10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Thursday, August 6, 2026

SoundHound AI tumbled 8.65% to $5.70 today despite crushing Q2 expectations—revenue surged 45% to $61.9M, EPS beat by 67%, and management lifted FY2026 guidance to $230–260M. The disconnect signals profit-taking after a 25% after-hours pop Wednesday. Options flow remains decisively bullish: a 3.56 call-to-put ratio and heavy accumulation in $6.50–$7.00 calls expiring August 7 suggest institutional conviction the stock finds support near $5.50–$5.80. Watch the $6.50 level as the near-term breakeven.

AST SpaceMobile gained 7.7% today following successful deployment of three BlueBird satellites, marking progress on its next-generation network. Options traders are aggressively positioning bullish bets, with a 6.47 call-to-put ratio and over 27,000 contracts flooding the $75 strike expiring August 2026—more than double any other level. The stock now trades well below its 52-week high of $133.86, leaving room for call holders betting on execution of the company's $150–200M 2026 revenue guidance.

Advanced Micro Devices tumbled 7.04% today, dragged lower by comments from Elon Musk and broader investor concern that AI chip leaders may be buying into the wrong end of the semiconductor supply chain. The real margin pressure sits upstream in wafer manufacturing, not GPU design. Options traders are hedging aggressively—put volume is running 1.2x call volume—with significant open interest clustering around $80 and $75 strike puts expiring August 7, signaling near-term downside protection. Watch the $450–$460 support zone.

Caterpillar jumped 5.6% today after a 12% earnings beat fueled by data-center power investments and record backlog, prompting Truist to raise its price target to $1225. Options flow shows mixed conviction—call volume concentrates around $950 and $900 strikes through August, suggesting traders expect a pullback from current levels before sustained momentum resumes. Watch $1,000 as near-term resistance; record segment demand and raised 2026 guidance support the bull case, but elevated beta of 1.584 signals volatility risk.

Eli Lilly climbed 4.86% following a 48% revenue jump driven by blockbuster incretin drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, prompting the company to raise 2026 guidance to $85–87B. Options markets are flashing aggression, with call-to-put ratio of 4.58 and heavy positioning in $1,200–$1,340 strikes expiring through August 21, signaling conviction above current levels. Watch the $1,200 call support—nearly 4,600 contracts traded—as a key technical and sentiment threshold for the next leg.

Super Micro Computer tumbled 4.32% to $30.32 ahead of August 11 earnings, extending its reversal from a $59.40 peak. Yet options traders are positioning aggressively long: call volume dwarfs puts 3.39-to-1, with heavy concentration in $36–$40 strikes expiring post-earnings. The AMD partnership announcement and AI infrastructure tailwinds contrast sharply with analyst caution, setting up a potential volatility event if guidance matches the bullish derivatives narrative.

MARA Holdings tumbled 4.23% to $11.32 today, extending crypto mining sector weakness ahead of earnings reports from RIOT and MARA that could separate operational leaders from laggards. However, options traders are painting a contrarian picture: call volume surged to 8,806 contracts at the $12 strike (Aug 2026), with a bullish 2.56 call-to-put ratio signaling conviction in a recovery above current levels. The Texas data center power audit could unlock value for approved operators, but MARA must prove execution can justify its $6.66–$23.45 range volatility. Watch the $12 resistance and earnings delivery next week.

GLD surged 4.14% to $389.64 as spot gold broke decisively above $4,200/oz, buoyed by progress on US-Iran Hormuz negotiations and a softer greenback easing inflation concerns. Options markets are heavily long, with a 4.70 call-to-put ratio and concentrated bullish positioning in $390–$400 calls expiring through mid-August 2026. Technicians flag the 50-day moving average as a critical hold; a sustained breach above $400 would signal conviction in the rally.

Alphabet shares dropped 4% today despite a 24% revenue beat, reflecting investor anxiety over a $200B infrastructure spending commitment and executive departures at DeepMind, including chief scientist Demis Hassabis's role transition. The options market tells a different story: heavy call buying across the $365–$385 strike range through August 2026 (C/P ratio 3.14) signals traders see mean reversion potential near current support. Watch $370 for a breakout trigger; a hold above $360 validates the bullish positioning.

VXX shares fell 3.57% to $20.51 on muted volume, extending weakness from its 52-week peak of $538.30. Yet options flow tells a contrarian story: a 3.45 call-to-put ratio and heavy positioning in August $21–$23.50 calls signal traders are loading upside bets ahead of August expiration. Watch the $21 strike; nearly 3,200 call contracts traded there, suggesting conviction for a move above current levels by mid-August.