10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Thursday, July 9, 2026

Moderna shares plunged 7.48% to $73.80 today, extending a two-session slide of nearly 9% after a spectacular 50% June surge ran out of steam. Geopolitical headwinds and sector rotation into energy stocks amid Iran tensions weighed on the healthcare name, though Morgan Stanley notes H2 performance will hinge on fundamentals rather than macro. Options markets flash a bullish contrarian signal: heavy call buying (2.78 C/P ratio) with 15,500+ contracts in the $50 call (2026) suggesting deep-value conviction, while the $72 and $74 puts indicate support clustering near current levels.

Super Micro Computer surged 7.31% today after unveiling Kubernetes Edge AI appliances with Red Hat and Everpure, signaling renewed investor appetite despite a brutal 36% June selloff driven by shareholder dilution fears. The options market is decidedly bullish, with a lopsided 15.60 call-to-put ratio and heavy volume in $35 calls expiring July 17—suggesting traders see momentum beyond current levels. Still, the stock trades 55% below its 52-week high of $62.36, leaving structural questions about valuation and execution unresolved before key earnings catalysts.

Palo Alto Networks fell sharply today despite Needham raising its price target by over 20%, underscoring a disconnect between fundamental strength and near-term sentiment. The cybersecurity firm's AI-driven security positioning and Cortex XDR platform advances remain constructive, yet broader sector pressure—particularly geopolitical headwinds—weighed on the stock. Options markets show elevated call volumes at $380 and $400 strikes (July 2026), suggesting institutional conviction in a higher-priced scenario, though the 0.85 call-to-put ratio betrays lingering caution ahead of key support near $310.

Broadcom jumped 4.83% to $388.69 after Apple locked in a $30 billion multi-year custom silicon partnership extending through 2031, marking the largest U.S. chip deal on record. The agreement secures production of over 15 billion chips domestically and anchors Broadcom's revenue visibility through the decade. Options traders are aggressively bullish, with call volume hitting 8.12x put ratio; heavy positioning in $400 calls expiring July 2026 signals conviction the stock can break above its prior $495 resistance.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals fell 4.56% to $498.43 today, reversing some gains from its $10 billion Crinetics acquisition announced last week. The options market is flashing caution: put buying has intensified with a call-to-put ratio of just 0.21, suggesting traders are hedging downside risk ahead of the deal's integration phase. Key support sits at $385, where heavy July 2026 put volume congregates; watch the $470 call strikes through mid-July for potential resistance. Morgan Stanley notes biopharma performance will pivot to fundamentals in H2, putting VRTX's deal execution under scrutiny.

Target climbed 3.82% to $132.42 as Wall Street pivoted bullish on improving store fundamentals and higher-margin revenue streams. Roundel's retail media business and Target Circle 360 memberships are offsetting seasonal volatility that has long plagued the retailer versus Walmart. Options traders are aggressively positioning bullish, with a 2.92 call-to-put ratio and heavy July 2026 call buying anchored at the $133–$140 strike range, suggesting conviction in sustained momentum. Watch $140 as the key resistance level.

Occidental Petroleum jumped 3.7% to $53.59 Wednesday after Evercore ISI upgraded the stock to Outperform and lifted its price target to $65—signaling 21% upside from current levels. The upgrade reflects confidence in OXY's deleveraged balance sheet and cash generation as crude prices spike on renewed Iran tensions. Options flow is decisively bullish, with a 3.93 call-to-put ratio and 55,551 contracts in the $55 call expiring July 2026, suggesting traders are positioning for a test of the $55–$56 range.

GE Aerospace fell 2.98% to $356.03 today, extending losses amid contagion from Siemens Energy's Wall Street downgrade that has hit power and industrial equipment names broadly. The options market shows mixed conviction: call volume concentrates at $395 and $440 strikes (17- and 24-day expirations), suggesting traders are hedging upside while put interest remains light, with a $195 floor contract gathering modest flow. Technicians will watch the $340 support zone and monitor whether aerospace recovers alongside defense stocks ahead of NATO's Turkey meeting.

Raytheon Technologies fell 2.96% to $194.91 after Trump authorized Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, a move that may diffuse RTX's production monopoly on a key revenue driver. The options market is flashing caution: a 0.59 call-put ratio and heavy downside flow—particularly 390 contracts of July 2026 $140 puts and 158 shares of ITM $195 puts—suggest institutional hedging ahead of potential geopolitical shifts. Watch the $195 support zone through mid-July expirations; a break below could signal deeper strategic repositioning.

Lucid shares fell 2.92% to $5.82 as investors digested the company's capital-intensive business model amid a broader EV sector pullback. The stock remains down 83% from its 52-week high, yet options markets are painting a decidedly bullish picture: call-to-put ratio of 2.41 signals heavy upside positioning, with concentrated volume in $6.00 and $7.00 calls expiring mid-July. Recent leadership reshuffling—including new CFO and CTO appointments—hints at operational restructuring that traders may be anticipating could unlock value. Watch $6.00 as the near-term resistance level.