ABBV Stock: Unusual Options Sweep Targets $250 Call as AbbVie Trades Near Top of 52-Week Range

By TrendSpider Editor

Two unusual options contracts totaling $1,145,000 in combined premium hit the tape on AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), drawing attention to a stock already trading at $222.50, well into the upper half of its 52-week range of $164.39 to $244.81. The larger of the two is a bullish call sweep targeting a $250 strik

ABBV Stock: Unusual Options Sweep Targets $250 Call as AbbVie Trades Near Top of 52-Week Range

Two unusual options contracts totaling $1,145,000 in combined premium hit the tape on AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), drawing attention to a stock already trading at $222.50, well into the upper half of its 52-week range of $164.39 to $244.81. The larger of the two is a bullish call sweep targeting a $250 strike by September 2026, signaling that at least one large trader is positioning for a meaningful move higher over the next six months. With ABBV up 0.44% on the session, the options flow adds a layer of conviction to what is otherwise a quiet trading day for the pharma giant.

Key Drivers of the ABBV Stock Move

• Main Catalyst: Two unusual options contracts were flagged today, one call and one put, carrying a combined total premium of $1,145,000. The headline trade is a call contract at the $250 strike expiring September 18, 2026, with a block size of 1,000 contracts and open interest percentage of 238%, indicating the volume significantly exceeded existing open interest. A second contract is a put at the $200 strike expiring June 18, 2026, with a size of 500 contracts and an open interest percentage of 22%.
• Bull Case: The $250 call is deeply out of the money relative to the current price of $222.50 but was executed at a premium of $855,000, suggesting a trader is making a high-conviction directional bet that ABBV can push toward or beyond $250 before September expiry, a level that would represent a new 52-week high above the current ceiling of $244.81.
• Bear Case: The $200 put expiring in June 2026 at a $290,000 premium, while smaller, points to some hedging activity or a downside bet. A move to $200 would bring ABBV back toward the lower third of its 52-week range, representing a meaningful pullback from current levels and suggesting not all smart money is pointing in the same direction.

The forward setup for ABBV is constructive on the surface, with the stock holding near the top of its 52-week range and significant premium committed to upside by September 2026. However, the presence of a notable put position expiring in June introduces some near-term caution. AbbVie continues to navigate the post-Humira revenue transition, and any developments around its immunology and oncology pipeline, including drugs like Skyrizi and Rinvoq, could serve as the catalyst that either validates the $250 call target or brings the $200 put hedge into play. Traders should watch for pipeline updates, regulatory decisions, or any guidance revisions in the coming months that could define which side of this options trade pays off.

ABBV Unusual Options Activity

• Contract 1: Call | Strike: $250 | Expiry: September 18, 2026 | Volume: 1,000 contracts | Open Interest: 238% | Premium: $855,000 | Position: OTM
• Contract 2: Put | Strike: $200 | Expiry: June 18, 2026 | Volume: 500 contracts | Open Interest: 22% | Premium: $290,000 | Position: OTM

Total unusual premium across both contracts: $1,145,000. The call-side activity dominates in both size and premium, with the September $250 call accounting for roughly 75% of total premium flow. The elevated open interest reading of 238% on the call leg stands out as a signal that new positions are being established rather than existing ones being closed out, a distinction that typically adds weight to the directional thesis behind the trade.

ABBV Seasonality

Mid-March has historically been an active period for large-cap biopharma positioning ahead of major medical conferences and mid-year pipeline readouts, which often fall between April and June. Options traders placing bets that extend into June and September 2026 may be timing their exposure around anticipated catalysts in that window.

ABBV Relative Performance

ABBV is trading at $222.50 today, up 0.44% on the session, and sits closer to its 52-week high of $244.81 than its 52-week low of $164.39. The stock has recovered a substantial portion of its range, and at current levels it is trading approximately 35% above its 52-week low, reflecting relative strength within the large-cap pharmaceutical space as investors continue to reassess AbbVie's long-term earnings trajectory beyond its legacy Humira dependence.