AAPL Options Signal $300 Call Battle: Whale Buys and Citigroup’s $330 Target Fuel Breakout Potential

• Call open interest surges at $300 strike for next Friday, while puts dominate at $200–$230
• Block trades show 880K call buys at $240 and 600K put buys at $235
• Citigroup and Wedbush raise targets to $330–$350, citing AI and Services growth

Here’s the deal: AAPL’s options market is locked in a tug-of-war between bulls eyeing a $300+ breakout and bears hedging at extreme puts. The stock sits at $278.41, just shy of its 30D support zone ($278.61–$279.01), while technicals hint at a short-term bearish pullback but a long-term bullish setup. The key takeaway? Upward momentum is favored, but volatility could spike if the $280 level cracks.

The Call/Put Imbalance and Whale Moves

The options chain tells a story of conflicting bets. For this Friday’s expirations, call open interest peaks at $280–$290, while next Friday’s data shows a massive shift: AAPL20251219C300 (OI: 48,060) and AAPL20251219C305 (OI: 36,745) dominate. That’s not just noise—it’s institutional money stacking the odds for a $300+ move. Meanwhile, puts at $200–$230 (like AAPL20251219P200 with 21,602 OI) suggest deep bearish hedging, possibly from long-term investors wary of a tech sector correction.

Block trades add intrigue. A 880K AAPL20251017C240 buy (turnover: $431K) signals aggressive bullish positioning, while a 600K AAPL20250926P235 buy (turnover: $192K) hints at bearish hedges. These moves aren’t random—they’re strategic. Think of it like a chess game: bulls are betting on AI-driven growth, while bears are bracing for a memory-cost-driven margin squeeze.

News Flow: AI Hype vs. Leadership Jitters

Citigroup and Wedbush aren’t just throwing darts—they’ve raised AAPL’s target to $330–$350, citing AI partnerships and Services growth. That aligns with the call-heavy options data. But here’s the catch: recent executive departures in Apple’s AI team and insider selling ($33M+ by Cook) have sparked short-term jitters. The market’s split—Barclays warns of overvaluation, while JPMorgan added 22M shares in Q3. The Services segment is a bright spot, though. With App Store and iCloud driving high-margin revenue, Apple’s ecosystem lock-in could outlast hardware slowdowns.

Trade Ideas: Calls for Breakouts, Puts for Protection

For options traders, the AAPL20251212C290 (this Friday’s $290 call) is a high-conviction play if the stock breaks above $280. If you’re bullish but cautious, the AAPL20251219C300 (next Friday’s $300 call) offers leverage on a $300+ move. For downside protection, the AAPL20251219P277.5 (OI: 21,503) could cap losses if the stock dips below $276.03 (middle Bollinger Band).

Stock traders: Consider entry near $278.61 (30D support) with a target at $285 (intraday high). If the price drops below $276.82 (intraday low), tighten stops and watch for a rebound off the $264.63 lower Bollinger Band. A break above $280 would validate the long-term bullish trend.

Volatility on the Horizon

The next 72 hours will be critical. If AAPL holds above $278.61, the $300 call rally could gain steam. But watch for a breakdown below $276.03—the middle Bollinger Band—to trigger panic in the puts. Either way, the options data and news flow point to a stock at a crossroads: AI-driven optimism vs. margin pressures. Play it smart—position for the breakout, but keep a seatbelt on for the ride.