Options Market Expectations for Alphabet and Microsoft Ahead of Earnings Reports
Investors are bracing for upcoming earnings reports from tech giants Alphabet (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT), with options markets pricing in significant volatility. Alphabet faces a higher implied move of 5.8%, more than double its two-year average, as the stock approaches technical bear-market territory after a decline from its May highs. In contrast, Microsoft's expected swing is under 5%, which is slightly lower than its historical two-year average. While put/call ratios for both companies have trended upward alongside recent Nasdaq 100 pullbacks, call volume remains dominant over the past year. Notably, Alphabet has seen significant bullish activity in specific options flows, including a large $18.5 million call purchase at the $360 strike for January expiry, suggesting some traders are positioning for an upside surprise despite broader technical weakness.
Topics: earnings preview options trading stock volatility technical analysis
Part of the story Invesco Mortgage Capital Reports Q3 2026 Net Loss and Declining Book Value (7 articles)