Moo Options Explorer wrote a post · May 5 15:19

Weekly roundup: Earnings surprises and volatility insights

Hello mooers!

It was a week of market reversals, with the $NASDAQ 100 Index (.NDX.US)$ rebounding sharply by 18% after a steep 16% decline earlier in the month. By the end of April, it managed to close with a modest 1.6% gain. In the week itself, we saw $NASDAQ 100 Index (.NDX.US)$ rise 3.45%, $S&P 500 Index (.SPX.US)$ up 2.92%, and $Russell 2000 Index (.RUT.US)$ gaining 3.22%.

On the positive side, there were signs of tariff progress, with Trump offering compensation for auto tariffs and signs of improvement in U.S.-China talks. Consumer spending remained solid, with companies like $Amazon (AMZN.US)$, $Visa (V.US)$, and $MasterCard (MA.US)$ showing strength. Retailers such as $Walmart (WMT.US)$, $Target (TGT.US)$, and $Home Depot (HD.US)$ reported that Chinese suppliers had resumed shipments, easing concerns about empty store shelves. Additionally, strong U.S. jobs data and Q1 earnings reports helped maintain the market’s positive momentum, while AI growth at $Microsoft (MSFT.US)$ and $Meta Platforms (META.US)$ fueled gains in the tech sector.

However, not all is rosy. Soft data showed weakness, particularly in consumer and business sentiment. Big tech companies like $Apple (AAPL.US)$ and $Amazon (AMZN.US)$ offered cautious forecasts, and the market is now bracing for potential rate cuts, with expectations shifting from June to July. The uncertainties surrounding tariffs and economic growth continue to cast a shadow over the market’s outlook.

Weekly roundup: Earnings surprises and volatility insights

Now, let's dive into some of the standout contributions from our community last week.

📊 Monthly Report: Gains and Challenges

April proved to be an exciting month for some mooers, with both gains and losses shaping the landscape. For @OngHakhowzer, it was a month of incredible success, surpassing his 2025 profit goals with a remarkable 155,493.82 SGD in monthly gains, reflecting a staggering 2858.18% return. Read more>>

On the other hand, @ひな☆彡くまちゃん provided a detailed look at his April performance, capturing both gains and losses. The month closed with a +5.21% return, which, considering the fluctuations in the market, was still seen as a solid outcome. Notable positions included successful call options on $SEALSQ Corp (LAES.US)$ and $Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares ETF (SOXL.US)$, along with a few losses. Read more>>

💡 Market Volatility & Strategies

In the ever-changing landscape of the market, mooers have been finding opportunities despite the volatility. @Tankyy, for example, capitalized on $SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY.US)$, securing a solid 20.89% profit with his trades. Read more>>

Our old friend @The Warlock shared his expertise in navigating $SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY.US)$'s ups and downs, profiting from both puts and calls. His approach emphasizes flexibility—“playing both sides so I always come out on top!” In his detailed post, The Warlock shared valuable insights based on market psychology, particularly during volatile periods. He highlighted how sentiment often trumps traditional fundamental indicators when volatility spikes, making sentiment-based signals a better guide than relying purely on fundamentals. Read more>>

Similarly, @to_the_milkyway had a thrilling ride with $SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY.US)$ calls, celebrating a 137.9% return. Read more>>

🚨 Losses: Learning from Setbacks

Trading is never without its risks, and this week, several mooers faced significant losses that serve as important lessons for all of us. @IDKWTFIMDOING took a huge risk, going "all in" on $SoFi Technologies (SOFI.US)$ calls after the earnings report, only to face a devastating 93.23% loss. The lesson here is clear: don't bet everything on a single trade, and never put yourself in a position where the loss could end your trading career. Diversification and caution are key. Read more>>

Similarly, @韭菜王子 shared his frustration after buying $Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares ETF (SOXL.US)$ calls at a high point and selling at a low, emphasizing the importance of patience. His post underscores a common pitfall—FOMO (fear of missing out). The urge to jump into a trade because of a market rally or a missed opportunity can lead to emotional decisions that result in losses. Read more>>

@Christopher Cioc faced a similar setback, admitting to rushing into $SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY.US)$ calls because of fear and selling at a low point. This "scared" approach led to a poor decision. Fear-driven behavior in trading often leads to impulsive decisions, which is why it's important to remain calm and focus on long-term trends rather than short-term fluctuations. Read more>>

