Shares of Meta Platforms and Microsoft are moving lower
Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) are reeling after their highly anticipated earnings reports. While the former met Wall Street's estimates, user numbers for the third quarter came up short. Meanwhile, though the latter beat fiscal first-quarter expectations, its revenue growth outlook missed the mark.
META was last seen down 2.2% at $578.67, pivoting lower after yesterday's attempt to conquer its Oct. 7, record high of $602.95. The 40-day moving average looks poised to contain additional losses, however, and longer term, the shares still boast an 85% year-over-year lead.
MSFT is down 5.3% to trade at $409.45 at last glance, after yesterday running into a ceiling at the $440 rally that also capped price action in mid-September. The security is on track for its biggest single-day percentage loss since October 2022, but still sports a 9.5% lead for 2024.
Options traders have been quick to the trigger. META has seen 161,000 calls and 126,000 puts exchanged so far today, which is four times the intraday average volume. The weekly 11/1 600-strike call is the most popular, where new positions are being opened. MSFT has seen 198,000 calls and 111,000 puts cross the tape -- three times the volume typically seen at this point -- with the most activity at the 400-strike put.