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These Developed Markets Outside US Are Getting Bullish: Here&#39;s What VEA ETF Technical Chart Shows

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Wells Fargo Investment Institute has a 4600-4800 year-end 2024 target for the S&amp;P 500 Index and 2000-2200 for the MSCI EAFE Index. Favored sectors are Health Care, Industrials, and Materials.

S&amp;P 500 Stuck In 4,600-4,800 Limbo For 2024? Wells Fargo Pinpoints 3 &#39;Favored Sectors&#39; For Next Year

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 In Benzinga’s last installment, a novel experiment was introduced where we put OpenAI&#39;s ChatGPT to the test in the world of investing. 

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The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>) just formed a Golden Cross on the technical charts. Developed markets, outside the U.S., hope for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">a bullish price trend ahead</a>.
The VEA ETF: The VEA ETF tracks the FTSE Developed ex-U.S. All Cap Net Tax (US RIC) Index. It offers exposure to developed markets outside of North America, including:
<ul>
<li>Europe (~53%)</li>
<li>Japan (20%)</li>
<li>Australia (6%). </li>
</ul>
In essence, it is an investment vehicle popularly used to get overweight ex-U.S. developed markets. 
Currently, 70% of the ETF is invested in large-cap stocks, with the financial sector being the dominating sector at 21.62%.
The VEA ETF trumps the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) in depth of holdings and cost efficiency. While the VEA is invested across 4,500 holdings, the EFA portfolio is spread across 1,000 holdings. The VEA has an expense ratio of 0.05% versus the EFA which charges 0.35%.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">Japanese stocks remain attractive</a>, given rerating potential driven by corporate governance reforms,&#8221; John Bilton, head of Global Multi-Asset Strategy at JPMorgan, said. 
For the first quarter of 2024, Bilton expects to see U.K. equity as cheap and supported by valuations and flows. 
&#8220;It is a defensive market; with a positive gearing towards commodities,&#8221; he added.
Wells Fargo has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36389824/s-p-500-stuck-in-4600-4800-limbo-for-2024-wells-fargo-pinpoints-3-favored-sectors-f?utm_campaign=partner_feed&amp;utm_source=InvestingUK&amp;utm_medium=partner_feed&amp;utm_content=TopStories">year-end 2024 target</a> of 2,000-2,200 for the MSCI EAFE Index which tracks the developed markets ex-U.S. and Canada. The investment firm said they &#8220;prefer developed-market over emerging-market equities.&#8221;
Compelling alternatives to the VEA ETF include: the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VXUS#NASDAQ">VXUS</a>) and the RAFI-weighted Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-U.S. ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PXF#NYSE">PXF</a>) (which also includes Canadian stocks).
The VEA Chart: The VEA technical price chart indicates a Golden Cross forming. The 50-day SMA can be seen crossing over the 200-day SMA, indicating a bullish trend kicking in.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="650" height="650" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-176263" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8.jpeg 650w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8-300x300.jpeg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08090259/VEA-Golden-Cross-Jan-8-150x150.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></figure>
At a P/E ratio of <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VEA/">12.97</a>, investors in developed markets may find the VEA particularly attractive.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/01/36534976/earnings-season-preview-how-will-corporate-profit-outlooks-impact-markets-in-2024">Earnings Season Preview &#8211; How Will Corporate Profit Outlooks Impact Markets In 2024?</a>
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These Developed Markets Outside US Are Getting Bullish: Here's What VEA ETF Technical Chart Shows