@Moolah168 shared his worst experience with a covered call on $Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM.US)$, which ended up being a huge loss. His post serves as a reminder of the importance of knowing when to cut losses. Holding onto losing positions in the hope that they’ll turn around can be a costly mistake. Read more>>

@Boyd Invests reflected on a tough week with multiple losses in $SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY.US)$ calls and puts. His post is a reminder that losses are a natural part of trading, but it’s essential to reassess positions. As always, starting fresh and learning from setbacks is the key to long-term success in the markets. Read more>>

📄 Earnings Reports & Trades

@PikaGod capitalized on $Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.US)$ earnings with an impressive 831% profit on put options, showcasing the power of short positions when the market expects a downturn after earnings. Read more>>

@Xzibit had a dramatic turnaround with $Meta Platforms (META.US)$. After a tough day of nearly losing everything, he managed to recover all losses with a huge win, earning +18,000 USD on a $Meta Platforms (META.US)$ call. Read more>>

@Elevation420 went with $Apple (AAPL.US)$ put, resulting in a jaw-dropping 1400% return. Read more>>

@By Law Siao Hai 小海 made a more modest but consistent gain with $Apple (AAPL.US)$ call, securing +240 USD. Read more>>

@Prophet26 shared her journey with options, starting with a capital of $232, which grew to $500 after the first day and $1,083 after the second day, primarily from $Microsoft (MSFT.US)$ calls. Read more>>

@IDDQD also posted a solid gain of +705 USD from a $Strategy (MSTR.US)$ call. Read more>>

📓 Trading diaries

@151345363 had an exceptional day, turning a $Rigetti Computing (RGTI.US)$ call option into a massive 1411.11% return. Read more>>

@pootpoot shared a more measured but still impressive strategy with $Alphabet-A (GOOGL.US)$, where she took partial profits at 162 and left runners for further potential. Read more>>

@Ps 23_1 made an impressive +4,200 USD from $Hims & Hers Health (HIMS.US)$ call, and with his succinct "That’s all for today 🙏," he reinforced the importance of knowing when to take profits and step back. Read more>>

@Shroomie celebrated an easy profit from $Tempus AI (TEM.US)$, with a +4,000 USD gain. Read more>>

@约翰の理财库 demonstrated solid consistency with a +63.64% profit from $SPDR Gold ETF (GLD.US)$ put and +51.79% from $NVIDIA (NVDA.US)$ put. His disciplined approach to managing positions in both gold and tech stocks reflects how maintaining a diversified strategy across various sectors can yield steady returns. Read more>>

@MonkeyGee took a more relaxed approach, reflecting on his $Intel (INTC.US)$ call position with a 23.33% profit. Read more>>

As we close out last week's market movements, next week’s focus turns to crucial data releases and earnings reports that could steer the market.

Key data to watch

Tariff Updates: Keep an eye on whether U.S.-China trade talks make progress. We’ll also be watching for the release of the first country sample for tariff relief and continuing trends in the sell-off of U.S. debt.

Earnings Season: Big names like $Palantir (PLTR.US)$, $Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.US)$, $Tempus AI (TEM.US)$, $Arm Holdings (ARM.US)$, $Uber Technologies (UBER.US)$, and more will be reporting.

Macro Data: Non-manufacturing PMI, FOMC's interest rate decision, and Powell’s press conference may affect the market sentiment.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!

We’re a community of learners and strategists. As we head into another week, let’s continue to share and grow together:

💬 What lessons have you learned from last week’s market movements?

💬 Which strategies from our fellow mooers resonated with you?

💬 How are you positioning yourself this week?

🎁 Leave your answers below to earn 100 moo points!

🗓️ Before 23:59, May 11th (ET)

Want to know more about options?

Tap the banner below to join Option Playbook, where you could learn basic knowledge and trading insights from other mooers!

With the collective wisdom of the moomoo community and the tools at our disposal, we’re ready to tackle whatever comes our way. Let’s stay informed, trade smart, and make this week one to remember!

If you find this article useful, do not hesitate to tap ❤️, drop a 💬, and spread the wisdom! 🌟

Stay tuned for more, and happy trading! 🌟