CSCO Stock: Unusual Options Activity Signals Bullish Momentum as Cisco Trades Near 52-Week Highs
By TrendSpider Editor
Cisco Systems is drawing significant attention in the options market today, with five unusual contracts totaling $1,108,551.20 in combined premium activity detected across near- and mid-term expirations. CSCO shares are trading at $81.895, up 1.28% on the session, and sitting comfortably in the uppe
CSCO Stock: Unusual Options Activity Signals Bullish Momentum as Cisco Trades Near 52-Week Highs
Cisco Systems is drawing significant attention in the options market today, with five unusual contracts totaling $1,108,551.20 in combined premium activity detected across near- and mid-term expirations. CSCO shares are trading at $81.895, up 1.28% on the session, and sitting comfortably in the upper half of their 52-week range of $52.11 to $88.185. The concentration of call activity at strikes above the current price suggests that at least some institutional players are positioning for further upside over the coming weeks.
Key Drivers of the CSCO Stock Move
- Main Catalyst: Five unusual options contracts were flagged today spanning strikes from $83 to $90, with expirations ranging from March 27 to June 18, 2026. The largest single contract by premium is a CALL at the $90 strike expiring June 18, 2026, which generated $828,590 in premium on volume of 4,655 contracts. A PUT at the $83 strike expiring March 27, 2026 also appeared, currently in-the-money, with $73,023.30 in premium on 469 contracts.
- Bull Case: Four of the five unusual contracts are calls, and the $90 strike June call alone accounts for the overwhelming majority of the $1,108,551.20 in total premium. The $88 strike April 24 call is particularly notable, printing at 5,295% of open interest on 1,112 contracts, indicating a large new position opened relative to existing interest. With CSCO trading at $81.895 and a 52-week high of $88.185 nearby, these strikes suggest traders are betting on a breakout above prior highs.
- Bear Case: The in-the-money PUT at $83 expiring March 27, 2026, two days from now, printed at 670% of open interest on 469 contracts with $73,023.30 in premium. This near-term ITM put activity could reflect hedging or a directional bet on a short-term pullback, and the rapidly approaching expiration adds urgency to that positioning.
The forward setup for Cisco is constructive but not without overhead resistance. CSCO is trading just $6.29 below its 52-week high of $88.185, and the clustering of call strikes at $86, $88, and $90 defines a clear battleground zone. If the stock can clear and hold above $88.185, it would represent a fresh multi-year high and could invite additional momentum-driven buying. The two April $86 calls, which together represent over $154,000 in premium, point to near-term optimism ahead of any potential catalysts in the next few weeks. Cisco has remained an active story in enterprise networking and AI-driven infrastructure, areas that continue to attract investor interest as capital spending on data center and security solutions remains elevated heading into the back half of the calendar year.
CSCO Unusual Options Activity
- CALL | Strike: $86 | Expiry: April 17, 2026 | Volume: 1,873 | Open Interest: 234%
- CALL | Strike: $86 | Expiry: April 17, 2026 | Volume: 535 | Open Interest: 67%
- CALL | Strike: $88 | Expiry: April 24, 2026 | Volume: 1,112 | Open Interest: 5,295%
- CALL | Strike: $90 | Expiry: June 18, 2026 | Volume: 4,655 | Open Interest: 41%
- PUT | Strike: $83 | Expiry: March 27, 2026 | Volume: 469 | Open Interest: 670%
CSCO Seasonality
Late March and early April have historically been an active period for technology stocks as investors position ahead of fiscal quarter-end reporting and any forward guidance updates. Options activity concentrated in April expirations, like the two $86 calls flagged today, may reflect traders anticipating a near-term catalyst or volatility event within the next three weeks.
CSCO Relative Performance
CSCO's 1.28% gain today places it among the stronger performers in large-cap technology on the session. Trading at $81.895 against a 52-week low of $52.11 and a high of $88.185, the stock has recovered a substantial portion of its range and is now within approximately 7.7% of its 52-week peak, suggesting relative strength compared to peers that may still be rebuilding from earlier 2025 weakness.