Actionable trade ideas for stock market investors and traders seeking alpha by overlaying their portfolios with options, other derivatives, ETFs, and disciplined and applied Game Theory for hedge fund managers and other active fund managers worldwide. Ryan Renicker, CFA
Global Scenario On Sustainable and Resilient Coconut Industry by Dr. Jelfina...
The Most Expensive Equity Options - Buy or Sell?
1. EQUITY RESEARCH
August 18, 2005 North America
Investment Strategy & Macro
Equity Derivatives Strategy Equity Derivatives Strategy
Market CommentaryStrategy Ryan Renicker
1.212.526.9425
The "Richest of the Rich" rrenicke@lehman.com
Sector View:
New: 0-Not Rated
Old: 0-Not Rated
Investment conclusion
! During the past couple of weeks, rising crude oil prices have weighed on the U.S. equity market, with the S&P500 declining nearly 200
bps since its 52-week high on August 3rd. (Even with yesterday's 4% decline in crude oil prices, oil prices remain 4% higher than where
they traded on August 3rd.) Moreover, this retracement has been broad-based, with 23 of the 24 S&P 500 industry groups trading below
their August 3rd levels. In fact, since August 3rd, 387 companies in the S&P 500 (77%) have had declining stock prices. Although U.S.
equity risk expectations remain extremely low relative to long-term trends in rolling 3-month S&P 500 implied volatilities, the recent
weakness in the equity markets has nudged short-dated implied volatilities higher, despite declining realized volatility. With Q2 earnings
largely behind us, and implied volatility currently trading relatively rich versus realized volatility, we believe investors should consider
expressing directional viewpoints or hedging existing positions by selling options in companies having the “richest” options. We screen the
S&P 500 Index for stocks currently having 3-month implied volatilities trading relatively "rich" versus 1) their 90-day realized volatility and
2) the S&P 500 Index.
Figure 1: Returns (8/3/05 – Present) Figure 2: S&P 500 Index Level & Volatility (8/3/05 - Present)
Real Estat e 3M Implied - 90D Realized Spread S&P 500
Con Dur&Ap
Utilit ies 3.75% 1,250
Retailing
Auto & Comp 3.55%
Semi & Semi Eqp 1,245
Food/St pl Retail 3.35%
Comm Svc&Sup
M at erials 3.15% 1,240
Tech Hw & Eqp
Telecomm Svcs 2.95%
Pharm & Biot 1,235
Energy
Hh & Pr Pdt s 2.75%
Transpt n 1,230
Banks 2.55%
S&P 500 Index
Insurance 2.35% 1,225
Fd Bev & Tob
Div Financial
Sf tw & Svcs
2.15%
Cons Srv
1,220
Capit al Gds
1.95%
Hc Equip&Svc
M edia 1.75% 1,215
08/03/05
08/04/05
08/05/05
08/08/05
08/09/05
08/10/05
08/11/05
08/12/05
08/15/05
08/16/05
08/17/05
Crude Oil
-10% -8% -6% -4% -2% 0% 2% 4% 6%
Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy. Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy.
Lehman Brothers does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors
should be aware that the Firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report.
Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decisions.
PLEASE SEE ANALYST(S) CERTIFICATION(S) ON PAGE 3 AND IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
BEGINNING ON PAGE 4
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2. EQUITY RESEARCH
In this note, we screen the S&P 500 to identify stocks having the “richest” options.
These stocks currently have
1. 3-month implied volatility spreads versus the S&P 500 at least 1 standard deviation above the average of where this spread has
traded during the past year and
2. 3-month implied volatility spreads versus their 90-day realized volatility at least 1 standard deviation above where this spread
has traded during the past year.
Below, we present the companies that match both of these criteria.
Figure 3: S&P 500 Stocks Passing Our “Richest-of-the-Rich” Screen
Options "Rich" Versus
Expected EPS 90-Day
Ticker Name GICS Industry Group Name Last Price S&P 500
Date Realized
ADBE UQ ADOBE SYSTEMS INC SOFTWARE & SERVICES 15-Sep-2005 $ 26.83 Yes Yes
BSC UN BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC DIVERS FINANC 22-Sep-2005 $ 99.85 Yes Yes
WAG UN WALGREEN CO FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING 26-Sep-2005 $ 47.58 Yes Yes
PEP UN PEPSICO INC FOOD BEV & TOBACCO 30-Sep-2005 $ 54.73 Yes Yes
JNJ UN JOHNSON & JOHNSON PHARMA & BIOTECH 12-Oct-2005 $ 63.50 Yes Yes
RDC UN ROWAN COMPANIES INC ENERGY 14-Oct-2005 $ 33.58 Yes Yes
BR UN BURLINGTON RESOURCES INC ENERGY 20-Oct-2005 $ 64.32 Yes Yes
EK UN EASTMAN KODAK CO CONS DUR & APPAREL 20-Oct-2005 $ 25.27 Yes Yes
TMK UN TORCHMARK CORP INSURANCE 20-Oct-2005 $ 51.90 Yes Yes
XTO UN XTO ENERGY INC ENERGY 20-Oct-2005 $ 35.28 Yes Yes
ED UN CONSOLIDATED EDISON INC UTILITIES 21-Oct-2005 $ 45.93 Yes Yes
TXU UN TXU CORP UTILITIES 21-Oct-2005 $ 94.76 Yes Yes
PHM UN PULTE HOMES INC CONS DUR & APPAREL 25-Oct-2005 $ 85.25 Yes Yes
COP UN CONOCOPHILLIPS ENERGY 27-Oct-2005 $ 61.70 Yes Yes
APA UN APACHE CORP ENERGY 28-Oct-2005 $ 67.43 Yes Yes
CVS UN CVS CORP FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING 4-Nov-2005 $ 29.19 Yes Yes
Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy.
