RTX Options Traders Pile Into Calls as $1.1M in Bullish Flow Targets June and May Strikes
By TrendSpider Editor
RTX Corporation is drawing attention from options traders Thursday, with $1,124,518 in total premium flowing into three unusual call contracts as shares trade at $176.13, up 1.96% on the session. All three contracts are out of the money, with strikes ranging from $187.50 to $190, suggesting traders
RTX Options Traders Pile Into Calls as $1.1M in Bullish Flow Targets June and May Strikes
RTX Corporation is drawing attention from options traders Thursday, with $1,124,518 in total premium flowing into three unusual call contracts as shares trade at $176.13, up 1.96% on the session. All three contracts are out of the money, with strikes ranging from $187.50 to $190, suggesting traders are positioning for a meaningful move higher over the next six to seven weeks. RTX currently sits well off its 52-week low of $123.60 but remains below its 52-week high of $214.50, leaving considerable room to run if bullish momentum builds.
Key Drivers of the RTX Stock Move
- Main Catalyst: Three unusual call contracts were flagged today, totaling $1,124,518 in premium with zero put-side activity. The largest single contract was a $190 call expiring June 18, 2026, with 4,172 contracts traded at a volume-to-open-interest ratio of 234%. A $187.50 call expiring May 15, 2026 stood out even more sharply, with a volume-to-open-interest ratio of 2,006% on 1,605 contracts, signaling heavy fresh positioning relative to existing open interest.
- Bull Case: The 2,006% OI ratio on the May $187.50 strike is a notable signal of conviction, as it implies new money is flooding into a position that barely existed before today. The June $190 contract captured the largest single premium at $959,560, and with RTX up nearly 2% on the session, the tape suggests directional traders are aligning with the day's price strength.
- Bear Case: All three contracts are out of the money, and RTX would need to rally more than 6.5% from its current price of $176.13 just to reach the $187.50 strikes. The May 15 expiration gives the trade fewer than three weeks to play out, making time decay a real risk if momentum stalls. The $190 June target remains more than 7.8% away from current levels.
The forward setup for RTX looks constructive from a technical standpoint given today's price action, but options traders are clearly betting on an acceleration rather than a grind higher. RTX operates in the defense and aerospace sector, which has remained in focus amid ongoing government spending discussions and global security priorities. The clustering of strikes between $187.50 and $190 suggests traders may be anticipating a specific near-term catalyst, whether that is a contract announcement, policy development, or continued sector rotation into defense names. With the 52-week high sitting at $214.50, there is meaningful upside headroom if the broader thesis plays out, though the compressed timelines on the May contracts demand a swift move.
RTX Unusual Options Activity
- Contract 1: Call | Strike: $190 | Expiry: June 18, 2026 | Volume: 4,172 | Open Interest: 234% of prior OI | Status: OTM | Premium: $959,560
- Contract 2: Call | Strike: $187.50 | Expiry: May 15, 2026 | Volume: 1,605 | Open Interest: 2,006% of prior OI | Status: OTM | Premium: $137,709
- Contract 3: Call | Strike: $187.50 | Expiry: May 15, 2026 | Volume: 293 | Open Interest: 366% of prior OI | Status: OTM | Premium: $27,249
All three flagged contracts are calls, with zero puts flagged, making the net options sentiment decisively bullish. The total unusual premium across all three contracts is $1,124,518.
RTX Seasonality
Late April and early May have historically been active periods for defense contractors as earnings results and government budget discussions draw institutional attention. With RTX having recently passed through earnings season, options activity in this window often reflects positioning around upcoming sector catalysts or contract news flow.
RTX Relative Performance
RTX shares are up 1.96% today at $176.13, outperforming many broad market benchmarks on a session-to-session basis. The stock has recovered substantially from its 52-week low of $123.60 but remains roughly 17.8% below its 52-week high of $214.50, positioning it in the middle portion of its annual range. The bullish options flow suggests at least some traders believe the gap to that high could narrow in the weeks ahead.