Intel Options Traders Pile Into Calls With $1.2M in Premium as INTC Slips 1.33%

By TrendSpider Editor

Intel Corporation is drawing notable attention in the options market today, with two unusual call contracts totaling $1,223,400 in combined premium flagged on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, even as the stock dips 1.33% to $107.88. The flow stands out given that both contracts are call-side, suggesting some

Intel Options Traders Pile Into Calls With $1.2M in Premium as INTC Slips 1.33%

Intel Corporation is drawing notable attention in the options market today, with two unusual call contracts totaling $1,223,400 in combined premium flagged on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, even as the stock dips 1.33% to $107.88. The flow stands out given that both contracts are call-side, suggesting some traders are positioning for upside despite the intraday weakness. With INTC trading near the upper half of its 52-week range of $18.965 to $132.75, the current price represents a significant recovery from its lows, and these options bets imply at least some market participants expect that momentum to continue.

Key Drivers of the INTC Stock Move

• Main Catalyst: Two unusual call contracts were flagged today, one at the $108 strike expiring June 18, 2026, and one at the $120 strike expiring August 21, 2026, combining for $1,223,400 in total premium. Both are call-side, with zero put contracts in the unusual flow.
• Bull Case: The $108 call is currently in the money with INTC at $107.88, and the $120 call represents a target roughly 11.2% above today's price. Together, these contracts reflect a directional bet that Intel has room to run heading into summer expiration cycles.
• Bear Case: INTC is off 1.33% on the session, and the $108 call is only marginally in the money, making it vulnerable to a quick reversal. The $120 strike carries just 8% open interest utilization, signaling limited broader conviction behind that leg of the trade.

The forward setup for Intel is layered. The near-term June 18 expiration gives the $108 call very little runway, meaning any continued selling pressure over the next two weeks could quickly erode that position. The August 21 expiration on the $120 call provides more time for a thesis to develop, and with Intel's stock having climbed dramatically off its 52-week low of $18.965, the trend has clearly favored buyers over the past year. Traders will want to watch whether today's dip is a healthy consolidation within that broader uptrend or an early signal of a trend reversal as INTC approaches the $132.75 annual high.

INTC Unusual Options Activity

Two unusual call contracts were identified in today's session, with no put activity flagged:

• Contract 1: Call, $108 strike, expiring June 18, 2026 | Volume: 504 | Open Interest: 61% | Status: In the Money | Premium: $420,840
• Contract 2: Call, $120 strike, expiring August 21, 2026 | Volume: 608 | Open Interest: 8% | Status: Out of the Money | Premium: $802,560

The August $120 call accounts for the larger premium of the two at $802,560 and carries the higher volume at 608 contracts, while the June $108 call reflects tighter near-term positioning at $420,840. The complete absence of unusual put activity gives the overall flow a distinctly bullish character, with all $1,223,400 in flagged premium concentrated on the call side.

INTC Seasonality

Early June has historically been a transitional period for semiconductor stocks as investors begin positioning ahead of mid-summer earnings cycles. The choice of August expiration on the larger contract aligns with a window that would capture any potential second-quarter earnings catalyst for Intel.

INTC Relative Performance

INTC is underperforming on a relative basis today, declining 1.33% to $107.88 while sitting well below its 52-week high of $132.75. The stock's dramatic recovery from the $18.965 52-week low remains an extraordinary move on a longer timeframe, but today's session suggests some near-term softness relative to the broader market.