[ItsMyOption]

Zilla, There is still about 12 million shares short on IEP - I see a big pps movement before March 11th which is the next expected record date. IEP earning out Feb. 25th will show a big improvement with positive reported earnings. I still like my STO PUTS as I collect big premium and if assigned I own them at low pps - then can turn around and STO covered Calls

Now that Hindy is no longer putting out and promoting short sellers those that followed him need to cover soon!

There are several downsides to short-selling. You have unlimited loss potential, the market has an inherent positive bias over the long run, you'll probably have to pay a fee for borrowing the shares, and yes, you are responsible for paying any dividends issued by the stock while you're short.

[Zilla]

Thanks. I'm still buying the calls. Been tempted to try STO but I don't like sitting on the cash as my ADHD kicks in and I'm constantly buying and selling when I see things I like move up or down. Too addictive. lol
I saw the Hindy news and I'm thinking shorts are stuck between a rock and a hard place especially with the chart looking like it's climbing slow and steady after the Hindy pop/drop. I'm expecting one more shakeout but would be nice to climb up past your 11 puts.
So Carl is invested in BHC/BLCO and BHC traded 16 million in the AH so maybe something is about to happen. POP or drop I've got no idea as I'm in calls for those two too. lol Sooo addictive. lol

[ItsMyOption]

Zilla, did you buy calls or STO-sell to open which is a covered call? I usually do not buy unless to close.I will also roll a STO PUT if conditions look positive for IEP. If you feel IEP will go up I always do a STO- PUT yesterday I STO the 2-28 $11.00 PUT and collected $1.88 per share so if on expiration date 2-28 IEP is at or above $11.00 I keep 100% of premium I collected if below I will be assigned but my cost would be $9.12.

I also STO 2-28 $10.00 PUT collecting $1.10 remember if you always sell time decay works for you and you have 60-70% better chance to be in the money. I watch the charts and do my STO PUT when stock is trading below RSI 30and I STO covered Calls when pps is trading above 70-80 in resistance zone.

What I see is there is still a large amount of shorts that need to cover or buy back know that short seller Hindenburg shut its doors yesterday and will no longer promote short selling. IEP will go up! = https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=IEP&ty=c&ta=1&p=d
forward P/E at 11.8 looks great they should report earnings Feb 25 which will be positive estimated .18 this is why I used 2-28 as my expiration date as I expect IEP will rise after earnings. They have March 11 record date the date to own to collect dividend which will be .50, but could be higher if CVI restates their dividend.

If you play options correctly you can make big $$$$ but I recommend to .STO sell to open first usually a PUT. Good luck if I had your email I would send you my Option Notes that help explain more about option.

[Zilla]

I was watching CVI have a hell of a week and wondered why IEP went the other way...So added

[Zilla]

I rolled my calls from tomorrow to March just the other day. Chart was looking like it was about to turn and yesterday it did a small up and slowly back down so I took action in my Merrill account because my Schwab was still drying powder. Merrill gives me shares even though it's set to cash, so I wanted to sell them in that account and add them to my Schwab but after what I saw yesterday I didn't hesitate and added to Merrill. Today was BEAUTIFUL but looks like I'll get stuck with my IEP in Merrill for a few more quarters. lol

[ItsMyOption]

Good News - Activist short-seller firm Hindenburg is shutting down out of business.
This should take short seller and make them cover.
Next earnings Feb. 25 look positive and expected EPS .18. time to load up today up 3.75%

[ItsMyOption]

IEP is very oversold here at $9.14 and great time to add $$$. IEP is largest holder of CVI which is up 8% today. IEP 4th quarter will come Feb 25th and expected earning 3 billion with EPS plus .18 so IMO IEP will go up a lot in 25

[Zilla]

Liking the chart set up and thinking we've bottomed (hopefully)
IEP past pattern of selling from divi date to just before getting the divi in our hands has been a past pattern so we should be heading up soon.
Thought they try and take it down to a 30% divi like they usually do but low 20% is the lowest so far.

[ItsMyOption]

IEP had a sell off early because of this false statement: Bill Ackman corrected his post to state he meant IE to short not IEP. so could be why we are down and correcting back. A warning to those that short a dividend paying security is if you are short you pay that dividend to the person that loaned you those shorted shares.

Bill Ackman says he's short IEP, long FNMA for stock-picking contest, which latter he corrected to short IE

https://seekingalpha.com/news/4386431-bill-ackman-says-hes-short-iep-long-fnma-for-stock-picking-contest

[Zilla]

Thank you. Looking forward to 2025.

