Option Signals | Boeing Calls Surge 10x; Intel Volume Soars 1.7x, Bullish Bias

Boeing's November delivery shortfall raises immediate concerns. The company only got 44 planes out the door last month, less than both 2024's 48 and 2023's 56, putting immense pressure on December to hit 2025 targets and stabilize revenue according to reports. Compounding this, the 737 MAX line ran at just 32 jets monthly, far under the FAA-approved 42/month goal, with longer-term expansion plans now clouded by supply chain bottlenecks as forecasted

.

Yet simultaneously, options traders are pricing in a potential rebound. December 2025 options volume for Boeing has exploded tenfold. This surge reflects a concentrated bet on a resolution to the delivery chaos and a recovery in investor confidence. The stark contrast between operational headwinds and this aggressive options positioning creates significant short-term volatility. While the options activity suggests market belief in a turnaround, it also magnifies the risk if December deliveries miss expectations or further setbacks emerge.

The core tension lies in Boeing's execution risk versus perceived opportunity. Near-term, any failure to ramp December production could trigger sharp stock declines, directly impacting the options positions. Longer-term, the stock's ability to capitalize on the pent-up demand and restored production rates will determine if the options optimism proves justified. Investors are clearly hedging on a binary outcome: catastrophic delay or a strong finish with renewed growth potential.

Intel's recent options market activity reflects intense investor conviction in its turnaround story. On December 2, 2025, the stock saw a record 1.09 million options contracts change hands, with calls dominating at 73.9% of volume according to market data. This surge suggests significant bullish positioning ahead of key catalysts. The most unusual single trade involved 26,000 call contracts expiring March 2026 at a $50 strike, representing a $9.36 million turnover. High open interest levels near 6.42 million contracts further indicate sustained institutional and retail commitment.

Intel's Foundry business is gaining tangible traction despite its recent launch. The company aims to secure $15 billion in lifetime deal value by 2030 as announced. A critical validation point came with a design win from Microsoft for an upcoming Intel 18A chip, underscoring growing enterprise demand for its advanced manufacturing. While the ambition is substantial, execution risks remain high. Scaling to meet demand for its 18A and 14A processes requires flawless progress on its roadmap and overcoming intense competition from established foundries.

CES 2025 demonstrations reinforced Intel's focus on embedding AI across consumer and business applications. Live showcases included the AI Playground for local generative tasks, a retail-focused voice assistant powered by Core Ultra chips, and the MSI Claw AI+ handheld device delivering desktop-level performance. Partnerships like Oliver's drive-thru AI ordering system highlighted practical deployment paths. These moves validate Intel's strategy to expand AI accessibility but face competition in rapidly evolving consumer tech spaces. The path to the $15 billion Foundry target hinges on converting these partnerships into sustained volume and overcoming manufacturing scale challenges.

Growth Trade-Offs & Sentiment Contrasts

Building on the momentum from previous coverage, we now examine contrasting market dynamics between two key players where technical frictions collide with speculative optimism. Boeing's November delivery shortfall of 44 planes according to reports-down from 48 in November 2024 and 56 in 2023-creates immediate pressure to clear a Q4 backlog. The 737 MAX production gap as forecasted (32 units delivered versus a 42-unit target) compounds this, with supply chain constraints threatening the FAA-approved path to 52 monthly units by 2027–2028. Yet options traders are placing binary bets: Boeing's December 2025 options activity surged according to market analysis amid Q4 order growth, fueling a 9/10 AI-driven buy signal. This dichotomy creates a high-risk profile where resolution hinges entirely on whether production bottlenecks can be surgically resolved.

Intel presents a starker tension between execution and aspiration. While December's record 70% bullish options volume reflects demand for its AI chip portfolio, the company's "Hold" rating and semiconductor sector ranking highlight scaling risks. CES 2025 demos as demonstrated showcased tangible applications-AI Playground software, retail voice assistants, and the MSI Claw AI+ handheld-but converting these into revenue hinges on overcoming Foundry capacity constraints and competitive pricing pressures. The market treats Intel's growth trajectory as conditional: bullish sentiment persists only if hardware commercialization and manufacturing ramp align. This creates divergent risk profiles-Boeing's binary recovery bet versus Intel's execution-dependent growth path.

Growth Risks & Catalysts

Boeing's path to its 52 units/month 737 MAX target hinges on overcoming near-term production hurdles. The FAA's approval to gradually increase output toward 42 units/month this year represents a validation of the company's recovery plan, yet November's 32-unit output underscores persistent supply chain strains that could delay the 2027–2028 milestone. For investors, options volatility in December 2025 amplified Boeing's upside potential, with AI-driven sentiment scoring its stock a 9/10. This binary outcome pricing means any supply chain resolution could trigger sharp price moves, while persistent delays risk eroding shareholder confidence despite a growing Q4 order backlog.

Intel's $15 billion lifetime deal value target by 2030 faces equally high-stakes execution tests. The Microsoft design win using Intel 18A technology validates the foundry's technical roadmap and aligns with surging AI demand, but scaling to meaningful revenue requires flawless rollout of advanced processes. Foundry profitability depends on converting these design wins into volume production-a challenge evidenced by the semiconductor industry's historical struggles with new node transitions. While December 2025 options showed 70% bullish sentiment for Intel, the stock's 5/10 AI rating reflects market skepticism about its ability to close the gap with rivals. Investors essentially hold binary bets: success here could redefine Intel's growth trajectory, while scaling failures would reinforce its current market positioning challenges.

The market's heightened sensitivity to these catalysts is evident in December 2025 options activity, where Boeing's aerospace rebound and Intel's AI ambitions both saw concentrated investor positioning. For Boeing, every monthly production increase signals progress toward regulatory approval milestones; for Intel, the 18A process ramp will determine whether its foundry strategy gains credibility. Both companies trade on these binary outcomes-supply chain resolution or foundry scaling successes could trigger significant upside, while setbacks would likely accelerate downside pressure given the market's already-polarized sentiment.