowest level in nearly five years -- as tariff concerns and weakening job market sentiment weighed. Expectations for the next six months fell sharply to the lowest level since 2011, a reading the board said is consistent with a recession.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including: 

• Spotify stock moved lower after a mixed first quarter.
• What Wall Street's “spurtability” means for investors.
• Plus,  UPS options pop after earnings beat; SHW rallies on strong results; and EAT sinks despite topping expectations.

United Parcel Service Inc (NYSE:UPS) is seeing unusual options activity today. So far, 31,000 calls and 20,000 puts have been traded -- 4 times the average intraday volume -- with new positions being opened at the three most popular contracts, led by the weekly 5/2 100-strike call. UPS beat first-quarter earnings expectations with $1.49 per share on $21.5 billion in revenue, and also announced plans to slash 20,000 jobs as part of broader cost-cutting measures. Shares were seen down 0.2% at $96.88, and sport a 23.1% year-to-date deficit.

Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:SHW) is one of the best-performing stocks this afternoon, last seen 5.1% higher at $349.06. The paint and coatings company reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings of $2.25 per share, but revenue of $5.31 billion fell short of estimates. SHW is now extending its year-over-year lead to 13.8%, and today’s gap higher has it moving above its 40-day moving average for the first time since early April.

Brinker International Inc (NYSE:EAT) is one of the worst-performing NYSE stocks today, last seen down 14.7% at $137.11. Despite posting better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings and revenue, the Chili’s and Maggiano’s parent is pulling back to its year-to-date breakeven level, and shed 10.6% over the last three months. Brinker reported adjusted earnings of $2.66 per share on $1.41 billion in revenue, topping Wall Street’s estimates, but traders appear to be locking in profits after the stock’s recent strength.

Hims & Hers Health Inc (NYSE:HIMS) stock is soaring today, up 22.6% at $34.92 at last glance, after news that the telehealth platform will offer Novo Nordisk's (NVO) popular weight-loss drug, Wegovy. The report has HIMS brushing off a downgrade to "hold" from "buy" at TD Cowen, though BofA Global Research also chimed in with a price-target hike, lifting its price target to $26 from $22.

Today's pop has Hims & Hers stock gapping above the 50-day moving average -- which kept a cap on gains in March -- and above recent pressure at the $30 level. Since the start of the year, the equity is up 48.7%. 

There's massive contrarian potential around the equity that could unwind. Of the 14 brokerages covering HIMS, nine maintain a "hold" or worse rating, while a whopping 30.7% of HIMS' total available float is sold short. Overdue upgrades and/or a short squeeze could keep the tailwinds blowing.

Options traders are answering the bell. So far, 135,000 calls and 62,000 puts have been exchanged, volume that is already 2.7 times the average amount. The weekly 5/2 40-strike call is the most popular, with new positions being bought to open there. 

Options look like a good way to go when weighing in on the stock's next move. HIMS' Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) of 90 out of 100 means it has outperformed options traders' volatility expectations for the past year. 

We covered Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG) stock 53 times in 2021, and only seven times in 2024. That's what happens when your share price trades as high as $75.49 in January 2021, and plummets to penny stock territory within three years. The hydrogen fuel cell company has struggled with profitability and retail trading volatility since that peak, but today is up 26% to trade at $1.02, one of the best stocks on Wall Street.

The comeback is in full swing. As part of Plug Power's preliminary earnings report that featured upwardly revised first-quarter revenue guidance, the company signed a definitive agreement for up to $525 million in secured debenture loans, with the plan to refinance its substantial debt.

Make no mistake, PLUG is still deep in the red; down 52% in 2025. Despite today's pop -- poised to be the stock's best single-session gain since January 2024 -- of the 26 brokerages in coverage, 20 maintain "hold" or worse ratings and zero upgrades/price-target hikes have occurred today. Keep an eye out for a short squeeze though, with a massive 31% of PLUG's total available float sold short.

It hasn't stopped options traders from making their move. At last check, over 140,000 calls have changed hands, volume that's 14 times the average intraday amount and nearly quadruple the number of puts traded. The weekly 5/2 1.50-strike call is the most popular.

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) is among the "Magnificent Seven" names hitting the earnings confessional this week, with first-quarter results due out after the close on Thursday, May 1. Wall Street will be eager to learn how tariffs are impacting consumer spending on the e-commerce platform. Ahead of the event, Oppenheimer cut AMZN's price objective to $220 from $260.

AMZN was last seen down 1.7% to trade at $185.83, looking to snap its four-day win streak after gaining 9.5% last week. Shares are down 15.5% so far in 2025, and while a familiar floor at the $170 level has contained recent pullbacks, the 40-day moving average has enacted pressure since February.

Per Schaeffer's Senior Quantitative Analyst Rocky White's list of stocks that attracted the highest options volume within the last 10 days, AMZN is one of the most popular names among options traders. The equity saw more than 3.9 million calls and 2.5 million puts traded. The most active contract in that period was the weekly 4/25 190-strike call.

Though calls still outpace puts in the options pits, the latter gained traction during the last two weeks. Over at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), AMZN's 10-day put/call volume ratio sits in 91st percentile of its annual range.

Amazon.com stock usually outperforms after earnings, finishing five of the last eight next-day sessions higher. However, it's worth noting the security just saw a 4.1% post-earnings drop in February. Over the past two years, the shares averaged a 6% move, regardless of direction. This time, the options pits are pricing in a bigger 9.8% swing.

Stocks are mixed this afternoon, as Wall Street gears up for a packed week of earnings and economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is 86 points higher, while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) are below breakeven.

Traders are also weighing the latest trade commentary. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said trade deals are progressing with countries like India, though the status of talks with China remains unclear. Wall Street is also eyeing reports from four of the “Magnificent Seven" as they await gross domestic product (GDP), inflation, and nonfarm payrolls data.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including: 

• Double downgrade dings Eli Lilly stock.
• Recovering Boeing stock scores bull note.
• Plus, DPZ options pop; NCLH gears up for earnings; and competition pressures NVDA.

Domino’s Pizza Inc (NASDAQ:DPZ) stock was last seen up 0.4% at $488.48 following its latest earnings report, and is seeing unusual options activity today. So far, 2,260 calls and 2,128 puts have exchanged hands -- 5 times the average intraday volume. Positions are being opened at the top two most popular contracts: the weeklies 5/2 500-strike call and 5/9 560-strike call. DPZ initially dropped almost 3% after the company's mixed first-quarter results, which beat profit expectations but missed on revenue. Year to date, DPZ is up 16.4%.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) is one of the best-performing SPX stocks this afternoon, ahead of the company's first-quarter earnings report, which is due out before the open tomorrow. NCLH was last seen 1.1% higher to trade at $17.42, but analysts expect a year-over-year earnings decline, despite the company beating profit estimates over the last four quarters. Since the start of 2025, the security has shed 32.1%.

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the worst-performing IXIC stocks today, last seen down 3.5% at $107.14. The chipmaker is under pressure after reports that Chinese rival Huawei is preparing a new artificial intelligence (AI) chip that could replace some of its products. Per The Wall Street Journal, the development underscores the resilience of China's semiconductor sector despite U.S. efforts to limit its advancement. It's been a tough year for NVDA so far, which carries a 19.2% deficit.