Howmet Aerospace Plunges 2.27% on $560M Volume Surge to 215th Rank as Options Activity Spikes Amid Volatility Swings

Howmet Aerospace (HWM) closed at $173.13 on August 13, 2025, down 2.27% from the previous session. The stock recorded a trading volume of $560 million, a 145.43% increase from the prior day, ranking 215th in market activity. Technical indicators show the shares trading below their 30-day moving average of $183.27 and significantly distant from the 200-day average of $140.06. Options activity spiked on the 175/180 call strikes amid volatility surging to 30–83%.

The selloff diverged sharply from broader aerospace sector trends, where defense contractors showed resilience. While the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) declined 1.7%, HWM's decline appeared disconnected from sector-wide Golden Dome procurement optimism. Traders are analyzing whether the move reflects earnings-related concerns or liquidity-driven pressure, with the stock nearing its 52-week low of $90.71 and testing the 176.68 Bollinger lower band. Call options on the 175 and 180 strikes saw heavy turnover, indicating speculative positioning amid the volatility.

Backtest analysis of HWM's performance following a 4% intraday decline revealed a 62.15% win rate over three days, 67.98% over ten days, and 73.26% over 30 days. The maximum return of 13.03% occurred on day 59, suggesting historical recovery potential after sharp declines. Key technical levels include the 184.04–184.37 30-day support zone and the 127.45–129.29 200-day resistance range. Traders are advised to monitor the $175 level, with a breakdown potentially triggering a cascade toward the lower band while a rebound above $184.04 could rekindle bullish momentum.