The Wells Fargo (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>) Investment Institute has released its 2024 Outlook, detailing their projections for market levels at the end of 2024 and highlighting their preferred sectors <a href="http://benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">for the upcoming year</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500 Index target 4,600-4,800 in 2024</h2>
Per the <a href="https://sites.wf.com/2024-outlook/">report</a>, Wells Fargo expects global earnings to be challenged in early 2024. They expect a rebound later in the year as the economy reaccelerates. Once investors begin to anticipate an economic and earnings recovery, they expect the S&amp;P 500 to gain into the end of the year. 
Wells Fargo has a 4.600-4,800 year-end 2024 target for the S&amp;P 500 Index. Apart from the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) are two other popular ETFs that track the performance of the S&amp;P 500.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36290012/s-p-500-likely-to-test-the-5-000-level-jp-morgan-on-where-to-allocate-in-2024">S&amp;P 500 Likely To &#8216;Test The 5,000 Level&#8217;: JP Morgan On Where To Allocate In 2024</a>
&#8220;Valuations likely will increase in 2024 as markets anticipate an earnings recovery into 2025&#8221; said Darrell L. Cronk, president of Well Fargo Investment Institute and the CIO of Wealth &amp; Investment Institute.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Large-Caps Over Mid-Caps</h2>
At times when earnings per share (EPS) is decelerating and the economy is slowing, Wells Fargo favors quality and a more defensive posture within equities. Given their expectations with the earnings challenge in early 2024, Wells Fargo would prefer to allocate into U.S. large-caps over mid-caps and small-caps. 
They have a year-end 2024 target for the MSCI EAFE Index of 2,000-2,200. 
The MSCI EAFE Index follows the performance of large and mid-cap companies in 21 developed market countries globally, representing regions of Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. Notably, it excludes companies from Canada and the U.S. The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) is a popular ETF that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index.
Analysts at the Well Fargo Investment Institute also prefer developed-market over emerging-market equities. Along with EFA ETF as mentioned above, the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEA#NYSE">VEA</a>) and the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEFA#NYSE">IEFA</a>) are 2 other popular developed-markets equity-tracking ETFs.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 &#8216;Favored Sectors&#8217;</h2>
In terms of sector picks, Cronk calls out Health Care, Industrials, and Materials as Wells Fargo&#8217;s &#8220;favored sectors.&#8221; Some popular exchange-traded funds tracking these sectors respectively are:
<ul>
<li>Healthcare: The Health Care Select Sector&nbsp;SPDR&nbsp;ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) and the Vanguard Health Care&nbsp;ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VHT#NYSE">VHT</a>)</li>
<li>Industrials: The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) and the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#NYSE">ITA</a>)</li>
<li>Materials: The VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>) and the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>)</li>
</ul>
Consumer Discretionary and Real Estate count among the unfavorable sectors.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/12/36301925/emerging-ai-trends-in-2024-blackrock-sees-shift-beyond-semiconductors-cloud-to-mode">Emerging AI Trends In 2024: BlackRock Sees Shift Beyond Semiconductors, Cloud To Model Infrastructure</a>
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S&P 500 Stuck In 4,600-4,800 Limbo For 2024? Wells Fargo Pinpoints 3 'Favored Sectors' For Next Year

