10 Hot Stocks to Watch — Monday, September 21, 2026

Coinbase rocketed 11.66% today, extending Friday's 12% rally as bitcoin cleared $80,000 and institutional interest in crypto deepens. The options market is flashing conviction: call-to-put ratio of 2.21 with heavy buying in $200–$212.50 calls expiring late September, signaling traders expect sustained upside. AI agent-driven trading is now the platform's primary volume driver, addressing a key adoption risk. Watch the $200 level; a close above unlocks potential run toward the $220s.

MARA Holdings rocketed 11% today as Bitcoin rallied near $81,000, extending a month-long 21% surge that has outpaced crypto peers. The stock's 5.2 beta amplifies volatility, yet analyst consensus remains fractured—six buys against one sell, with Morgan Stanley's $11 underweight target sitting below today's $12.93 close despite a recent target hike. Options markets flash aggressive bullish conviction: call-to-put ratio of 5.81 shows heavy September 2026 call buying concentrated at $13.00 (ITM, 61k contracts) and $13.50 strikes, signaling conviction toward $14+ levels.

Robinhood stock jumped 9.1% today, riding momentum from a broader crypto rally and CEO Vlad Tenev's bullish commentary on prediction markets. Options traders are aggressively positioning for upside, with a 4.70 call-to-put ratio and heavy volume in $120–$130 calls expiring late September and mid-October, suggesting conviction above current levels. Watch $125 as near-term resistance; sustained breaks could spark further call-buying cascade.

Lam Research jumped 6.98% Friday, outrunning the broader semiconductor rebound as chip-equipment stocks attract disproportionate capital. Options markets confirm conviction: call-to-put ratio of 2.79 reflects heavy institutional demand, with $300 calls (Oct 2026) seeing 2,994 contracts in volume. The $300 strike sits just 4% above current levels, signaling trader confidence in sustained momentum. Watch the $350 resistance; a close above it would target the 52-week high of $438.50.

Applied Materials jumped 6.51% Friday as semiconductor equipment stocks broke away from the broader sector, with the Philadelphia SOX index notching its fourth consecutive gain. Options markets are flashing conviction: call-to-put ratio sits at 6.52, with heavy volume clustering around $450 and $457.50 September calls—suggesting traders are positioning for a run toward $460–$500 by October expiration. AMAT faces valuation pressure against higher-margin peers like Nvidia, but its three-quarter revenue streak and AI-driven capex cycle are underpinning demand.

Qualcomm tumbled 5.82% today, reversing recent gains as MediaTek's aggressive 2-nanometer smartphone chip challenge and Astera Labs' explosive AI growth narrative weigh on sentiment. Yet options traders are positioning bullish, with call volume surging 1.82x puts—notably 7,381 contracts at the $200 strike and 10,750 puts at $175 expiring Sept. 25. The disconnect signals conviction that $177.72 is a tactical floor; watch $185 as the near-term resistance level. QCOM's edge AI ecosystem partnerships offer a countervailing narrative, though smartphone headwinds remain acute.

General Motors dropped 5.1% to $82.20 today, extending losses despite renewed investor enthusiasm around its software and digital services strategy. The put-skewed options market—with heavy volume in $80–$82 puts expiring Sept 25—signals trader caution around current levels, even as management reverses unpopular decisions like ditching Apple CarPlay. Analyst targets near $104 suggest 26% upside, but mixed sentiment reflects uncertainty: EV sales momentum is slowing industry-wide, and GM's hybrid roadmap faces scrutiny against Tesla's junk-title issues and Honda's recall costs.

Netflix tumbled 4.67% today after Wells Fargo slashed its rating to Underweight and cut its price target to $57, citing deteriorating user engagement and content headwinds. The downgrade contradicts Evercore ISI's recent $110 bull case and exposes a widening analyst divide. Yet options traders are unfazed: a 2.08 call-to-put ratio and heavy buying in $72–$75 calls expiring Sept. 25 suggest conviction that the $57 floor won't hold. Watch the $69 support level and next week's settlement.

Okta shares dropped 4.03% today, reversing momentum from a blistering 132% climb since March that peaked on an August earnings beat. Yet options traders remain constructively positioned: call-to-put ratio of 2.99 signals heavy bullish interest, with notable volume in $180 and $182.50 calls expiring late September and early October. Jim Cramer's recent endorsement—arguing AI complexity makes identity security *more* essential—adds fundamental support, though California's emerging AI regulation framework has introduced fresh regulatory risk that may be weighing sentiment.

CrowdStrike slipped 3.28% today to $237.65, paring last week's 15% surge fueled by CEO Kurtz's AI safety messaging and Forrester leadership recognition. Yet options markets show conviction: call volume surged across $240, $250, and $300 strikes expiring late September through October, with a 1.82 call-to-put ratio signaling sustained upside appetite. Watch the $240 level as near-term support; heavy call positioning above $250 suggests institutional bets on a renewed push toward the 52-week high of $250.32.