Apache Primed to Climb Above $100

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Apache Corp. (NYSE:APA) is an independent oil and gas company based in Texas. It has operations in Gulf of Mexico, Texas, Permian and Anadarko basins. It also has exploration and production interests in several other countries around the globe.

Last quarter, Apache reported earnings of $2.95, or 10 cents above expectations. With revenues of $4.3 billion coming in almost 45% higher than the prior year, APA is selling at just six times cash flow and 1.3 times book, both trough valuations. Its forward multiple of under 7 is also nearing historically cheap valuation levels.

Apache had been a relative market performer until August, with the stock underperforming the S&P 500 by nearly 20% since then. It has also underperformed its peer group by a similar amount. As such, I look for APA to move to $105 by April expiration.

Based on APA’s current market price of $97.48 and using a target price of $105, a target date of April 20, 2012, and $10,000 of investment capital, this is an excellent candidate for capturing some nice upside by buying an April call spread, selling an April put spread or buying the stock.

For the full details on this trade, visit TradingBlock.com, create a free Instant Login and try the TradeBuilder feature, where you’ll see several ways to trade this name. Best of all, you can see a potential profit-and-loss outline for each strategy.

Create your free login, and get access to these APA option trading strategies by visiting the TradeBuilder here.

Tim spent 13 years as Chief Options Strategist at Man Securities in Chicago, four years as Lead Options Strategist at ThinkorSwim and three years as a Market Maker for First Options in Chicago. Tim makes weekly appearances on Bloomberg TV  “Options Insight”, Business First AM “Trader Talk”, TD Ameritade Network “Morning Trade Live” and CBOE-TV “Vol 411” to discuss everything from volatility and option related.


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