[ItsMyOption]

My finding on Dividend options is you only get the dividend if you actually own the stock before the record date. If you STO you do not own the stock and you normally see a pps adjustment take place before the record date to equal the dividend that they pay. So many times I have a STO PUT order in before the record date to catch the max premium / oversold area and go out to the next expected Dividend record date and use a option expiration or strike date before that next record date. I use this site to calculate when next record date should be = https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/iep/dividends

It is more work or research needed when you STO a PUT on a dividend stock but can be worth it$$

[Zilla]

Thank you so much for sharing. Been just doing the buy calls since 2012 and losing often but getting enough big winners to keep going. I just started watching Youtube vids the past week trying to get a better understanding. A lot of the stuff I found was over my understanding. What you wrote will help A LOT and I'll read it a few times to get a better understanding. I use to have TDA and was comfortable but now Schwab and Merrill which I'm still getting use to and didn't want to screw up and lose more than I have. lol So THANK YOU again.
One question is if we 'sell' do we owe the Divi?!? It's why I stayed away for divi options unless I planned to exercise which I lost out on with IEP as I had calls that we're after the Divi and I didn't exercise and it went below the strike price after the divi so it was a total loss. Which was fine because I made it back overall but would have been nice just selling it on the dollar divi POP news. lol

[ItsMyOption]

Zilla, I am sending just part of years of my option notes: When you STO time decay works for you but when you BTO time decay works against you with a high % of losing. so I only STO a PUT normally 45 days out but look at Dividend record date to help with strike date, and wait for RSI below 30 oversold for best $$ I then have STO- covered calls at strike price above over bought or resistant area. Good luck with investing!

OPTION NOTES:
This is years of notes I collected and put in writing to help understand Option trading. After many years of losses, I realized it is always best to STO-Sell to open first because of time value which you do not get on a BTO-Buy to open first.
Option can be used to leverage one’s investments in stocks and understanding a better buy or sell of securities while generating cash flow.
Option basics: You can
BUY TO OPEN (BTO) – you pay to open and is a Debit.
SELL TO OPEN (STO) (My favorite money maker both Covered Calls and naked PUTS) – you receive credit into your act. This is the money maker as you ether (STO a PUT) – my favorite or a Covered Call on stock you own. You receive a Credit into your account and use the Time Decay to ether buy to close it back at expiration date or before.
Some Technical chart knowledge helps as you need to see Support and resistance areas. I STO a PUT when pps is close to low Support zone and STO a Covered Call when pps is high up close to Resistance area.
SELL TO CLOSE (STC) – you sell ( receive credit) to close an open position
BUY TO CLOSE (BTC) – you buy (debit) to close open position.
IN ADDITION, YOU CAN LET YOUR OPEN OPTION EXPIRE ON THE EXPERATION DATE IF YOU ARE IN THE MONEY AT THE TIME OR YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR OPTION ASSIGNED OR STOCK CALLED OR SOLD FROM YOUR POSITION.
Option Expiration date: Is always the 3rd Friday of each month, which could be next month or years away – the more time to expiration date would demand the most premium. Unless your stock does weeklies which I love as you can play them every week - weekly expiration dates which make stock more volatile and better for options players.
VERY IMPORTANT: To be a better stock trader You must understand the time value of option premium as option traders receive or pay the most if you have more time before expiration date, which could be many months or years out. You must also understand the big players like Hedge funds make more money with options and they manipulate the pps of stock to maximize their premium. Even if you are not an Option player you must understand why the pps of you stock moves up and down depending on the time value of the option expiration date.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO?
BUY to open CALL OPTION – you feel the underlying instrument (in this case stocks) will move above the strike price at any time up to expiration.

STO - SELL A CALL OPTION or called (covered Call) you first own the stock, and you would want the pps to close below strike price on expiration date. I do this often to generate cash flow and watch the option premium and time as expiration date gets closer to buy to close my position or if I feel comfortable the pps will close below I let it expire and collect 100% of my premium.

- To SELL TO OPEN PUT OPTION – My favorite - you believe the pps of the stock is currently to low and feel the pps of stock will move up rapidly or close above the Strike price on expiration date. You collect the premium at time of sell but the negative with selling put option is you must have the cash reserves in your account to buy stock if it is assigned. Note: If you want to buy a stock you could first write a sell to open put, which is called a naked PUT and use the collected premium you received to lower your cost IF you get the stock assigned. To make the most premium you sell to open put when the pps moves down rapidly along with the time value. Look to enter your STO PUT when the pps is at bottom of Bollinger band at support area. I like letting the big hedge funds manipulate the pps monthly to maximize my own portfolio of stocks. You must have cash or margin reserves in your account if you get assigned or forced to buy at your strike price. I ONLY open a STO PUT if I feel the pps will be higher than strike price at expiration or I want to buy the stock and us a PUT option to buy at lower pps.

