GE Aerospace Plummets 3.1% Amid Sector Volatility: What's Fueling the Selloff?

Summary
• GE Aerospace (GE) plunges 3.11% to $313.56, breaking below its 200-day moving average of $264.51
• Insider sales, analyst downgrades, and sector underperformance amplify near-term pressure
• Options chain shows aggressive bullish positioning ahead of January 16 expiration

GE Aerospace’s sharp intraday selloff has captured market attention as the stock trades 3.11% lower at $313.56, a 20.8% drop from its 52-week high of $332.79. The move follows a mix of bearish catalysts—including insider selling, analyst skepticism, and sector-wide weakness—while options data suggests institutional traders are hedging for volatility. With the stock testing critical support levels, the path forward hinges on earnings momentum and sector alignment.

Bearish Catalysts: Insiders, Analysts, and Sector Weakness Collide
GE’s selloff is driven by a confluence of bearish factors. Institutional selling by Geneos Wealth Management (trimming its stake by 34.4%) and insider sales by SVP Russell Stokes (5.05% reduction) signal caution. Analysts at BNP Paribas downgraded the stock to 'strong sell,' citing valuation concerns, while mixed sector sentiment—highlighted by underperformance against peers—adds pressure. The stock’s 3.11% drop also reflects profit-taking after a 14.12% monthly gain, with technical indicators like the bearish engulfing candle and RSI near overbought levels (69.56) amplifying near-term risk.

Aerospace Sector Mixed as Boeing (BA) Drags Down
The aerospace sector remains fragmented, with Boeing (BA) down 0.65% on concerns over supply chain bottlenecks and defense budget uncertainty. While GE outperformed the S&P 500 by 87.19% in the past year, its recent underperformance against the 1.67% weekly gain in the Aerospace-Defense industry highlights rotational selling by sector-focused funds. The sector’s exposure to defense spending volatility and commercial aviation cycles creates a tug-of-war between long-term growth and short-term headwinds.

Options Playbook: Hedging Volatility with High-Leverage Contracts
• 200-day average: $264.51 (well below current price)
• RSI: 69.56 (overbought, suggesting near-term correction)
• MACD: 7.01 (bullish divergence, but signal line at 5.00)
• Bollinger Bands: Price at $313.56 (near lower band at $281.06)

Key levels to watch include the 30D support zone ($287.99–$288.87) and 200D support ($298.61–$301.82). Short-term traders should monitor the 310–315 range for potential bounces, while the 320–325 zone offers resistance. The options chain reveals two high-leverage contracts ideal for volatility-driven strategies:

• GE20260116C310 (Call, $310 strike, Jan 16 expiry):
- IV: 30.58% (moderate)
- Leverage ratio: 38.94% (high)
- Delta: 0.608962 (moderate sensitivity)
- Theta: -1.069334 (rapid time decay)
- Gamma: 0.025498 (strong price sensitivity)
- Turnover: $138,241 (liquid)
- Payoff at 5% downside: $0.00 (strike above current price)
- Why it stands out: High leverage and gamma make this contract ideal for a rebound above $310, with liquidity ensuring smooth entry/exit.

• GE20260116C315 (Call, $315 strike, Jan 16 expiry):
- IV: 26.50% (moderate)
- Leverage ratio: 67.71% (very high)
- Delta: 0.471266 (moderate sensitivity)
- Theta: -0.874775 (rapid decay)
- Gamma: 0.030497 (strong sensitivity)
- Turnover: $59,083 (liquid)
- Payoff at 5% downside: $0.00 (strike above current price)
- Why it stands out: Aggressive leverage and gamma position this as a high-reward play if the stock breaks above $315, with moderate IV reducing overpricing risks.

Action Insight: Aggressive bulls should consider GE20260116C310 into a bounce above $310, while bears may short GE20260116C315 if the stock fails to hold $310. Both contracts offer high leverage and liquidity for directional bets.

Backtest GE Aerospace Stock Performance
General Electric (GE) has demonstrated a positive performance following a -3% intraday plunge from 2022 to the present. The backtest reveals that 61.79% of days saw a return within three days, rising to 65.09% over ten days and 64.62% over thirty days. The average return was 0.85% over three days, 1.99% over ten days, and 5.39% over thirty days, with a maximum return of 10.06% on day 59 after the event.

Critical Crossroads: Watch $310 Support and Sector Catalysts
GE Aerospace’s near-term trajectory hinges on its ability to hold the $310 support level and align with the aerospace sector’s mixed momentum. With Boeing (BA) down 0.65% and sector-wide uncertainty over defense budgets and supply chains, investors should prioritize liquidity-rich options like GE20260116C310 for directional plays. A breakdown below $310 could trigger a test of the 200D support at $298.61, while a rebound above $315 may reignite bullish momentum. Act now: Position for volatility with high-leverage options or consider a short-term ETF play if sector alignment improves.