Amcors Diving Volume and Earnings Clash with Surging Options and Institutional Buys

Amcor (AMCR) fell 2.86% on August 18, 2025, with a trading volume of $280 million, a 50.75% decline from the previous day’s activity. The stock remains below its 52-week high of $11.48 and trades near its 52-week low of $8.37.

The company’s dividend strategy remains a key focus, with an annual payout of $0.51 per share and a yield of 6.01%. The next ex-dividend date is set for September 5, 2025. However, the payout ratio of 141.67% raises sustainability concerns, as earnings per share (EPS) recently fell short of estimates at $0.20 for the quarter. Analysts have maintained a cautiously optimistic stance, with seven of nine assigning a “buy” rating and an average target price of $11.58.

Unusual options activity highlighted bullish sentiment, as call options surged 1,674% on a single day, with 44,211 contracts traded. Institutional investors also increased holdings, including NewSquare Capital LLC, which boosted its position by 377.9%, and Rakuten Securities Inc., which raised its stake by 18,725%. These moves suggest confidence in Amcor’s long-term positioning despite near-term volatility.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to now delivered moderate returns. The 1-day return was 0.98%, with a total return of 31.52% over 365 days. This indicates the strategy captured some short-term momentum but also reflected market volatility and potential timing risks.