In Benzinga&#8217;s last installment, a novel experiment was introduced where we put OpenAI's ChatGPT to the test in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/05/32324176/is-chatgpt-a-better-financial-advisor-were-going-to-find-out">the world of investing</a>. 
The challenge? To see if ChatGPT can design a portfolio that outperforms some of the leading U.S. equity funds. The AI had a mission to work with a theoretical $10,000 to create a diverse portfolio of 40 stocks, drawing from the 10 most popular U.S. equity funds of 2021.
Well, the wait is over and as promised, Benzinga is revealing the funds, ETFs and indices that ChatGPT was put up against.
Here are the top-tier competitors in Benzinga&#8217;s AI vs. human financial advisors showdown:
SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (TSX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MUTF#TSX">MUTF</a>) Vanguard Growth Index Fund Admiral Shares (MUTF: <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/VIGAX:MUTF?window=1M">VIGAX</a>) Vanguard Value Index Fund Admiral Shares (MUTF: <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/VVIAX:MUTF?window=1M">VVIAX</a>) iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (MUTF: <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/VTABX:MUTF?window=1M">VTABX</a>) Fidelity Contrafund (MUTF: <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/FCNTX:MUTF?window=1M">FCNTX</a>) T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund (MUTF: <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/PRGFX:MUTF?window=1M">PRGFX</a>) Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (MUTF: <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/FSKAX:MUTF?window=1M">FSKAX</a>)
These funds represent a wide array of investment strategies, from broad market coverage to specific growth and value plays, international bonds to tech-focused portfolios.
And now, the moment of truth: How did Benzinga&#8217;s AI-crafted portfolio perform in its first week?
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Fund/ETF</td>
<td>1-Week Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF</td>
<td>+0.49%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco QQQ Trust</td>
<td>+0.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund</td>
<td>-0.73%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Growth Index Fund</td>
<td>+0.46%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Value Index Fund</td>
<td>-0.34%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares MSCI EAFE ETF</td>
<td>0.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund</td>
<td>-0.71%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fidelity Contrafund</td>
<td>+0.22%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund</td>
<td>+0.18%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fidelity Total Market Index Fund</td>
<td>-0.49%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> </figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ChatGPT </td>
<td>1-Week Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Benzinga&#8217;s ChatGPT Portfolio</td>
<td>+1.04%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> Benzinga&#8217;s AI portfolio saw a rise of over 1%. Remarkably, it means that the AI outperformed 100% of the leading funds it was stacked against. To put it into perspective, the only fund to come close to Benzinga&#8217;s portfolio gains were the Q&#8217;s, with a 0.95% gain over the last week. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/05/32324176/is-chatgpt-a-better-financial-advisor-were-going-to-find-out">Click here to see what is in the Benzinga AI portfolio</a>. Of course, it is only one week into Benzinga&#8217;s six-month experiment, and the world of investing is anything but predictable. But, the early results do offer an intriguing glimpse into the potential of AI in the financial sector. Remember, the objective of this series is not to promote AI as a replacement for human financial advisors. Rather, Benzinga aims to highlight its potential as a tool to support investment decision-making. ChatGPT, while powerful, does not have real-time data comprehension or the ability to understand individual financial situations. It&#8217;s also not a licensed financial advisor. But it does make for a very interesting experiment. Join Benzinga next Wednesday as we continue to track the performance of ChatGPT&#8217;s portfolio against these top-tier funds in the next edition of &#8220;Is ChatGPT A Better Financial Advisor?&#8221; Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/05/32428065/openai-ceo-warns-of-ais-dark-side-urges-regulation-in-senate-testimony">OpenAI CEO Warns Of AI&#8217;s Dark Side, Urges Regulation In Senate Testimony</a></figcaption></figure>
Photo: Gerd Altmann via Pixabay

Carol Devine Miller, a Representative from West Virginia, reported a purchase of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) stock on December 13, 2022. According to the Periodic Transaction Report the transaction was placed on December 13, 2022.
What Happened: A recent report from the House of Representatives Clerk's Office on December 13, 2022 reveals that Miller made a purchase of <a href="www.benzinga.com/quote/EFA">iShares MSCI EAFE ETF</a> stock valued between $50,001 - $100,000.
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF shares are trading up 0.3% at $68.0 at the time of writing.
<h3>The Importance of Congressional Transactions</h3>
Congressional transactions shouldn't be used primarily to make an investing decision, however, they can be an important factor for an investor to consider.
A Congressional transaction is when any Representative or Senator either buys or sells an individual stock. Anyone working in Congress must file a Periodic Transaction Report to inform the public of their recent transaction within 30 days of being notified of the transaction and within 45 days of the transaction date.
When a Senator or Representative makes a new purchase, that could be an indication that they expect the stock to rise.
A sale, on the other hand, can be made for a variety of reasons, and may not necessarily mean that the seller thinks the stock will go down.
In April 2012, Former President Barack Obama signed the STOCK Act into law. The act prohibits members of Congress from using private information given to them by their position for personal gain such as buying or selling a stock. The act also expanded disclosure requirements for members of Congress by requiring them to file a monthly disclosure. 
<h3>Trade Recap</h3>
A December filing states that West Virginia Representative Carol Devine Miller bought shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF. The exact amount of the transaction remained unknown but the filing states a range of $50,001 - $100,000.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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Rep. Carol Devine Miller Has Bought Up to $100K Worth Of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock: Here's What You Should Know

