10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Marathon Holdings tumbled 9.35% Friday as Bitcoin weakness reignited concerns that the miner's diversification into AI data centers remains unproven relative to its core crypto exposure. The stock's 52-week volatility—beta 5.39—amplified losses even as broader digital assets steadied. Yet options markets painted a contrarian picture: call volume exploded with 2.64 call-to-put ratio, heaviest concentration in $11 and $12 strikes expiring September 2026, suggesting institutional buyers view current levels as capitulation. Watch $11 support through early February; a Bitcoin rebound above $82,000 could trigger rapid unwinding of short positioning.

Riot Platforms dropped sharply today, but activist money and options traders are positioning for a rebound. Dan Loeb's Third Point added RIOT to a four-stock bitcoin-miner-to-AI basket, betting the sector's infrastructure shift will drive returns. Call volume is surging with a 3.92 call-to-put ratio; traders are stacking bets on $19–$20 strikes through September, signaling conviction above current levels. Watch the $19 call expiry on Sept. 4 as a near-term inflection point.

IonQ shares fell sharply today, dragging down a quantum computing complex grappling with extreme valuations and years-away profitability. Despite the selloff, options traders remain constructively positioned, with call-to-put ratio at 2.77 and heavy September call buying concentrated at $41–$45 strikes. The $45 call expiring September 18 drew 1,417 contracts with zero open interest, signaling fresh bullish positioning ahead of potential sector rotation. Watch the $40 support level through early September.

Rivian shares fell 6.25% Friday following CFO Claire McDonough's departure after nearly six years, with interim replacement Derek Mulvey stepping into the role effective October 30. The executive transition rattled investor confidence at a critical juncture for the EV maker's cash burn trajectory. Options markets, however, paint a more optimistic picture: call-to-put ratio of 1.92 and heavy 2026 call buying around $16.50–$17.00 suggest traders are positioning for a rebound, with $17 calls showing 6,581 contracts of volume.

Tesla climbed 5.51% to $367.95, reclaiming momentum within its $297–$499 52-week range as options flow turned decidedly bullish. Call-to-put ratio of 1.99 reflects heavy institutional accumulation, with nearly 93,000 calls traded across the $365–$370 strikes expiring September 2026. The positioning suggests traders expect Tesla to hold above $365 support while testing resistance near $375–$380. Elevated beta of 1.9 amplifies sector volatility as EV competition from BYD and broader energy demand from AI infrastructure reshape the automotive landscape.

AST SpaceMobile slumped 5.45% Wednesday after SpaceX announced a shift in launch operations, signaling execution risk for the satellite-internet player. Yet options traders are painting a bullish picture: a 4.72 call-to-put ratio reveals heavy positioning in $60 and $100 calls expiring September 2026, suggesting conviction in a multi-year recovery. The stock remains deeply underwater from its $133.86 high, but the options flow implies traders see oversold conditions as an entry point—watch the $60 level as a near-term resistance test.

Coinbase rallied 5.31% to $188.12 today, riding broader crypto optimism as Bitcoin stabilizes above $78,000 following Jackson Hole volatility. Options flow is decidedly bullish, with a 3.99 call-to-put ratio and extraordinary volume in $200 calls expiring September 2026—10,140 contracts traded with zero open interest, signaling fresh institutional conviction. Traders are positioning for a breakout above the $195 resistance zone over the next 18 months, though COIN's 3.38 beta means elevated downside risk if crypto sentiment reverses.

Rocket Lab shares fell sharply today, extending weakness as a technical death cross triggered concerns over momentum. Yet options traders are painting a bullish picture: call volume surged with a 2.73 call-to-put ratio, highlighting heavy demand for $64–$72 strike calls expiring September 2026. Bank of America maintained a Buy rating despite trimming its price target to $110, citing Rocket Lab's defense business scaling independently via $456M in suborbital contracts. Watch the $60 support level and 2026 call expirations as institutional positioning unfolds.

Qualcomm surged 3.83% to $170.48 on renewed optimism around data center custom chip revenues, bucking broader semiconductor sector headwinds. Wall Street is pricing in a material inflection point for FY2027 as handset margin pressures ease, with the recent Horizon Ultra AI PC launch signaling expansion in high-margin segments. Options traders are heavily positioning for upside, with 5,436 call contracts at the $170 strike expiring Sept. 4 already in-the-money; break through $175 by early September remains the critical momentum test.

MU climbed to $958.73 today, riding the structural tailwinds of hyperscaler demand for high-bandwidth memory as the AI infrastructure race intensifies. Options markets are signaling conviction: a 3.51 call-to-put ratio with nearly 36,000 contracts flooding the $950–$1,000 strike range through early September 2026, suggesting traders are positioning for sustained upside. Competitive pressures from SK Hynix and CXMT's HBM3E push haven't dulled institutional appetite; watch the $1,000 level as a near-term pivot before potential breakout.