-BUY TO CLOSE PUT OPTION – if you had a sell to open put option you could buy it back to close your position.
Option buyers and sellers want stocks with high implied volatility.
High and Low Volatility trading:
High Volatility = you want to be Option Seller
Low Volatility = you can be Option Buyer, but Option Sellers have highest % of profit because of Time decay works against buyers
Option trader daily check list: Also used to be better stock trader.
- Check Futures will give market direction = Futures (finviz.com)
- Check major news = CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Possible Portfolio Impact Look at what is moving = FINVIZ.com - Stock Screener
- Trade Hierarchy - closing positions, any adjustments, new trade entries,
- Walk Away make time to cut the cord – be patient and let the MM move the stock to the price you want and don’t chase the pps you want.
- EOD Review – what changed, what is moving, any adjustments, new trades or exits.

Some Financial / Analysts web sites that can help find good stocks for Option trading.
- https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=IEP&p=d
- https://maximum-pain.com/options/iep
- https://www.macroaxis.com/stock/IEP/Icahn-Enterprises-LP
- https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=zyme
- https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/agnc/dividends
- https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/iep/statistics/

https://optionalpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ultimate-Strategy-Guide-Option-Alpha.pdf
Also, see the script in thinkorswim Advanced Charting Setup & Technical Indicators just after 7:00 minutes:

This series of videos will help set up and use TOS:

Get to understand Max Pain (Options) https://maximum-pain.com/
It is at a strike price (usually a strike price with most open interest) that the MM will attempt to manipulate the pps at expiration date to cause most pain (Loss) for option trader and most profit for those MM depending on which side of the strike price they close it at expiration.
More info = Max Pain (Options) - Overview, How It Works, Calculation (corporatefinanceinstitute.com)

[Zilla]

I buy options. Usually calls but with the AI boom I've put about 5% of my portfolio into various puts across that space for 2025. So if worthless it's not too bad but if things go south then I'm hedged a little bit and in things that have out of this world PE's. I tried selling options and I have margin ability (rarely use) but my cash reserves are changing daily. lol I went 95% cash day before election then all in after then 50% cash and was about 25% cash this morning. I would have stayed 25% cash into the weekend but I've got those puts in case something happens globally that rattles markets. I think IEP will keep the Divi for at least a year and I think the assets will do well going forward anb hopefully CVI gives the Divi back and IEP's increases over time. As a BLCO and BHC shareholder I'm also expecting a Spring deal that makes 2025 a great year for IEP.
Looking forward to my 3,000 after Christmas gift for the 6K I had before and happy to get those shares back 3300 cheaper. Almost like the dollar divi from before.

[ItsMyOption]

Zilla that 10.40 buy should be good going forward. My guess why IEP went down today is they originally offered to buy CVI extra shares at 17.50, but Carl increased that to $18.25 so those shares will cost IEP just a little more. We are oversold and hitting double bottom plus IEP does pay out .50 per share on Dec. 26 and both IEP & CVI should move up nicely in 2025.

Do you play options? If so I like the STO-sell to open 1/17/25 $10.00 PUT where you can get paid .47 per share - so if price for IEP is above $10.00 which it should be you keep that .47 cash you collect today. One must have cash reserved or margin if on that Jan strike date the price is below $10 you will be assigned / buy IEP at $10 but your cost would be $9.53

[Zilla]

I I bought back my 6,000 IEP's for 10.45 that I sold above 11 expecting the gap in the chart to fill 10.40 which we hit today...Could always go lower but the chart looks good to run up into the 50 DMA. I've got calls so I'll flip either the shares or calls depending on a juicy premium if we do. If not, I tasty dividend is also good. Was going to wait til the 20th to add IEP but the chart is looking coiled butI who knows.

[ItsMyOption]

IEP has been buying up shares of both CVI and now UAN = https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=UAN&ty=c&ta=1&p=d
2025 should be a great year for turn around and $$$$ for IEP shareholders. UAN pays 10% dividend and expecting lower cost under Trump

[bar1080]

HERE, read what Hindenburg Research said about IEP. They're usually quite accurate about their short targets. My advice, buy quality and diversify. Always, shun gimmicky dividend stocks. Click link below:
https://hindenburgresearch.com/icahn/

[bar1080]

Junk!

