Intel Stock Sees $9.2 Million in Bearish Put Activity as Shares Trade Near 52-Week Highs

By TrendSpider Editor

Intel Corporation (INTC) is drawing significant attention in the options market today, with three unusual put contracts totaling $9,238,020.80 in combined premium hitting the tape as shares trade at $112.895. The positioning is notably bearish, with all three contracts sitting out of the money and r

Intel Stock Sees $9.2 Million in Bearish Put Activity as Shares Trade Near 52-Week Highs

Intel Corporation (INTC) is drawing significant attention in the options market today, with three unusual put contracts totaling $9,238,020.80 in combined premium hitting the tape as shares trade at $112.895. The positioning is notably bearish, with all three contracts sitting out of the money and representing a concentrated bet that INTC may pull back from current levels. With the stock up 2.41% on the session and sitting much closer to its 52-week high of $142.34 than its 52-week low of $18.965, the options flow suggests at least some institutional players are bracing for a potential reversal.

Key Drivers of the INTC Stock Move

• Main Catalyst: Three unusual put contracts with a combined premium of $9,238,020.80 were flagged today, spanning strike prices of $67.50, $95, and $110, with expirations ranging from August 2026 through March 2027. The largest single contract, a $95 strike put expiring January 15, 2027, carried $7,335,000 in premium alone on a size of 4,500 contracts.
• Bull Case: INTC is up 2.41% today and has recovered substantially from its 52-week low of $18.965, with the current price of $112.895 representing a dramatic rebound. The put contracts are all out of the money, meaning the stock would need to fall considerably from current levels before any of these positions turn profitable, suggesting the broader market is still leaning into strength.
• Bear Case: All three contracts are structured as puts, and the sheer size of the premium, particularly the $7,335,000 committed to the January 2027 $95 strike, indicates that sophisticated players are paying up to hedge or bet against INTC through at least the first quarter of 2027. A move back toward $95 from $112.895 would represent a decline of more than 15% from today's price.

The forward setup for Intel is compelling but complicated. The stock's recovery from its 52-week low of $18.965 to current levels around $112.895 has been one of the more dramatic reversals in the semiconductor space, and today's 2.41% gain adds to that momentum. However, the options flow suggests that not everyone is convinced the rally has staying power. The concentration of put premium in the January 2027 and March 2027 expirations points to a multi-month hedging thesis rather than a short-term speculative trade, which adds weight to the bearish read. Traders will want to watch whether today's intraday strength holds into the close and whether any follow-through buying emerges in the coming sessions to counter this put activity.

INTC Unusual Options Activity

Three unusual put contracts were flagged in INTC today, all out of the money relative to the current price of $112.895:

• Put, $67.50 strike, expiring August 21, 2026: Volume of 548 contracts, open interest percentage of 18%, premium of $50,470.80. This is the nearest-term contract and sits deeply out of the money, suggesting a low-cost tail-risk hedge.
• Put, $95 strike, expiring January 15, 2027: Volume of 4,500 contracts, open interest percentage of 49%, premium of $7,335,000. This is the dominant trade of the day by premium, with substantial open interest accumulation already in place at this strike.
• Put, $110 strike, expiring March 19, 2027: Volume of 670 contracts, open interest percentage of 19%, premium of $1,852,550. This strike sits closest to the current price and carries the latest expiration, representing a more patient bearish position that gives the thesis over eight months to play out.

INTC Seasonality

July has historically been a mixed month for semiconductor stocks as investors weigh second-quarter earnings results and updated guidance heading into the second half of the year. The presence of put contracts extending into January and March 2027 suggests the traders behind this flow are less focused on near-term seasonality and more concerned with Intel's trajectory over the next two to three quarters.

INTC Relative Performance

INTC's 2.41% gain today puts it in positive territory on the session, and the broader recovery from the 52-week low of $18.965 to $112.895 has been substantial in percentage terms. However, the 52-week high of $142.34 remains roughly 26% above the current price, meaning Intel has not yet reclaimed its peak even as it trades well off the lows. Whether today's options flow reflects sector-wide caution or Intel-specific concern about execution and competitive positioning will likely become clearer as the next round of earnings and guidance approaches.