10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Monday, July 6, 2026

Lam Research plunged 10.2% today amid sector-wide selloff as investors fret that AI-driven chip demand is cooling and overcapacity looms. The put/call ratio of 1.23 signals defensive positioning, with heavy volume in $160 puts suggesting downside protection bets below current levels. Options traders are hedging hard ahead of July 10 expirations, while scattered call interest above $375 hints at lingering conviction among bulls. Watch the $327.50 support zone; a break below signals further capitulation in semiconductor capital equipment.

Moderna climbed 10% today to $79.76, extending a remarkable 70% monthly rally fueled by a 9-0 FDA vote and the company's pivot into oncology, autoimmune diseases, and cell therapies beyond vaccines. Jim Cramer's bullish reversal—his first positive stance in years—signals institutional confidence in the platform expansion thesis. Options traders are aggressively positioned long, with call-put ratios at 20.37x; heavy volume in $80–$85 calls expiring mid-July suggests conviction the stock can breach $85 before summer's end.

Rivian shares jumped 8.44% to $18.63 today, buoyed by California's new EV incentive legislation that notably excludes Tesla, and the company's raised full-year 2026 guidance. Options markets are pricing in further upside, with call volume spiking 2.71x put ratio; heavy positioning in $20 calls through July 2026 suggests traders see resistance near that level as a key breakout target. Watch the $20 strike—a sustained close above it would test the 52-week high of $22.69.

Lucid shares slid 8.3% today despite a management overhaul meant to signal turnaround momentum, as Q2 vehicle deliveries disappointed analysts and workforce cuts in Europe signal execution risk ahead. The options market has turned decisively bearish: put-call ratio sits at 0.49 with nearly 3,900 contracts stacked into the $5.50 strike expiring July 10, suggesting institutional hedging ahead of near-term support tests. Watch the $5.50 level—a break below that could trigger cascade selling into technical support, while competitive pressure from better-capitalized rivals like Rivian remains acute.

Strategy Inc. jumped nearly 8% after approving a $1.25 billion Bitcoin sales framework, signaling a strategic pivot from strict accumulation to selective monetization for buybacks and liquidity. Options traders are piling into calls, with a 3.0 call-to-put ratio and heavy volume across $105–$120 strikes expiring July 2026, suggesting conviction in near-term upside. Bitcoin's $62k+ level and pending U.S. crypto legislation provide tailwinds, though the framework's reflexive risk—selling into weakness to cover liquidity needs—bears watching as a potential downside catalyst.

Riot Platforms dropped 7.72% to $22.11 today, extending pressure on a stock caught between two narratives: a lucrative pivot into AI infrastructure and near-term bitcoin mining headwinds. Despite Keefe Bruyette's $37 price target and inclusion in Leopold Aschenbrenner's top AI picks, Riot continues liquidating bitcoin holdings to fund its data-center transformation—a bet that's unsettling near-term traders. Options markets show balanced anxiety, with heavy put volume at $17–$18 strikes (July 2026) signaling hedges against downside, while call interest clusters at $28–$29, suggesting institutions are building positions on weakness. Watch the $20 support level; a break below invites fresh selling.

Tesla shares tumbled 7.49% today despite posting better-than-expected EV deliveries last quarter, signaling investor concerns about near-term valuation after the stock's 72% climb from 52-week lows. Options markets show mixed conviction: heavy put volume in the $240–$390 strike range suggests hedging against downside, while call interest near $400 indicates support remains contested. Watch the $390 support level—a 2026 put saw 31,331 contracts trade Friday—as the technical and sentiment floor.

Applied Materials tumbled 7.35% today, extending pressure from legendary short-seller Michael Burry's newly disclosed bearish bets on semiconductor stocks. Despite bullish analyst calls—B. Riley lifted its target to $790—options markets are flashing red: a 0.28 call-to-put ratio shows heavy defensive put buying, with 3,500 contracts trading the $235 strike expiring July 10. Watch $570 as near-term support; a breakdown there could accelerate downside toward the $500–$550 zone.

Marathon Digital Holdings tumbled 7.26% to $12.40 today, widening intraday losses despite a robust options market betting on recovery. Call volume exploded with a 14.42 call-to-put ratio, heavily concentrated in July 2026 $13.50 and $14.50 strikes, signaling trader conviction in the company's pivot to AI data center infrastructure alongside Starwood Capital. Analysts maintain bullish outlooks (Citizens JMP flagged a $24 target), yet profitability concerns and non-cash Bitcoin writedowns continue to weigh on sentiment. Watch the $13 support level; a hold could validate the options market's bullish framing.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals jumped 6% to $528 after the FDA green-lit CASGEVY for children as young as two with sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, unlocking a 5,500-patient addressable market. The gene therapy milestone marks a watershed moment for pediatric genetic medicine. However, options flow tells a different story: a 0.16 call-to-put ratio reveals heavy put buying at $495 and $385 strikes through mid-July, suggesting sophisticated players are locking in profits ahead of potential consolidation. Watch the $495 support level over the next two weeks.