[ItsMyOption]

kenny54, also I play the options a lot and today is a weekly exploration date so I expect closing pps will be close to 15.00 and depending if the big players were selling or buying the 15.00 Strick price it will close on that side. I expect just over 15.01

[ItsMyOption]

Agree IEP is looking better and have added a lot!! Chart looks good and should move back to 17.50 area soon. The next earning will be interesting and could create a short covering as I believe they will be better then annalist forecast..

[kenny54]

IEP is now on an upward trajectory. The lawsuits against Mr. Icahn were dismissed by the Federal judge , and shows the skullduggery some have stooped to artificially lower the price. Buying more, great dividend!

[Zilla]

I was able to sell my shares the other day and buy Dec calls when it came back down. I got lucky and would rather hold 60 ITM calls than 6,000 shares in case divi is cut or a bad ER. Chart is a Deep looking Cup and Handle so that's looking good too.
A slow climb up is better than a POP so I don't trade it. lol

[ItsMyOption]

I like how the chart looks and IEP could jump to $15.40 area real fast.

[ItsMyOption]

Zilla, yes tomorrow IEP will pay $1.00 per share which equals 31% which is too high but only because shorts have destroyed the pps. So if at 3rd quarter earning IEP cuts the dividend it would help reduce debt which is good. LOOKING FORWARD IEP= https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=IEP&ty=c&ta=1&p=d
looks good with positive earnings and vary nice EPS going forward so any dividend cut could be short as Icahn likes his DIV and the majority comes from the dividends his companies pays out.

I do feel IEP is strong buy and should be in $20 by next year or before.

[Zilla]

Been back in and flipped some calls but now holding shares. Willing to add and have dry powder to do so if it drops again.... Divi gets paid this Wednesday (25th) (1.00) and it's trying to find a new range. I expect a divi cut to .50 but if not this is going to do very well long term with a 30+% divi for those bought recently.

[sportd]

They should be put out of business

[kenny54]

Agreed, and that could be in the Billions for lost share value.

[kenny54]

September 13, 2024 11:19 PM UTC
Icahn Enterprises wins dismissal of investor lawsuit
Carl Icahn's investment company Icahn Enterprises (IEP.O) won the dismissal of a lawsuit claiming it artificially inflated its share price by issuing unsustainably high dividends to help the billionaire investor obtain large amounts of personal loans.
In a decision on Friday, U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore in Miami said shareholders in the proposed class action failed to show that the company made material misrepresentations or omissions and did so with an intent to defraud.

[ItsMyOption]

I would like to see IEP sue HINDENBURG "RESEARCH for damages.

[kenny54]

ICAHN ENTERPRISES VINDICATED BY DISMISSAL OF MERITLESS LAWSUIT THAT PARROTED FALSE AND MISLEADING CLAIMS PUBLISHED BY HINDENBURG "RESEARCH"

[ItsMyOption]

Seems like the shorts should start covering vary soon. IEP has forward P/E 13.23 Cash/sh of 11.90 going forward earnings all look positive with low pps now Dividend pays 37.31% but I do expect he will cut that next quarter. IEP - https://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=IEP&ty=c&ta=1&p=d

[braves31]

Hope so. Bought more today in my long term dividend account. But getting kick in the teeth since my first buys at 22.00

[ItsMyOption]

IEP has been oversold and should bounce back soon - IMO. They are scheduled to pay the $1.00 per share dividend on Sept. 25th

Their 3rd quarter earning around Oct 31 will be important but expected forecast is a positive .21, which should be good to keep dividend.

I feel we will hit the low today and great time to buy / add more for long term.

[braves31]

Jesus, this is getting silly….will they cut the dividend again????

[Saving Grace]

Short seller Hindenburg at it again with unfounded accusations

Carl Icahn and his firm, Icahn Enterprises, agreed to pay a $2 million fine to resolve allegations that they failed for years to disclose that most of the firm’s bonds were pledged as collateral for personal margin loans. The SEC investigation was triggered by accusations from Hindenburg Research, which Icahn denies.

[Beano1969]

https://x.com/Carl_C_Icahn/status/1825566532652437641?t=LwTOaiFZfePtvf27L-eyag&s=19

[ZZZ888]

Just keep paying the quarterly and many people will be happy

[kenny54]

It will be interesting to see this stock move over the summer. It’s been suppressed for a while now , it pays a 22% dividend and has Carl Icahn at the helm , I am in.