Vehicle Software Company Speeds Up

Happy Fabulous Friday!

I teach everyday people (like me) to trade options.  I do my best to write in an understandable way as if we are talking over the kitchen table.

Mark your calendars! Next Tuesday I will be doing a presentation at Metastock’s Online Traders Conference. It’s free and you can be a part of it from home. Click here for more info.

Bullish uptrend continues.  Last week the market was up 4 days out of 5.  This week, it has been up 1 day out of 3. The Dow headed down today for a second day.  The market is starting to show some tiredness after being up 5 weeks in a row.

For today’s Trade of the Day, we will be looking at Luminar Technologies, Inc., which is a Nasdaq listed company. Symbol LAZR.

Luminar Technologies, Inc. operates as a vehicle sensor and software company for passenger cars and commercial trucks. The company operates in two segments, Autonomy Solutions and Other Component Sales. The Autonomy Solutions segment designs, manufactures, and sells lidar sensors, and related perception and autonomy software solutions for original equipment manufacturers in the automobile, commercial vehicle, robo-taxi, and other related industries. The Other Component Sales segment engages in the designing, testing, and consulting of non-standard integrated circuits for government agencies and defense contractors.

The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

Let’s take a look at LAZR’s weekly chart.

The ADX +DI (green line) is above the -DI and if it keeps heading up, the ADX line will turn up again.  As long as the +DI is above the -DI, price should rise.  Green above red is an indication of strength. When the +DI is bullish and the ADX turns up, it shows strength.  If you want to learn more about­­­­­ ADX, read on or, if not, scroll down to the alert.

Average Direction Index (ADX) – Strength Indicator

The Average Directional Index consists of 3 lines:  Green, Red and Black.

Green = +DI (Bullish)

Red = -DI (Bearish)

Black = ADX Strength Line

The DI line that is on top is in control.  If the ADX line is heading up, strength is supporting the DI line that is on top and in control.

Check Out the Trade Alert Signal

Each candle on the chart represents price movement over a 5-day (week) period; therefore, it takes weeks for trades to play out.  On the chart, the week is a bullish candle as I type.  When the +DI crosses over the -DI line, it gives a buy signal (as the +DI line (green) appears as if it is in control and rising to head up on the ADX indicator, and as the ADX turns up that is even more bullish, suggesting an upward move is gaining strength. I’d like to see the green line to continue its upward bias and then the black line to turn straight up and head up as well. All are bullish signs of strength.  When the +DI crosses the ADX (black line) and when it rises, it shows a new burst of strength coming into the equity.

The Black ADX line is a strength line and as it flips up and continues to head up, it shows strength, and we’ll know strength will continue to flow into this equity.  We will keep an eye on LAZR over the course of the next few weeks.

If LAZR’s price moves above or stays above $20, you could consider a trade. The short-term price target for LAZR is $25 and then, perhaps, higher.  With the swings in past months, I am suggesting small profit targets until a market trend starts again.

LAZR is a modestly priced equity and trading it will likely be appropriate for most trading accounts, either way it is still a great equity to study to learn about the benefits of option trading.

LAZR Potential Trade – Showing Strength

This signal could give a quick payout if it continues its upward move, and the strength of this pattern continues.  It looks as if it could push above $25.  I am typing on Wednesday and LAZR started the day at $19 and is heading up, if it continues above 20 showing it is moving up, a trade could be considered.  

To buy shares of LAZR would cost approximately $20 per share and if it reaches its near-term target of $25+ that would be a gain of $5 or 25%. 

This is a great example of the benefits of trading options.  Let’s discuss this as a study case.

Option trading offers the potential of a lower initial investment and higher percentage gain.   Let’s take a look and make a comparison.

The plus DI (green line) is above the -DI and if it stays above the -DI (red) line and rises above $20 by Friday a call trade can be considered.

If you buy 10 shares at $20, you will invest $200. If the stock increases in price to $25, you will earn a profit of $5 per share or $50 for the 10 shares or about 25%.

If you bought one option contract covering 100 shares of LAZR with an Dec 3 (Dec wk1) expiration date for the $25 strike and premium would be approximately $.85 today or $85 per 100 share contract.  If price increased to the expected $25 target or a gain of $5 over the next few weeks, the premium would likely increase $2.00 to $2.85 ($2 x 100 share contract = $200 Profit.) $200 profit on your $85 investment, this is an 235% gain. Nice! Awesome trade if it hits it target! 

Trading options is a win, win, win opportunity.   Options often offer a smaller overall investment, covering more shares of stock and potential for greater profits.

I like to stress when trading options, you don’t need to wait for the expiration date to close the trade. You can close anywhere along the way prior to the expiration date.  It is never a bad idea to take profit.

Trading options is like renting stocks for a fixed period of time. The potential to generate steady income with options is real and it can be transforming. Watch this video to learn how you can use option trading to achieve financial freedom. click here

Yours for a prosperous future,

Wendy Kirkland

Past Equity Candidates:

Two weeks ago, we looked at XOM with a Nov 24^th (Nov 21) expiration and a 70 strike with premium of .20.  It did not play out as expected.  On Friday early, it rose to 65.20 and then started dropping. Since then, it has not recovered.

Last week, we studied PFE and a Nov 26^th expiration (I think I listed 24^th in error- there was no 24^th – 4^th week, it was 26^th) and a strike of 50 with a premium of .15.  It rose as high as .50 which is a gain of .38 or $38 on a $15 investment or 253% profit.