ANTM options are affordably priced at the moment
The shares of Anthem Inc (NYSE:ANTM) are up 0.5% at $383.67 at last check, relatively flat despite the health insurance name reporting better-than-expected first-quarter earnings of $7.01 per share. The company also raised its full-year outlook, though a revenue miss is likely keeping gains in check. The strong quarterly profits were attributed to revenue from IngenioRx, the unit that includes its pharmacy benefits management business.
On the charts, the equity just yesterday hit an all-time high of $386.61. The shares' 20-day moving average helped contain a pullback earlier in the month, an area that at the time coincided with the $350 level. Year-over-year, ANTM sports a 53.9% lead.
Analysts are optimistic towards Anthem stock, with 10 of the 11 in question carrying a "buy" or better rating, while one says "hold." However, the 12-month consensus target price of $381.19 is in line with current levels, indicating price-target hikes could be on the horizon.
The security's usually quiet options pits are brimming with activity today. Amid low absolute volume, 429 calls and 354 puts have crossed the tape, which is twice the average intraday amount. Most popular is the 4/23 382.50-strike call, followed by the 360-strike put in the same weekly series, both of which expire at the end of the week.
Now seems like a good time to weigh in on ANTM's next move with options, amid a post-earnings volatility crush. The stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 28% sits in the low 14th percentile of its annual range. This suggests the equity sports attractively priced premiums at the moment.