Monster Beverage and Constellation Brands could merge within weeks
The shares of Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) are up 2.2% at $84.40 at last check, amid progressing merger talks between the energy drink giant and Corona brewer Constellation Brands (STZ). In a report from Bloomberg, anonymous people familiar with the matter said an agreement could be made within weeks depending on how smoothly talks proceed.
On the charts, Monster Beverage stock has taken an extended breather since hitting a Jan. 5, five-month high of $98.73. Yesterday's rally was cut short by the 20-day moving average, while the $82.50 level has stepped up as a layer of support. Year over year, MNST is down 10%.
Options traders are more put-biased, according to Monster Beverage stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 2.33 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). This ratio sits in the 98th percentile of its annual range, indicating a much stronger-than-usual preference for puts over the last two weeks.