Investors often short stocks to hedge positions against long positions or as a way to bet against a particular company. Benzinga provides a look at the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest/most-shorted">most shorted stocks here.</a>
Exchange traded funds offer investors a way to get exposure to the overall market, certain sectors or countries by providing an investment of a basket of stocks.
A new report from S3 Partners and managing director of predictive analytics Ihor Dusaniwsky shows the most shorted ETFs, which ETFs have the highest short interest and which ETFs saw the biggest inflows of new shorts in the last 30 days.
Top Shorted ETFs: The report dives into the most shorted ETFs, and many of them are familiar names that cover the overall broader market. Other names are related to certain sectors.
Overall, there is $214.3 billion in short interest in 3,350 ETFs tracked by S3, down from $215 billion 30 days ago.
ETFs have an average of 16.4% short interest and cost to borrow of $1.02%. This compares to average short interest of 4.86% for U.S. stocks and a cost to borrow of 0.65%.
1. SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>): $53.7 billion short, 14.28% short float, 0.3% cost to borrow
2. Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqq#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>): $20.2 billion short, 12.47% short float, 0.3% cost to borrow
3. iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iwm#NYSE">IWM</a>): $18.4 billion short, 33.22% short float, 0.94% cost to borrow
4. iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hyg#NYSE">HYG</a>): $6.8 billion short, 38.8% short float, 2.82% cost to borrow
5. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/em#NYSE">EM</a>): $5.1 billion short, 22.96% short float, 0.3% cost to borrow
6. SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xle#NYSE">XLE</a>): $4.4 billion short, 9.82% short float, 0.3% cost to borrow
7. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/efa#NYSE">EFA</a>): $3.7 billion short, 8.22% short float, 0.3% cost to borrow
8. iShares iBoxx Investment Grade Corporate Bond (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lqd#NYSE">LQD</a>): $3.6 billion short, 8.88% short float, 0.3% cost to borrow
9. SPDR Financial Select Sector (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xlf#NYSE">XLF</a>): $2.9 billion short, 8.85% short float, 0.3% cost to borrow
10. SPDR S&amp;P Biotech (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xbi#NYSE">XBI</a>): $2.8 billion short, 34.86% short float, 0.94% cost to borrow
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/11/29805045/paxmedica-getty-images-and-3-short-squeeze-candidates-that-could-soar-this-week">Paxmedica, Getty Images And 3 Short Squeeze Candidates That Could Soar This Week&nbsp;</a>
ETFs With Short Interest&nbsp;Rising: The report from S3 shows that investors are increasing their short bets in the ETF space in sectors like semiconductors and fixed income. Investors are also increasing short positions in ETFs covering specific countries.
The 5 ETFs that saw the biggest increase in short positions in the last 30 days are:
1. iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF: $994.8 million added
2. VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/smh#NASDAQ">SMH</a>): $462&nbsp;million added
3. iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ixus#NASDAQ">IXUS</a>) $379.8 million added
4. SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dia#NYSE">DIA</a>): $378.9 million added
5. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/agg#NYSE">AGG</a>): $284.5 million added
Outside of the top five ETFs with increased short&nbsp;interest, two regional ETFs were among the 10 with the largest increases.
The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ewy#NYSE">EWY</a>) saw an increase of $229.5 million in short interest in the last 30 days. The ETF now has $713.2 million in short interest, or around 22.75% of the float.
The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ewz#NYSE">EWZ</a>) saw an increase in $225.5 million in short interest in the last 30 days. The ETF now has $1.3 billion in short interest, or around 25.35% of the float.
Highest Short Interest By Percentage: Outside of the large dollar amounts that are short particular ETFs, an indication of a high short percentage of the float could also indicate sectors and countries that are being bet against.
Here are the ETFs with the highest short interest by percentage:
1. SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xrt#NYSE">XRT</a>): 193.88% short float, $1.1 billion total short
2. SPDR Series Trust SPDR Homebuilders ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xhb#NYSE">XHB</a>): 57.75% short float, $610.4 million total short
3. SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Explorer &amp; Product (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xop#NYSE">XOP</a>): 52.90% short float, $2.8 billion total short
4. iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itb#BATS">ITB</a>): 46.39% short float, $557.5 million total short
5. iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF: 38.8% short float, $6.8 billion total short
Most Crowded Short ETFs: Another indicator of bets against an ETF covering a particular sector or region could be combining the short interest by dollars, short float percent and cost to borrow. S3 ranks the five most crowded ETFs for short interest using a scoring system.
1. SPDR S&amp;P Retail ETF 
(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ewco#NYSE">EWCO</a>)
2. iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF
3. SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Explorer &amp; Product
4. SPDR S&amp;P Biotech
5. Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Communication Services 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/11/29789195/block-is-the-most-shorted-crypto-stock-how-do-coinbase-microstrategy-compare">Block Is The Most Shorted Crypto Stock, How Do Coinbase, MicroStrategy Compare</a>
Photo via Shutterstock.&nbsp;

