10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Thursday, July 30, 2026

Schlumberger jumped 11% today following a Q2 earnings beat that reignited energy sector momentum, with the stock now testing its 52-week high near $58.82. Options traders are betting on further upside: call volume has spiked with heavy positioning in $70 August 2026 calls (1,100 contracts) and $52 July 2026 calls (1,172 contracts), signaling confidence in a sustained rally. The call-to-put ratio of 1.72 confirms aggressive bullish sentiment, though near-term resistance sits at the $54 level where $1B in short-dated puts are clustered.

MU crashed below $740 today, extending losses as the memory chip sector grapples with disappointing margins despite AI-driven demand. SK Hynix and Samsung's outsized profit swings suggest consolidation is reshaping the industry, with investors penalizing peers for execution risk. Options markets are divided—heavy put activity at $55 and $800 strikes signals hedging into 2026, while call volume at $800–$900 remains subdued, indicating limited near-term conviction. Watch the $700 support level through month-end.

Super Micro Computer plunged today amid compounding headwinds: an ITC patent investigation into Netlist memory technology and renewed fallout from a Taiwan chip-smuggling scandal now ensnaring Nvidia. Despite the rout, options markets are flashing conviction—a 14.35 call-to-put ratio and heavy positioning in $32–$34.50 calls expiring July–August 2026 suggest institutional buyers see oversold conditions. Watch the $19.48 52-week low; a break below signals deeper distress, while a hold could set up a mean-reversion trade toward $32.

SoundHound AI (SOUN) dropped 8.65% to $5.70 despite announcing expansions of its Emily AI agent at MUSC Health and a new restaurant ordering partnership with Deliverect—both validating its $47.5B addressable voice-AI market thesis. Options markets, however, are singing a different tune: heavy call buying pushed the call-to-put ratio to 8.01x, with 4,573 contracts flooding the $6.50 strike (July 2026) in a single session. The divergence suggests institutional conviction ahead of earnings or further partnership announcements.

Applied Materials plummeted 8.4% today, dragged down by a broad semiconductor selloff triggered by SK hynix's disappointing earnings, which overshadowed strength in AI demand. Despite the carnage, options traders are positioning bullishly, with call-to-put ratio at 3.01 and heavy positioning in $500 calls expiring July 2026, suggesting conviction in a recovery above current levels. Watch the $400 support; a close below it could trigger further capitulation, while a rebound to $500+ would validate the bullish call flow.

Arm Holdings tumbled 8.11% today after posting record Q1 revenue of $1.29B and crushing EPS estimates, yet disappointing investors with cautious forward guidance. The disconnect mirrors a broader semiconductor selloff—data center royalties doubled on AI demand, but management's Q2 outlook failed to sustain the rally. Options markets show caution: 0.73 call/put ratio with heavy put positioning at $205 (Aug 21) and scattered call clustering near $230–$245 expiries, suggesting traders are hedging downside while eyeing a potential bounce off support.

VXX jumped 6.31% today as geopolitical oil shocks and the Fed's pending rate decision triggered a risk-off market rotation. Options traders are aggressively long, with a 5.78 call-to-put ratio and nearly 13,000 contracts flooding into the $23.0 strike (July 2026 expiry). Heavy call buying across the $22.50–$25.00 range signals conviction that volatility may remain elevated through the summer. Watch the $25.0 level—a break above would confirm sustained hedging demand amid macro uncertainty.

Adobe shares climbed 5.72% to $263.43 after federal regulators granted early approval for its Topaz Labs acquisition, removing a key antitrust hurdle. Options markets are pricing in further upside, with a 1.90 call-to-put ratio and heavy activity in $270 calls expiring July 2026, suggesting traders expect a test of resistance near $270. The stock sits near two-month highs with beta of 1.36, indicating outsized sensitivity to broader tech momentum amid Fed rate uncertainty.

Goldman Sachs fell 5.09% today, outpacing broader financial selloff as geopolitical tensions and an approaching Federal Reserve decision spoked investors. The stock, which hit a 52-week high of $1,153.99 just weeks ago, is on pace for its worst two-month performance. Options markets are flashing clear bearish conviction: a 0.37 call-put ratio and massive put volume at the $800 strike (1,863 contracts) through August 21 signal traders are hedging downside risk. Watch the $980 support level closely ahead of the Fed announcement.

Caterpillar plunged to $830.93 after Baird slashed its price target by $300, citing data-center restrictions threatening power-equipment revenue—a fresh headwind amid broader market selloff driven by Fed hawkishness and Middle East tensions. Options flow has turned decisively bearish, with call-to-put ratio collapsing to 0.29 and heavy put buying concentrated at the $600 strike (6,579 contracts) expiring August 21. The machinery giant's 1.61 beta amplifies sector volatility; watch $800 support and Fed policy cues through month-end.