We believe investors should consider expressing directional views or hedging existing positions in these names by selling options.
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3. EQUITY RESEARCH
Options are not suitable for all investors and the risks of option trading should be weighed against the potential rewards.
Supporting documents that form the basis of the recommendations are available on request. Please note that the trade ideas within
this report in no way relate to the fundamental ratings applied to European stocks by Lehman Brothers' Equity Research.
Analyst Certification:
I, Ryan Renicker, hereby certify (1) that the views expressed in this research Industry Note accurately reflect my personal views about any or
all of the subject securities or issuers referred to in this Industry Note and (2) no part of my compensation was, is or will be directly or
indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this Industry Note.
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4. EQUITY RESEARCH
Important Disclosures:
The analysts responsible for preparing this report have received compensation based upon various factors including the Firm’s total
revenues, a portion of which is generated by investment banking activities.
Guide to Lehman Brothers Equity Research Rating System:
Our coverage analysts use a relative rating system in which they rate stocks as 1-Overweight, 2- Equal weight or 3-Underweight (see
definitions below) relative to other companies covered by the analyst or a team of analysts that are deemed to be in the same industry sector
(the “sector coverage universe”). To see a list of the companies that comprise a particular sector coverage universe, please go to
www.lehman.com/disclosures
In addition to the stock rating, we provide sector views which rate the outlook for the sector coverage universe as 1-Positive, 2-Neutral or
3-Negative (see definitions below). A rating system using terms such as buy, hold and sell is not the equivalent of our rating system.
Investors should carefully read the entire research report including the definitions of all ratings and not infer its contents from ratings alone.
Stock Rating
1-Overweight - The stock is expected to outperform the unweighted expected total return of the sector coverage universe over a 12-month
investment horizon.
2-Equal weight - The stock is expected to perform in line with the unweighted expected total return of the sector coverage universe over a
12- month investment horizon.
3-Underweight - The stock is expected to underperform the unweighted expected total return of the sector coverage universe over a 12-
month investment horizon.
RS-Rating Suspended - The rating and target price have been suspended temporarily to comply with applicable regulations and/or firm
policies in certain circumstances including when Lehman Brothers is acting in an advisory capacity in a merger or strategic transaction
involving the company.
Sector View
1-Positive - sector coverage universe fundamentals/valuations are improving.
2-Neutral - sector coverage universe fundamentals/valuations are steady, neither improving nor deteriorating.
3-Negative - sector coverage universe fundamentals/valuations are deteriorating.
Stock Ratings From February 2001 to August 5, 2002 (sector view did not exist):
This is a guide to expected total return (price performance plus dividend) relative to the total return of the stocks’ local market (i.e. the market
where the stock primarily trades) over the next 12 months.
1-Strong Buy - expected to outperform the market by 15 or more percentage points.
2-Buy - expected to outperform the market by 5-15 percentage points.
3-Market Perform - expected to perform in line with the market, plus or minus 5 percentage points.
4-Market Underperform - expected to underperform the market by 5-15 percentage points.
5-Sell - expected to underperform the market by 15 or more percentage points.
Distribution of Ratings:
Lehman Brothers Global Equity Research has 1744 companies under coverage.
41% have been assigned a 1-Overweight rating which, for purposes of mandatory regulatory disclosures, is classified as Buy rating, 33% of
companies with this rating are investment banking clients of the Firm.
42% have been assigned a 2-Equal weight rating which, for purposes of mandatory regulatory disclosures, is classified as Hold rating, 7% of
companies with this rating are investment banking clients of the Firm.
17% have been assigned a 3-Underweight rating which, for purposes of mandatory regulatory disclosures, is classified as Sell rating, 86% of
companies with this rating are investment banking clients of the Firm.
This material has been prepared and/or issued by Lehman Brothers Inc., member SIPC, and/or one of its affiliates (“Lehman Brothers”) and has been
approved by Lehman Brothers International (Europe), authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, in connection with its distribution in the
European Economic Area. This material is distributed in Japan by Lehman Brothers Japan Inc., and in Hong Kong by Lehman Brothers Asia Limited. This
material is distributed in Australia by Lehman Brothers Australia Pty Limited, and in Singapore by Lehman Brothers Inc., Singapore Branch. This material is
distributed in Korea by Lehman Brothers International (Europe) Seoul Branch. This document is for information purposes only and it should not be regarded
as an offer to sell or as a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities or other instruments mentioned in it. No part of this document may be reproduced in any
manner without the written permission of Lehman Brothers. With the exception of disclosures relating to Lehman Brothers, this research report is based on
current public information that Lehman Brothers considers reliable, but we make no representation that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied on
as such. In the case of any disclosure to the effect that Lehman Brothers Inc. or its affiliates beneficially own 1% or more of any class of common equity
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