The latest round of 13F filings from institutional investors is out, revealing to the world the stocks that some of the richest and most successful investors have been buying and selling.
Takeaways From 13F Season: Investors who follow particular fund managers can easily look up what each was buying and selling in the quarter, but other investors may be more interested in overall themes from 13F filings. The second quarter of 2021 was another big quarter for the S&amp;P 500, and investors were likely interested in what top managers were buying and selling heading into the second half of 2021.
<ul>
<li>Google parent Alphabet has the attention of fund managers, with Tepper selling and Soros buying.</li>
<li>Alibaba had a brutal quarter in part due to a regulatory crackdown on big tech stocks in China, and fund managers took notice. Tepper was selling while Cooperman was buying the dip.</li>
<li>Buffett continued accumulating Kroger shares while selling off health care investments.</li>
<li>Several fund managers traded ETFs to play particular themes. Despite a booming U.S. Market, Cooperman invested in developed markets outside of the U.S. &amp; Canada by buying the EFA ETF, while Smith made big bets on small and mid-cap stocks by buying the IWR and IWM funds.</li>
</ul>
Here&rsquo;s a rundown of how the smart money was playing some of the most popular stocks last quarter.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/21/08/22516775/the-case-for-a-stock-market-bubble-speculation-pervading-society">The Case For A Stock Market Bubble: &#39;Speculation Pervading Society&#39;</a> 
David Einhorn&rsquo;s Greenlight Capital
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>GoPro Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gpro#NASDAQ">GPRO</a>)</li>
<li>Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/teck#NYSE">TECK</a>)</li>
<li>ODP Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/odp#NASDAQ">ODP</a>)</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>)</li>
<li>Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/expe#NASDAQ">EXPE</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>ADT Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/adt#NYSE">ADT</a>)</li>
<li>APi Group Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/apg#NYSE">APG</a>)</li>
<li>CNX Resources Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnx#NYSE">CNX</a>)</li>
</ul>
David Tepper&rsquo;s Appaloosa Management
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/uber#NYSE">UBER</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>T-Mobile Us Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tmus#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>)</li>
<li>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</li>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd - ADR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/baba#NYSE">BABA</a>)</li>
<li>Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fb#NASDAQ">FB</a>)</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/msft#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</li>
<li>Twitter Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/twtr#NYSE">TWTR</a>)</li>
<li>Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</li>
<li>Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nflx#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>)</li>
<li>Walt Disney Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>)</li>
</ul>
Leon Cooperman&rsquo;s Omega Advisors
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Lithia Motors Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lad#NYSE">LAD</a>)</li>
<li>Finance of America Companies Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/foa#NYSE">FOA</a>)</li>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Ltd - ADR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/baba#NYSE">BABA</a>)</li>
<li>Bausch Health Companies Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bhc#NYSE">BHC</a>)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/vanguard-review/">Vanguard</a> 500 Index Fund ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>)</li>
<li>iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/efa#NYSE">EFA</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>Ferro Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/foe#NYSE">FOE</a>)</li>
<li>Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cmcsa#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>)</li>
</ul>
Barry Rosenstein&rsquo;s Jana Partners
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Encompass Health Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ehc#NYSE">EHC</a>)</li>
<li>Vonage Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vg#NASDAQ">VG</a>)</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spy#NYSE">SPY</a>)</li>
<li>CyrusOne Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cone#NASDAQ">CONE</a>)</li>
<li>Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csod#NASDAQ">CSOD</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>Conagra Brands Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cag#NYSE">CAG</a>)</li>
<li>TreeHouse Foods Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ths#NYSE">THS</a>)</li>
