10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Monday, August 31, 2026

PayPal shares plummeted today after Stripe and Advent Capital abandoned their $53 billion acquisition bid, citing a price gap with the board. The collapse unwound a takeover premium that had supported the stock near deal levels. Yet options markets are flashing contrarian signals: heavy call buying with a 2.06 call-to-put ratio, particularly at $55 and $57 strikes expiring September 2026, suggests traders see a floor around current levels and potential mean reversion if cost-cutting initiatives gain traction.

MARA Holdings dropped 9.35% Friday, dragged down by selling pressure across digital assets and cryptocurrency-exposed equities. Despite mixed options flow (0.99 C/P ratio), heavy put volume in September 2026 contracts—particularly the $11.50 and $12.50 strikes—suggests hedging demand around current levels. Notable call interest at $11–$12 indicates some buyers testing support, though zero open interest across all observed contracts signals thin conviction. Watch the $10.76 level; a break below could accelerate losses toward the 52-week low of $6.66.

Riot Platforms dropped sharply today, extending pressure on a stock that's already down 37% from its 52-week high of $30.32. The decline comes even as billionaire Dan Loeb's Third Point added RIOT to a four-stock bitcoin-miner basket positioned to capture AI infrastructure tailwinds—a structural bull case that hasn't gained traction in today's session. Options markets are flashing caution: put volume is crushing calls (0.65 call-put ratio), with aggressive buying concentrated in $18.50–$21.00 puts expiring September 2026, suggesting traders are hedging downside through year-end. Watch the $18.50 support level.

IonQ shares tumbled 8.46% today to $38.87, pressured by broader quantum computing volatility despite announcing a significant deployment milestone—Skyloom Global's optical terminals now supporting the Space Development Agency's space architecture initiative. Options markets flash caution: puts dominate flow with 6,327 contracts at the $30 strike through September, signaling downside hedging. Call positioning clusters tightly around $40–$45 for mid-September expiry, suggesting traders are waiting for stabilization near $40 before committing to upside bets.

BioNTech shares fell sharply Friday after halting its Phase 2 colorectal cancer trial following a data safety board review, overshadowing FDA approval of its updated 2026-27 COVID vaccine targeting the XFG variant. The selloff contradicts analyst calls for a Strong Buy on oncology pipeline strength, suggesting market focus has shifted to near-term clinical setbacks. Options markets are heavily defensive, with put volume at 4,891 contracts across the $80–$100 strike range through September 2026, signaling trader conviction for downside toward $80 support.

Coinbase dropped 6.33% today as bitcoin tumbled to $78,000 following Fed rate-hike chatter, though crypto bulls remain constructive on longer-term technicals. Options markets tell a different story: call-to-put ratio of 2.64 signals aggressive bullish positioning, with heavy buying in $200 calls expiring September 2026—betting on a 12% rally from current levels. Watch $185 as near-term support; a hold could validate the options crowd's conviction ahead of potential policy clarity.

Arm Holdings slipped 6.33% today to $239.05, reversing momentum from recent IBM partnership gains and Nvidia's upbeat AI guidance. Yet options traders are positioning for recovery: call volume to the $300 strike (September 2026) reached 1,382 contracts, while put support clusters at $240–$250, suggesting a floor near current levels. With a beta of 3.89, ARM remains a volatile proxy for semiconductor-led AI infrastructure spending; watch whether the stock can hold $240 or break toward $250 resistance in the coming week.

Rivian shares slid 6.25% to $15.75 Friday following CFO Claire McDonough's departure after nearly six years, with interim replacement Derek Mulvey stepping into the finance role effective Oct. 30. The leadership vacuum weighed on sentiment, yet options markets painted a contrarian picture: call volume surged to nearly 17,000 contracts across September 2026 expiries, with a 2.86 call-to-put ratio signaling aggressive bullish positioning. Traders are targeting $16–$17 resistance, suggesting conviction in a near-term bounce despite current headwinds.

Rocket Lab tumbled 5.46% today amid investor concerns over Neutron development costs and timeline uncertainty, though a $2.36 billion backlog and scaled defense business provide near-term support. Options markets flash contrarian conviction: call volume at the $70–$72 strikes (Sept 2026) hit 7,200+ contracts with minimal open interest, signaling fresh bullish positioning ahead of potential catalysts. The 1.58 call-to-put ratio and technical flush below $64 suggest institutional accumulation into weakness. Watch the $60 support level and any Neutron timeline updates.

AST SpaceMobile tumbled Wednesday after SpaceX announced operational changes to Falcon 9 launches, stoking investor concerns about the satellite-to-cellular startup's competitive moat and launch timeline. The stock has surrendered nearly 56% from its 52-week high of $133.86, now hovering at $58.09 with extreme volatility (beta 2.79). Options traders are hedging aggressively: heavy put volume at $50–$54 strikes (Sept 2026) signals downside protection, while ITM $90 puts suggest conviction in further downside. Watch the $50 support level closely; a breach could trigger capitulation selling.