Visa Inc. (V) PriceWatch Alert for February 4, 2010

Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010 8:13 AM EDT
By: Market Intelligence Center Staff

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) closed yesterday at $83.52. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $48.56 and 52-week high of $89.69. Visa stock has been showing support around 80.98 and resistance in the 85.76 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish and S&P gives V a neutral 3 STAR (out of 5) hold rating. V appears on the Investors Observer Volume Leaders list. For a hedged play on this stock, look at a Jun '10 80 covered call for a net debit in the $75.97 area. That is also the break even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a 135 day duration, provides 9.04% downside protection and a 5.30% assigned return rate for a 14.34% annualized return rate (comparison purposes only). A lower cost hedged play for this stock would use a longer term call option in place of the covered call stock purchase. To use this strategy look at going long the V Jan '11 55 Call and selling the Jun '10 80 call for a $22.05 debit. The trade has a 135 day life and would provide 7.75% downside protection and a 13.38% assigned return rate for a 36.00% annualized return rate (for comparison purposes only). Visa has a current annual dividend yield of 0.60%. [THA-Seven Summits Research]