NVIDIA (NVDA) Options Signal Bullish Breakout Potential: Focus on $180–$185 Calls and Strategic Entry Zones Amid AI Infrastructure Surge

• NVIDIA’s current price of $177.72 sits just above its 30-day support/resistance range (177.64–177.97), with volume surging to 108.96 million shares—the highest in months.
• Options data reveals a 0.95 put/call open interest ratio, with heavy call OI at $180–$185 strikes and block trades hinting at institutional bullishness.
• Recent news of a $100B OpenAI partnership and Blackwell Ultra’s MLPerf record cement NVIDIA’s AI leadership, aligning with technical indicators like a bullish MACD crossover and RSI above 60.

The confluence of options positioning, technical momentum, and strategic AI infrastructure deals paints a compelling case for an upside breakout. NVIDIA’s price action and options activity suggest a high probability of testing the $183.51 Bollinger Band upper bound in the near term.

Bullish Imbalance in OTM Options and Whale Trades Signal Institutional Confidence

The options chain for NVIDIA reveals a striking imbalance in open interest (OI) favoring out-of-the-money (OTM) calls. For Friday’s expiration, the $180 (OI: 110,084), $185 (OI: 87,503), and $182.5 (OI: 85,320) strikes dominate call activity, while puts peak at $170 (OI: 89,167) and $172.5 (OI: 72,792). This distribution suggests institutional positioning for a mid-to-high $180s rally, with heavy call OI acting as a self-fulfilling prophecy if the stock approaches those levels. The 0.95 put/call OI ratio (calls slightly ahead) indicates a marginal bullish tilt, though the $170 put OI could cap downside risk if the stock stumbles.

Notable block trades further reinforce this narrative. A 26,000-lot purchase of the NVDA20250919C175 call (strike: $175, exp: 2025-09-19) for $7.696 million signals large-scale bullish positioning ahead of the September 10 Blackwell RTX 5080 rollout. This strike aligns with the 30-day support/resistance range, suggesting a strategic entry point for capitalizing on the AI infrastructure hype. Conversely, the NVDA20260116P160 put trade (1,250 lots sold for $950,000) hints at short-term bearish hedging, but its distant expiration (Jan 2026) reduces immediate impact.

Company News Amplifies Bullish Sentiment and Validates Options Positioning

NVIDIA’s recent news flow is a masterclass in AI-driven growth. The $100B OpenAI partnership, $5B Intel investment, and Blackwell Ultra’s MLPerf record underscore its dominance in AI infrastructure. These developments align with the options market’s focus on the $180–$185 range, as the stock’s intrinsic value now reflects $14B in FY2026 revenue guidance and a 56% YoY growth trajectory. The UK-LLM initiative and JUPITER supercomputer launch further validate NVIDIA’s role in global AI adoption, creating a flywheel effect for demand in its Blackwell and Rubin CPX GPUs.

However, risks persist. While the $170 put OI could act as a floor, a breakdown below the 200-day moving average ($141.64) would trigger a reevaluation of the bullish thesis. The recent $174.93 intraday low is a critical support level to watch; a close below this could reignite short-term bearish sentiment.

Actionable Trade Ideas: Calls for Short-Term Volatility, Stock Entry at Key Support

For options traders, the NVDA20250919C180 and NVDA20250919C185 strikes (expiring Friday) offer high leverage if NVIDIA breaks above $178.64 (intraday high). These strikes are positioned to capitalize on the $183.51 Bollinger Band upper bound and the $180–$185 OI cluster. A conservative approach would be to buy the $180 call at a 1:2 risk-reward ratio, targeting a $185–$190 move. For next Friday’s expiration, the NVDA20251017C185 (OI: 58,037) is a safer bet, given its alignment with the 30-day moving average ($176.33) and the recent $177.72 price.

Stock traders should consider entry near $177.64–$177.97 (30-day support/resistance) with a stop-loss below $174.93. A breakout above $178.64 (intraday high) would validate the bullish case, with $183.51 as the first target. A more aggressive entry at $178.17 (today’s open) could capture momentum if the stock gaps higher on the Blackwell RTX rollout.

Volatility on the Horizon: Aligning Options and Stock Strategies for AI-Driven Momentum

The coming weeks will test NVIDIA’s ability to sustain its bullish momentum. With the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference on September 1 and the Blackwell RTX 5080 rollout on September 10, the stock is primed for volatility. The options market’s focus on the $180–$185 range and the block trades at $175 suggest a high probability of a breakout. Traders should monitor the NVDA20250919C175 strike (bought in 26,000-lot blocks) as a catalyst for a $180+ move. Meanwhile, the $170 put OI provides a safety net, but a close below $174.93 would force a reassessment of the trade. In this environment, a bull call spread (buy $180 call, sell $190 call) offers defined risk while capitalizing on the AI hype cycle.