KLA Tencor (KLAC) 2/9/10 PriceWatch Alert Up To 9.75% Downside Protection

Posted: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 8:38 AM EDT
By: Market Intelligence Center Staff

KLA Tencor (NASDAQ: KLAC) closed yesterday at $28.72. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $15.27 and 52-week high of $37.71. KLA Tencor stock has been showing support around 27.77 and resistance in the 29.79 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish and S&P gives KLAC a neutral 3 STAR (out of 5) hold rating. KLAC appears on the Investors Observer Analysts Favorites list. For a hedged play on this stock, look at a Jun '10 28 covered call for a net debit in the $25.92 area. That is also the break even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a 130 day duration, provides 9.75% downside protection and an 8.02% assigned return rate for a 22.53% 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 KLAC Jan '11 20 Call and selling the Jun '10 28 call for a $6.80 debit. The trade has a 130 day life and would provide 6.69% downside protection and a 17.65% assigned return rate for a 50.00% annualized return rate (for comparison purposes only). KLA Tencor has a current annual dividend yield of 2.12%. [ATU-Seven Summits Research]