Visa (V) Options Signal Bullish Bias: 360-Call OI Surge and $402.52 Price Target Fuel Holiday Trading Setup

• Options data highlights: Call open interest dominates at $360 and $357.50 strikes ahead of Friday’s expiry, while puts cluster at $340 and $330.
• Technical setup: RSI near overbought (75.5) and MACD above signal line suggest short-term bullish momentum.
• News catalysts: $500M litigation escrow, 4.2% U.S. retail spending growth, and AI commerce innovations boost long-term optimism.

Here’s what’s happening: The options market is whispering a clear message—traders are leaning hard into Visa’s upside. Call open interest at the $360 and $357.50 strikes (this Friday’s expiry) dwarfs put activity, while the 30-day RSI teeters on overbought territory. Combine that with analysts’ $402.52 average price target, and it’s a recipe for a holiday rally. But let’s dig into the numbers to see where the real opportunities—and risks—lie.Bullish OI Clusters and Whale Moves

The call options landscape is telling a story of conviction. For this Friday’s expiry (2025-12-26), the V20251226C360 and V20251226C357.5 strikes dominate with 397 and 282 open contracts, respectively. That’s not just noise—it’s a sign that institutional players are hedging or capitalizing on a potential breakout above $357.50. Meanwhile, the put open interest at $340 (1,249 contracts for next Friday’s expiry) acts as a soft floor, suggesting sellers see value if the stock dips toward 200-day support at $343.39.

Don’t ignore the block trade either: 750 contracts of the V20251017C350 call were traded in late October, hinting at a long-term bullish bet. While the expiration is past, the volume suggests a whale-sized player is still bullish on Visa’s near-term trajectory.

News Flow: Legal Headwinds vs. AI-Driven Growth

Visa’s recent moves are a mixed bag. The $500M litigation escrow deposit is a defensive play, reducing banks’ stake in the company but neutral on EPS. Yet the same day, the stock reported a 4.2% surge in U.S. holiday retail spending and launched an AI-driven embedded finance platform for logistics. Analysts like Baird and Mizuho are doubling down, maintaining Buy ratings with $425 price targets.

The legal settlement with Mastercard ($167.5M) is a minor blip in a $10.7B revenue quarter. What matters more is the institutional confidence: 82.15% institutional ownership and a dividend hike to $0.67 (12.7% increase) signal management’s faith in cash flow resilience.

Actionable Trade IdeasFor options traders:

• Bullish play: Buy the V20251226C360 (strike price $360, expiry Friday). With the stock trading at $355.05, this call offers a 1.4% buffer to breakeven. If Visa closes above $360 by Friday, the 140-contract OI at $365 could create a cascading rally.
• Bearish hedge: Sell the V20260102P340 (strike $340, expiry next Friday) to collect premium if the stock dips toward 200-day support. The 1,249 OI at this strike suggests a high probability of the stock holding above $340.

For stock traders:

• Entry near $353.04 (intraday low) if the 30-day support at $329.55 holds. Target $360–$365 if the 357.50 strike breaks.
• Stop-loss at $343.39 (200-day support) to protect against a breakdown in the long-term range.

Volatility on the Horizon

The next 10 days will test Visa’s resolve. A close above $360 could trigger a retest of the Bollinger Upper Band at $357.29, while a dip below $343.39 might invite short-term sellers. But with AI commerce pilots, stablecoin innovations, and a resilient dividend, the long-term story remains intact. For now, the options market and technicals are in sync—this is a stock primed for a holiday surge.

Final Take: The data isn’t perfect—RSI is overbought, and legal risks linger—but the combination of bullish OI, strong fundamentals, and analyst optimism makes this a high-conviction trade. Play it smart, set your stops, and let the market do the rest.