The apparel retailer posted blowout second-quarter earnings of 24 cents per share
Apparel retailer Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UAA) is up 4.9% to trade at $22.16 this morning, after posting blowout second-quarter earnings of 24 cents per share -- much higher than the 6 cents per share analysts anticipated -- as well as a revenue beat. The company also raised its annual revenue forecast, as demand for its athletic products grew with customers returning to gyms amid easing coronavirus restrictions.
Today's pop has the security eyeing a close above the 80-day moving average for the first time since early June. The shares have pulled back substantially from their May 5, two-year high of $26.45 in recent weeks, but have since bounced off the $18.50 level. Year-over-year, UAA sports a 128.3% lead.
Analysts are still skeptical toward Under Armour stock, indicating it may be overdue for a round of upgrades. Of the 22 in question, 12 carry a tepid "hold" or worse rating. The equity looks ripe for a short squeeze, too. Short interest rose 7.8% over the most recent reporting period, and the 14.37 million shares sold short make up 7.7% of the stock's available float.
The options pits tell a different story, with a clear preference for calls. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), the equity's 50-day call/put volume ratio of 5.65 sits higher than 90% of readings from the past year. In other words, long calls are getting picked up at a faster-than-usual pace.
This penchant for calls still holds true today. So far, 33,000 calls have crossed the tape, which is 11 times the intraday average, versus just 2,802. Most popular is the weekly 8/6 22-strike call, where positions are currently being opened, followed by the August 22.50 call.