RTX Unusual Options Activity: In-the-Money Call Surge Draws Attention Amid a 2.74% Pullback
By TrendSpider Editor
RTX Corporation is seeing notable unusual options activity today, with in-the-money call contracts at the $155 strike dominating the flow and generating over $2.6 million in combined premium across four flagged contracts. Shares are trading at $170.98, down 2.74% on the session, sitting in the middl
RTX Unusual Options Activity: In-the-Money Call Surge Draws Attention Amid a 2.74% Pullback
RTX Corporation is seeing notable unusual options activity today, with in-the-money call contracts at the $155 strike dominating the flow and generating over $2.6 million in combined premium across four flagged contracts. Shares are trading at $170.98, down 2.74% on the session, sitting in the middle of a 52-week range that stretches from $127.39 to a high of $214.50. Despite the intraday weakness, the options market appears to be sending a more constructive signal under the surface.
Key Drivers of the RTX Stock Move
- Main Catalyst: Four unusual options contracts were flagged today totaling $2,673,970 in premium. The dominant activity centers on two in-the-money call contracts at the $155 strike expiring June 18, 2026, with one block of 500 contracts and a larger block of 1,000 contracts, generating $874,850 and $1,730,000 in premium respectively. Additionally, two out-of-the-money put contracts at the $165 strike expiring July 17, 2026, were flagged with open interest readings of 3,000% and 4,000% above normal.
- Bull Case: The call side accounts for the overwhelming majority of premium spent, with the two $155 call contracts alone combining for $2,604,850 in premium. Both are in-the-money with the stock at $170.98, suggesting conviction rather than speculative lottery-ticket buying. Open interest on those calls ran at 177% and 355% of existing OI, signaling genuine new positioning rather than a closing of existing trades.
- Bear Case: The put activity, while smaller in dollar terms at $69,120 combined, is unusually aggressive relative to existing open interest, with OI percentages of 3,000% and 4,000%. That degree of relative size suggests someone is establishing a new defensive or directional position ahead of the July expiry. The stock is also down 2.74% today and remains well below its 52-week high of $214.50, reflecting a longer-term trend that has yet to recover.
The forward setup for RTX presents an interesting tension between the equity price action and what the options market appears to be pricing in. The heavy in-the-money call buying at $155 expiring in about five weeks suggests at least some participants expect the stock to hold well above current levels through mid-June. RTX has remained a closely watched name in the defense sector given ongoing global demand for aerospace and defense systems, and any updates on major contracts or program developments could serve as a near-term catalyst. The July put activity, while modest in dollar terms, is worth monitoring as it suggests not everyone is aligned on the bullish thesis heading into summer.
RTX Unusual Options Activity
- Put | Strike: $165 | Expiry: July 17, 2026 | Volume: 60 | Open Interest: 3,000% of prior OI
- Put | Strike: $165 | Expiry: July 17, 2026 | Volume: 80 | Open Interest: 4,000% of prior OI
- Call | Strike: $155 | Expiry: June 18, 2026 | Volume: 500 | Open Interest: 177% of prior OI
- Call | Strike: $155 | Expiry: June 18, 2026 | Volume: 1,000 | Open Interest: 355% of prior OI
RTX Seasonality
Defense sector names like RTX have historically seen increased institutional attention in late spring and early summer as government budget discussions and contract award cycles heat up. Options positioning into mid-June and mid-July expirations aligns with periods that have historically carried event risk for major defense contractors.
RTX Relative Performance
RTX is underperforming on today's session with a 2.74% decline, a notable move for a large-cap defense name. Trading at $170.98, the stock sits closer to the lower half of its 52-week range of $127.39 to $214.50, suggesting it has meaningful ground to recover before challenging prior highs. The degree of today's pullback makes the in-the-money call activity all the more striking, as buyers are stepping in during weakness rather than chasing strength.