Archive Category: Max Profit Alert (Alerts)

While we wait for our three bullish long-call positions (XLV, YPF and XLB) to mature and provide the high-upside asymmetry they’re designed for … We’re going to “reload” our put-write portfolio with two new trades today. I mentioned last week how the Volatility Index (VIX) was scraping along the lows of its typical range, and how that makes it more challenging to find attractive put-write positions.

Happy New Year! We’re holding off on adding new positions to the portfolio until next week – more on why in a moment. So just a quick note today … and one action to take, in the form of a profit-taking “trap” on our latest long-call position, on the SPDR Materials Sector ETF (XLB).

Last trade of the year, and it’s a simple broad-sector play … The U.S. materials sector has generated middle-of-the-road returns in 2025. The SPDR Materials Sector ETF (XLB) is up just shy of 9% year-to-date. That compares to gains of between 13%, from the health care (XLV) and utilities (XLU) sectors, and, on the high end, 25% from the technology (XLK) sector.

Yesterday, I recommended setting profit-taking “traps” on our two latest put-write positions: Albemarle (ALB) and Lam Research (LRCX). Two updates here … First, I’m pleased to report the $0.75 limit order I recommended placing on the ALB position were cleanly executed at this morning’s open after shares of the stock opened strongly higher.

I mentioned last week how we’ve carried a “full boat” of positions into December, and that we’ll be looking for opportunities to pare down and make room for new opportunities as we enter the new year. We’ll be taking some action today to do just that … Let’s get to it!