10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Thursday, August 27, 2026

Strategy Inc climbed 6.10% to $119.25 as options traders loaded into call contracts ahead of Thursday's expiry, with a 4.44 call-to-put ratio signaling aggressive bullish positioning. The $130 strike saw 22,007 contracts trade, suggesting conviction toward a breakout above current resistance. However, Bernstein's target cut to $350—from $450—tempers momentum, citing faster equity dilution despite maintaining an Outperform rating. Bitcoin's recent pullback and elevated macro uncertainty create a narrow window for the $123–$130 range through expiry.

Moderna shares retreated Wednesday, pausing a dramatic 150% surge driven by landmark clinical trial wins in its oncology pipeline. Options traders aren't abandoning ship: a 1.80 call-to-put ratio and heavy positioning in $180 calls expiring August 2026 signal conviction in further upside. The $150 strike—currently at-the-money—anchors both call and put activity, with bulls testing $180 resistance and bears defending the $140 floor.

MARA Holdings jumped 5.6% Friday as Bitcoin punched through 2026 resistance levels, buoyed by Trump's regulatory push and renewed risk appetite in digital assets. Options markets are pricing aggressive upside, with call-to-put ratio of 2.61 and heavy volume in $12 calls expiring Thursday—suggesting traders are positioning for sustained momentum. The $12 level represents near-term resistance; a close above $11.50 would confirm the breakout structure.

AST SpaceMobile jumped 5.5% to $68.65 today, reversing recent weakness tied to SpaceX competitive concerns and persistent overvaluation warnings. Options flow remains decidedly bullish, with call-to-put ratio at 2.63 and heavy accumulation in $70 and $65 strikes expiring August 2026, suggesting traders are positioning for sustained upside despite analyst skepticism. The $70 call saw 3,190 contracts trade, establishing a key resistance pivot; watch August 2026 expiry as the market tests conviction in the sovereign satellite strategy and $3.7B liquidity cushion.

Riot Platforms jumped 5.39% Thursday as Bitcoin crossed $72,000 following President Trump's call for Congress to pass the Clarity Act and efforts to bring Hyperliquid to the U.S. Options traders are front-running further upside, with heavy call buying concentrated in August 2026 contracts—particularly the $24–$25 strikes, where call volume dwarfs open interest, signaling fresh bullish positioning. Watch the $25 level as near-term resistance; sustained momentum above it could trigger acceleration toward the 52-week high of $30.32.

Target surged 4.28% to $159, reclaiming ground near its 52-week high of $161.98, buoyed by CNBC analyst endorsements citing strong earnings and seasoned management. Options markets are flashing conviction: call-to-put ratio of 1.69 reflects heavy institutional call buying, with notable volume concentrated in $167.50 calls expiring August 28—just 8 points above current price. Put buyers, meanwhile, are hedging downside at the $165 and $157.50 strikes, suggesting traders expect volatility but lean constructive near-term.

Arm Holdings climbed 3.93% to $251.06 as investors reassess its data-center CPU ambitions amid broad semiconductor strength. Heavy call buying—evidenced by a 9.53 call-to-put ratio—signals conviction above current levels, with 2,259 contracts stacked at the $300 strike expiring September 18. Yet valuation headwinds persist: the stock now trades at extreme multiples on $25B revenue expectations, and recent analyses flag it as overvalued after a 112% year-to-date run. Watch the $270 resistance, where 6,134 calls expire in August 2026.

Devon Energy jumped 3.75% to $47.57 today, tracking strength in energy equities as sector M&A activity heats up—notably Magnolia Oil & Gas' $4.06B WildFire acquisition. Options flow turned decisively bullish with a 6.62 call-to-put ratio and heavy buying in $47.50 calls expiring September 2026, signaling conviction for a move above the 52-week high of $52.71. The low beta (0.56) suggests traders view DVN as a stable entry point in a volatile sector rally.

Eli Lilly dropped 3.59% today as broad equity weakness and renewed rate-hike bets weighed on growth names, despite positive real-world data showing Zepbound lowered healthcare costs in seniors over 12 months. The options market betrays caution: put volume surged, with 1,122 contracts trading on the $1,150 strike expiring Wednesday and 673 on the $1,100 level (September 18), signaling downside hedging. Call flow remains anemic relative to puts (0.91 C/P ratio), suggesting traders expect consolidation near $1,150 through month-end.

Robinhood Markets fell 3.17% to $108.54 amid broad financial sector volatility, though options flow suggests traders remain undecided. Call volume into the $110–$120 strikes (Aug 28 expiry) totaled over 14,000 contracts, signaling appetite for upside despite the intraday weakness. The balanced call-put ratio of 0.98 and elevated September $110 puts indicate hedging activity. Watch $110 as pivot support through Friday's expiration.