Explosive Option Volume Spike: What's Driving Trading in VLO, AGIO, and AMTM?

2025-12-26 05:02:01

Abstract generation in progress

Today’s options market showed remarkable activity across three Russell 3000 components, with particularly aggressive positioning in energy and defense sectors. Let’s break down where the action was concentrated.

Valero Energy Leads with 180% Volume Surge

Valero Energy Corp (VLO) commanded the day’s most significant options traffic, with 43,780 contracts changing hands—equivalent to 4.4 million underlying shares. This represents a substantial 180.6% spike relative to VLO’s monthly average daily volume of 2.4 million shares. The real concentration emerged in the [$110 call option maturing December 19, 2025](, which attracted 7,216 contract positions totaling roughly 721,600 shares. This strike action suggests notable bullish sentiment among options traders in the energy sector.

AGIO Pharmaceuticals Follows with 406% Activity Surge

Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc (AGIO) demonstrated eye-catching derivatives engagement, with 24,712 contracts exchanged throughout the session—translating to approximately 2.5 million shares of the underlying security. The volume intensity reached 406.2% of AGIO’s 30-day average daily share volume of 608,410. Most of this concentration crystallized around the [$22.50 put option set to expire January 16, 2026](, which saw 10,047 positions representing roughly 1.0 million shares. This put positioning hints at defensive hedging or downside speculation in the pharmaceutical name.

AMTM Holdings Rounds Out the Action

Amentum Holdings Inc (AMTM) completed today’s notable options trifecta with 22,095 contracts—representing 2.2 million underlying shares or 164.3% above its typical daily volume of 1.3 million shares. The [$25 call option maturing November 21, 2025]( drew the heaviest traffic with 9,144 contracts totaling approximately 914,400 shares, indicating bullish positioning in the defense contractor.

For additional strike alternatives and expiration dates on [AGIO](, [VLO](, or [AMTM]( options, detailed analytics are available through options research platforms.

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