ULTA, SMCI, SWK see heavy Friday options activity

Stock trading in Super Micro Computer and Stanley Black & Decker saw unusually high options activity Friday, with contracts trading at multiples of normal daily volumes.

Options volume for Super Micro Computer hit 201,344 contracts, covering roughly 20.1 million shares, about 46% of the company’s average daily trading volume over the past month. A large chunk of that activity focused on a $30.50 call option expiring in August 2026, where 14,029 contracts changed hands, representing 1.4 million shares. That single strike accounted for a noticeable slice of the day’s activity, signaling strong bullish interest in the stock’s medium-term outlook.

Over at Stanley Black & Decker, options volume reached 9,120 contracts, covering about 912,000 shares—roughly 45% of its one-month average daily volume. Nearly half of those trades centered on a $120 call option set to expire in January 2027, with 4,349 contracts exchanging hands, equal to about 435,000 shares. The concentration highlights bets that the stock could rise significantly by mid-2027.

The surge in volume comes as both companies face shifting market conditions: Super Micro benefits from strong demand for AI servers, while Stanley Black & Decker contends with restructuring efforts after years of financial pressure. Investors appear to be positioning for sustained moves in either direction, using longer-dated options to express confidence in future price swings.