<li>Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lh#NYSE">LH</a>)</li>
</ul>
Jeff Smith&rsquo;s Starboard Value
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Papa John&#39;s Int&#39;l, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pzza#NASDAQ">PZZA</a>)</li>
<li>ON Semiconductor Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/on#NASDAQ">ON</a>)</li>
<li>iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iwm#NYSE">IWM</a>)</li>
<li>iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iwr#NYSE">IWR</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>Aecom (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/acm#NYSE">ACM</a>)</li>
<li>NortonLifeLock Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nlok#NASDAQ">NLOK</a>)</li>
<li>Corteva Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ctva#NYSE">CTVA</a>)</li>
<li>CommVault Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cvlt#NASDAQ">CVLT</a>)</li>
</ul>
Warren Buffett&rsquo;s Berkshire Hathaway
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Kroger Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kr#NYSE">KR</a>)</li>
<li>Organon &amp; Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ogn#NYSE">OGN</a>)</li>
<li>Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Co., Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrk#NYSE">MRK</a>)</li>
<li>General Motors Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gm#NYSE">GM</a>)</li>
<li>Axalta Coating Systems Ltd (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/axta#NYSE">AXTA</a>)</li>
<li>AbbVie Inc (NYSE:&nbsp;ABBV)</li>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cvx#NYSE">CVX</a>)</li>
<li>Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bmy#NYSE">BMY</a>)</li>
<li>Biogen Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/biib#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>)</li>
</ul>
George Soros&rsquo; Soros Fund Management
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</li>
<li>Walt Disney Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>)</li>
<li>Airbnb Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/abnb#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>)</li>
<li>MGM Resorts International (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mgm#NYSE">MGM</a>)</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/goog#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/googl#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/viac#NASDAQ">VIAC</a>)</li>
<li>iShares iBoxx $ Inv Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lqd#NYSE">LQD</a>)</li>
<li>T-Mobile Us Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tmus#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>)</li>
<li>Nike Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nke#NYSE">NKE</a>)</li>
<li>General Motors Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gm#NYSE">GM</a>)</li>
</ul>
Carl Icahn&rsquo;s Icahn Capital
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Icahn Enterprises LP (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iep#NASDAQ">IEP</a>)</li>
<li>Xerox Holdings Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xrx#NYSE">XRX</a>)</li>
<li>Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:</li>
<li>Herbalife Nutrition Ltd (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hlf#NYSE">HLF</a>)</li>
<li>Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/oxy#NYSE">OXY</a>)</li>
<li>Tenneco Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ten#NYSE">TEN</a>)</li>
<li>Delek US Holdings Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dk#NYSE">DK</a>)</li>
<li>Welbilt Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wbt#NYSE">WBT</a>)</li>
</ul>
Bill Ackman&rsquo;s Pershing Square Capital
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Domino&#39;s Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dpz#NYSE">DPZ</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>Restaurant Brands International Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qsr#NYSE">QSR</a>)</li>
<li>Lowe&rsquo;s Companies Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/low#NYSE">LOW</a>)</li>
<li>Agilent Technologies Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/a#NYSE">A</a>)</li>
<li>Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hlt#NYSE">HLT</a>)</li>
</ul>
Seth Klarman&rsquo;s Baupost Group
Notable Q2 Buys/Increases:
<ul>
<li>Shaw Communications Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sjr#NYSE">SJR</a>)</li>
<li>Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mu#NASDAQ">MU</a>)</li>
<li>Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fb#NASDAQ">FB</a>)</li>
</ul>
Notable Q2 Sells/Reductions:
<ul>
<li>eBay Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ebay#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>)</li>
<li>Fox Corp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/foxa#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>) (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fox#NASDAQ">FOX</a>)</li>
<li>Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/intc#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)</li>
<li>Healthpeak Properties Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/peak#NYSE">PEAK</a>)</li>
</ul>

