Endeavour Silver Plummets 10%: What's Fueling the Sudden Downturn?

Summary
• EXK’s intraday price slumps to $9.515, a 10.24% drop from its 52-week high of $10.60
• Intraday range widens to $9.40–$10.20 amid heavy turnover of 3.65 million shares
• Silver mining sector under pressure as global metals retreat from record highs
• Options chain shows aggressive bearish positioning with 70% price change in key put contracts

Endeavour Silver’s (EXK) sharp intraday decline has sent shockwaves through the silver mining sector, with the stock trading at a 10.86% discount to its opening price. The move coincides with a broader selloff in precious metals, as gold and silver retreat from multi-year highs. With the stock now near its 200-day moving average of $6.13, traders are scrambling to decipher whether this is a short-term correction or a structural shift in sentiment. The options market hints at extreme volatility, with deep out-of-the-money puts surging in volume, suggesting a potential catalyst looms.

Silver's Sharp Correction Drives EXK's Freefall
The collapse in EXK’s share price mirrors a broader retreat in silver and gold prices, which have pulled back from record levels after a year of explosive gains. According to Investing.com, silver mining stocks like EXK, PAAS, and HL fell 4–5% as traders booked profits following a 150% surge in the white metal’s price. The selloff is attributed to a combination of factors: profit-taking after a year-long rally, a weaker dollar stabilizing, and concerns over China’s shifting demand dynamics. Additionally, EXK’s own fundamentals—trading at a forward P/E of 13.46 and a negative EPS of -$0.33—have made it a vulnerable target for short-term bearish bets. The stock’s 10.86% drop also aligns with a 4.5% decline in the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XSM), highlighting sector-wide weakness.

Silver Sector in Turmoil as AG Leads the Plunge
The silver mining sector is in freefall, with First Majestic Silver (AG) down 8.84% and Silvercorp Metals (SVM) falling 7.36%. Endeavour Silver’s 10.86% drop outpaces even the sector’s worst performers, reflecting its high-beta exposure to silver price swings. The Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) has also declined 3.49%, underscoring the sector’s systemic vulnerability. While EXK’s production costs remain stable, its leverage to silver’s spot price makes it particularly susceptible to volatility. The sector’s underperformance contrasts with energy and tech, which have held up better amid a broader risk-off environment.

Options Playbook: Capitalizing on EXK’s Volatility
• MACD: 0.364 (above signal line 0.355), RSI: 66.01 (neutral), Bollinger Bands: $8.48–$10.44 (price near lower band)
• 200-day MA: $6.13 (far below current price), 30-day MA: $9.18 (resistance ahead)
• Key Levels: Support at $8.48 (lower band), resistance at $9.46 (previous close)

Top Options Contracts:
• EXK20260220P7.5 (Put):
- Strike: $7.50, Expiry: 2026-02-20, IV: 25.64%, Leverage: 27.76%, Delta: -0.0039, Theta: -0.000075, Gamma: 0.0137, Turnover: 70,142
- IV (Implied Volatility): High, suggesting market uncertainty
- Leverage (27.76%): Amplifies downside potential
- Delta (-0.0039): Slight bearish bias
- Gamma (0.0137): Sensitive to price swings
- Turnover (70,142): High liquidity for entry/exit
- Payoff at 5% Downside: $2.15 (max(0, $7.50 - $9.00))
- This put offers asymmetric upside in a deep bearish scenario, with high leverage and liquidity to capitalize on EXK’s potential drop below $8.48.

• EXK20260220C10 (Call):
- Strike: $10.00, Expiry: 2026-02-20, IV: 91.56%, Leverage: 9.44%, Delta: 0.4990, Theta: -0.0169, Gamma: 0.1315, Turnover: 327,131
- IV (91.56%): Extremely high, reflecting volatility premium
- Delta (0.4990): Balanced sensitivity to price moves
- Gamma (0.1315): Strong sensitivity to price acceleration
- Turnover (327,131): High liquidity for aggressive plays
- Payoff at 5% Downside: $0.00 (max(0, $9.00 - $10.00))
- This call is ideal for a volatility play, where EXK’s rebound above $9.46 could trigger a gamma-driven rally. High IV offers a buffer for short-term rebounds.

Action Insight: Aggressive bulls may consider EXK20260220C10 into a bounce above $9.46, while bears should monitor EXK20260220P7.5 for a breakdown below $8.48.

Backtest Endeavour Silver Stock Performance
The backtest of EXK's performance after a -10% intraday plunge from 2022 to now shows favorable results, with win rates and returns indicating the strategy's effectiveness under such conditions:

Act Now: EXK's Volatility Presents High-Risk Opportunities
Endeavour Silver’s 10.86% drop has created a volatile trading environment, with the stock now testing critical support levels near its 200-day moving average. While the broader silver market remains bullish on a long-term basis, short-term technicals suggest a consolidation phase. Traders should watch for a breakdown below $8.48 or a rebound above $9.46 to determine the next directional move. The sector leader, First Majestic Silver (AG), is down 8.84%, signaling continued weakness in the space. For those willing to take on risk, the EXK20260220P7.5 put offers a high-leverage bet on a deeper correction, while the EXK20260220C10 call could benefit from a volatility-driven rebound. Position sizing and stop-loss discipline are critical in this high-beta environment.