10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Moderna jumped nearly 10% following positive Phase 3 results from its partnership with Merck on individualized mRNA therapy for melanoma, bolstering the biotech's oncology pipeline and validating its personalized medicine approach. The options market is screaming bullish, with a 7.30 call-to-put ratio and heavy volume across near-dated calls—8,725 contracts traded on the $150 strike expiring tomorrow. Traders are betting on further upside, with significant open interest clustering around $160 and $170 levels, suggesting conviction above the stock's 52-week high of $176.66. Watch the $160 resistance by September 4th for confirmation of sustained momentum.

Marathon Holdings plummeted 9.35% Friday as Bitcoin weakness across the sector raised doubts about the miner's diversification into AI data centers. Despite holding 50,000+ BTC and scaling capacity, MARA remains structurally vulnerable to macro crypto swings—a dynamic the market punished sharply today. Options markets, however, show conviction: heavy call buying (1.93 C/P ratio) has stacked 7,814 contracts at the $11 strike (Sept 2026), signaling traders expect recovery toward $11–$12 within months as Bitcoin stabilizes.

Riot Platforms tumbled 8.81% today despite industry tailwinds: bitcoin miners including RIOT are pivoting aggressively toward AI data centers, a shift that's captured activist investor Dan Loeb's attention as part of his four-stock basket play. The options market is flashing conviction—call-to-put ratio of 2.28 signals heavy institutional buying, with September 2026 calls at $18–$20 strikes seeing extraordinary volume (1,640–1,977 contracts). Watch the $18 support level; a break below risks triggering stop-losses, though the long-dated call positioning suggests deep-pocketed players expect a rebound as AI capex materializes.

IonQ shares tumbled 8.46% today, underperforming a competitive quantum landscape where rival IPOs like Cerebras and sector players command investor attention. Options markets contradict the sell-off: call volume surged 3,560 contracts at the $50 strike (Sept 18), suggesting institutional buyers see $38.87 as a dip-buy opportunity. Put activity on the $40 and $35 strikes indicates support clustering below current levels. Watch the $42 call resistance; a break above unlocks momentum toward the $50 target.

Rivian shares fell 6.25% Tuesday as investors digest executive turnover and mounting pressure on production targets and margins entering the fourth quarter. CFO Claire McDonough's recent departure has added to sentiment headwinds, though options markets are flashing bullish conviction—call-to-put ratio stands at 1.99 with heavy positioning in $16–$24 calls expiring mid-September. Watch the $15.50 support level; a breakdown could trigger further downside, while a hold could validate the whale-driven upside bets.

Coinbase slumped 6.01% to $176.82 today, extending its distance from the 52-week high of $402.16 and testing investor resolve. Yet options traders are positioning aggressively long, with call volume dominating—a 1.89 call-to-put ratio and heavy concentration in $185–$200 calls expiring this week suggest conviction in a near-term bounce. Watch the $175 support level closely; a hold there could trigger the $190 call strike by Sept. 11.

AST SpaceMobile dropped 5.45% Wednesday following SpaceX's decision to wind down Falcon 9 Starlink launches on the East Coast, intensifying concerns about third-party launch availability for the company's BlueWalker 3 constellation. Manufacturing delays already clouded Q2 results last month, and the satellite operator now faces compounding execution risks. Options markets, however, paint a more optimistic picture: heavy call buying pushed the call/put ratio to 1.65, with notable volume in $60 calls expiring September 2026, suggesting traders are positioning for a recovery toward $60–$65 within 12 months.

Rocket Lab shares fell sharply after losing a $700M NASA Mars orbiter contract, but Cathie Wood's ARK added $51M in fresh positions, signaling conviction in Neutron delays. Options traders are betting on recovery: call-to-put ratio stands at 3.72, with heavy volume in $64–$72 calls expiring September 2026, suggesting confidence in a rebound toward BofA's $110 price target (72% upside). Watch next Electron launch for operational momentum.

Lam Research fell 3.74% today as UBS trimmed its price target to $425 from $435, joining broader semiconductor weakness amid rising Treasury yields and inflation concerns. Yet options traders are painting a bullish picture: call volume has surged with a 2.69 call-to-put ratio, with heavy positioning in $300–$332.50 strikes expiring September 4th. The positioning suggests conviction in a rebound toward $425 despite today's pullback, aligning with analyst upgrades citing AI-driven memory demand and improved China outlook.

Applied Materials fell 3.6% today alongside semiconductor peers as surging crude oil and Treasury yields reignited inflation concerns, pressuring borrowing costs. Despite the pullback, UBS raised its price target to $695—implying 57% upside from current levels—citing AI-driven chip demand tailwinds. Options markets flash bullish conviction: call-to-put ratio stands at 1.55, with heavy September call buying at $460 and $650 strikes signaling trader confidence in a rebound toward $650+ within weeks.