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Thursday. The stock price moved up to $80.58 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-09-17</li>
<li>Strike Price: $80.00</li>
<li>Volume: 200</li>
<li>Open Interest: 21752</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Movers

Unusual Options Activity Insight: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Tuesday. The stock price moved up to $80.42 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-09-17</li>
<li>Strike Price: $82.00</li>
<li>Volume: 5941</li>
<li>Open Interest: 65449</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of unsettled contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed, is called open interest. These contracts are not yet closed because a buyer has not purchased the contract, or a seller has not sold it.
Another indicator of unusual options activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Additional time until a contract expires generally increases the potential for it to grow its time value and reach its strike price. It is important to consider time value because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Monday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $80. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-11-19</li>
<li>Strike Price: $74.00</li>
<li>Volume: 885</li>
<li>Open Interest: 4006</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Understanding iShares MSCI EAFE ETF's Unusual Options Activity

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved down to $79.55 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-20</li>
<li>Strike Price: $79.00</li>
<li>Volume: 1584</li>
<li>Open Interest: 39692</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
Extraordinarily large volume (compared to historical averages) is one indication of unusual options market activity. Volume refers to the total number of contracts traded over a given time period when discussing options market activity. The number of unsettled contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed, is called open interest. These contracts are not yet closed because a buyer has not purchased the contract, or a seller has not sold it.
Another indicator of unusual options activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Additional time until a contract expires generally increases the potential for it to grow its time value and reach its strike price. It is important to consider time value because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

<h1>Unusual Options Activity Insight: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF</h1>
Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Thursday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $80.02. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-27</li>
<li>Strike Price: $78.50</li>
<li>Volume: 23000</li>
<li>Open Interest: 1</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of unsettled contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed, is called open interest. These contracts are not yet closed because a buyer has not purchased the contract, or a seller has not sold it.
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Monday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $79.28. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-13</li>
<li>Strike Price: $78.00</li>
<li>Volume: 2038</li>
<li>Open Interest: 1047</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Indications Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts with a strike price far from the underlying price are also considered unusual because they are defined as being "out of the money". This occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made because the underlying asset value is expected to change dramatically in the future, and the buyer or seller can take advantage of a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Friday. The stock price moved up to $79.2 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-06</li>
<li>Strike Price: $77.00</li>
<li>Volume: 2667</li>
<li>Open Interest: 45</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
Extraordinarily large volume (compared to historical averages) is one indication of unusual options market activity. Volume refers to the total number of contracts traded over a given time period when discussing options market activity. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Thursday. The stock price moved up to $78.69 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2022-01-21</li>
<li>Strike Price: $74.00</li>
<li>Volume: 1800</li>
<li>Open Interest: 2948</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts with a strike price far from the underlying price are also considered unusual because they are defined as being "out of the money". This occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made because the underlying asset value is expected to change dramatically in the future, and the buyer or seller can take advantage of a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Analyzing iShares MSCI EAFE ETF's Unusual Options Activity

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Tuesday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $77.27. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-08-20</li>
<li>Strike Price: $78.00</li>
<li>Volume: 310</li>
<li>Open Interest: 2338</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Extraordinarily large volume (compared to historical averages) is one indication of unusual options market activity. Volume refers to the total number of contracts traded over a given time period when discussing options market activity. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) shares experienced unusual options activity on Monday. The stock price moved down to $76.66 following the option alert. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-07-23</li>
<li>Strike Price: $76.00</li>
<li>Volume: 8297</li>
<li>Open Interest: 6875</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts with a strike price far from the underlying price are also considered unusual because they are defined as being "out of the money". This occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made because the underlying asset value is expected to change dramatically in the future, and the buyer or seller can take advantage of a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Thursday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved down to $78.96. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2021-07-16</li>
<li>Strike Price: $79.00</li>
<li>Volume: 5787</li>
<li>Open Interest: 30231</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
Exceptionally large volume (compared to historical averages) is one reason for which options market activity can be considered unusual. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed by either counterparty, is called open interest. A contract cannot be considered closed until there exists both a buyer and seller for it. 
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
These observations are made without knowing the investor's true intent by purchasing these options contracts. The activity is suggestive of these strategies, but an observer cannot be sure if a bettor is playing the contract outright or if the options bettor is hedging a large underlying position in common stock. For the latter case, bullish options activity may be less meaningful than the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock.
<h2>Trading Options With These Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw some unusual options activity on Friday. Following the unusual option alert, the stock price moved up to $79.44. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BEARISH</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: CALL</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2022-01-21</li>
<li>Strike Price: $82.00</li>
<li>Volume: 250</li>
<li>Open Interest: 7869</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. The number of unsettled contracts that have been traded, but not yet closed, is called open interest. These contracts are not yet closed because a buyer has not purchased the contract, or a seller has not sold it.
Another sign of unusual activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Usually, additional time until a contract expires allows more opportunity for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important to consider because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

