10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Shares of MicroStrategy jumped 6.1% to $119.25 on the back of a 24% Bitcoin rally that restored profitability to the company's 840,447 BTC holdings, enabling a $2 billion capital raise via direct offering. Options traders are aggressively positioning for further upside, with call volume smashing open interest across the $125–$150 strike range ahead of the August 28 expiry, signaling conviction above current levels. Watch the $130 strike—home to the session's heaviest call flow at 22,327 contracts—as a near-term pivot point as Bitcoin consolidates.

Micron Technology tumbled 5.83% to $910.43 today, dragging the high-beta semiconductor play lower amid broader market churn. Options markets reveal mixed conviction: while call volume concentrates at $900–$1,000 strikes, deep out-of-the-money puts ($185, $750) show hedging interest, suggesting traders are bracing for downside. Watch the $750 support level; August 2026 expiries indicate longer-term positioning ahead of potential supply-chain policy shifts.

MARA Holdings climbed 5.60% to $9.71 Friday, riding Bitcoin's breakout past $77K amid renewed optimism over US digital-asset regulation following Trump's push for clarity. Options markets are pricing aggressive upside, with 26,774 contracts of $12 calls expiring August 28 already trading despite zero open interest—a sign fresh bullish positioning. The stock now tests the 50-day moving average near $12, though elevated beta of 5.35 and sector tensions between mining peers suggest volatility ahead.

Super Micro Computer tumbled 5.56% to $35.17 on Monday, extending volatility in the AI infrastructure play despite solid earnings revisions driving recent gains. Options traders are betting on a bounce: call-to-put ratio of 10.82 signals aggressive bullish positioning, with heavy volume in $36–$40 calls expiring late August through September. Watch the $36 strike on August 28 expiry—now at-the-money—as a critical near-term level. The stock's 2.06 beta amplifies sector swings, but institutional conviction remains evident in the options pit.

AST SpaceMobile climbed 5.52% today, extending gains on momentum from its expanding government contract backlog and successful BlueBird production ramp in Midland. Options traders are aggressively positioning for further upside, with call-to-put ratio at 4.15 and heavy volume in August 2026 calls centered around $70–$75 strikes—suggesting conviction above current levels. Watch the $75 level as key resistance; a sustained break would confirm the institutional bullishness reflected in today's outsized call flow.

Moderna shares retreated Monday after a multi-day surge fueled by positive clinical trial data, with puts dominating options flow as traders lock in gains. The 0.77 call-put ratio and massive volume in $110–$130 puts expiring August 2026 signal elevated hedging activity, suggesting investors are bracing for consolidation near current levels. Watch the $130 support; a break below could accelerate downside toward $110, where put open interest has begun accumulating.

Target climbed 4.28% to $159 today, extending its 63% year-to-date rally as a turnaround under new leadership gains credibility following back-to-back solid earnings beats. The options market shows tension: heavy call volume at $172.50 (August 28) suggests bullish conviction above current levels, while significant put interest at $160–$165 (September) indicates traders hedging near resistance. Watch the $161.98 52-week high—a break above signals fresh momentum; failure there could trigger profit-taking toward $155 support.

Robinhood dropped 4.17% today as broader market weakness from Trump's Canada tariffs offset optimism around a friendlier crypto regulatory environment. The CLARITY Act momentum and CEO Tenev's tokenized-stock pitch lifted the stock $12 billion in recent sessions, but today's pullback tested conviction. Options markets remain constructively positioned: a 4.22 call-to-put ratio and heavy call volume at $110–$115 strikes expiring late August signal traders expect mean reversion toward $110 within days.

Tesla shares dropped 3.83% to $348.95 amid broad semiconductor weakness and mounting headwinds: Trump's proposed 50% Canadian auto tariff threatens margins, while prediction markets price in just an 18% chance Musk delivers the promised $30,000 Cybercab by 2026. Yet options traders are buying the dip—a 2.45 call-to-put ratio shows heavy call accumulation at the $355–$360 August 2026 strikes, suggesting conviction in a rebound. Watch the $350 support level and Sept. 3 Cybercab reveal for catalysts.

Coinbase fell 3.76% to $179.48 despite a chorus of analyst upgrades naming the crypto exchange a top pick for the coming bull cycle. Options traders are aggressively long, with a 1.94 call-to-put ratio and 15,600 contracts flowing into $200 calls expiring August 2026—a $20 upside bet from current levels. The positioning suggests conviction in a multi-year thesis, though near-term volatility remains high given COIN's 3.38 beta and 55% drawdown from 52-week highs.