On Wednesday, shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw unusual options activity. After the option alert, the stock price moved up to $79.25. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: NEUTRAL</li>
<li>Option Type: TRADE</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2022-03-18</li>
<li>Strike Price: $73.00</li>
<li>Volume: 2000</li>
<li>Open Interest: 4070</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Signs Of Unusual Options Activity</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
Another indicator of unusual options activity is the trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future. Additional time until a contract expires generally increases the potential for it to grow its time value and reach its strike price. It is important to consider time value because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
Contracts that are "out of the money" are also indicative of unusual options activity. "Out of the money" contracts occur when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. These trades are made with the expectation that the value of the underlying asset is going to change dramatically in the future, and buyers and sellers will benefit from a greater profit margin. 
<h2>Bullish And Bearish Sentiments</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Options Strategies</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>

On Thursday, shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EFA#NYSE">EFA</a>) saw unusual options activity. After the option alert, the stock price moved up to $78.92. 
<ul>
<li>Sentiment: BULLISH</li>
<li>Option Type: SWEEP</li>
<li>Trade Type: PUT</li>
<li>Expiration Date: 2022-03-18</li>
<li>Strike Price: $75.00</li>
<li>Volume: 227</li>
<li>Open Interest: 5051</li>
</ul>
<h2>Three Ways Options Activity Is ‘Unusual'</h2>
One way options market activity can be considered unusual is when volume is exceptionally higher than its historical average. The volume of options activity refers to the number of contracts traded over a given time period. Open interest is the number of unsettled contracts that have been traded but not yet closed by either counterparty. In other words, open interest represents the quantity of contracts that individual parties have written but not yet found a counterparty for (i.e. a buyer finding a seller, or a seller finding a buyer).
The trading of a contract with an expiration date in the distant future is another sign of unusual activity. Generally, additional time until a contract expires increases the potential for it to reach its strike price and grow its time value. Time value is important in this context because it represents the difference between the strike price and the value of the underlying asset. 
"Out of the money" contracts are unusual because they are purchased with a strike price far from the underlying asset price. "Out of the money" occurs when the underlying price is under the strike price on a call option, or above the strike price on a put option. Buyers and sellers try to take advantage of a large profit margin in these instances because they are expecting the value of the underlying asset to change dramatically in the future. 
<h2>Understanding Sentiment</h2>
Options are "bullish" when a call is purchased at/near ask price or a put is sold at/near bid price. Options are "bearish" when a call is sold at/near bid price or a put is bought at/near ask price. 
Although the activity is suggestive of these strategies, these observations are made without knowing the investor's true intentions when purchasing these options contracts. An observer cannot be sure if the bettor is playing the contract outright or if they're hedging a large underlying position in a common stock. For the latter case, the exposure a large investor has on their short position in common stock may be more meaningful than bullish options activity. 
<h2>Using These Strategies To Trade Options</h2>
Unusual options activity is an advantageous strategy that may greatly reward an investor if they are highly skilled, but for the less experienced trader, it should remain as another tool to make an educated investment decision while taking other observations into account.
For more information to understand options alerts, visit <a href="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts" title="https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts">https://pro.benzinga.help/en/articles/1769505-how-do-i-understand-options-alerts</a>


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