Cimarex Energy (XEC) 11/20/09 PriceWatch Alert With $42.75 Break Even

Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:32 AM EDT
By: Market Intelligence Center Staff

Cimarex Energy (NYSE: XEC) closed yesterday at $46.45. So far the stock has hit a 52-week low of $15.35 and 52-week high of $48.54. Cimarex Energy stock has been showing support around 45.26 and resistance in the 48.28 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish and S&P gives XEC a positive 4 STAR (out of 5) buy rating. XEC appears on the Investors Observer Hedged Dividend Income list. For a hedged play on this stock, look at a Jan '10 45 covered call (XEC AI) for a net debit in the $42.75 area. That is also the break even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a 57 day duration, provides 7.97% downside protection and a 5.26% assigned return rate for a 33.70% 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 XEC Jan '11 17.50 Call (ZWK AW) and selling the Jan '10 45 call (XEC AI) for a $25.80 debit. The trade has a 57 day life and would provide 6.78% downside protection and a 6.59% assigned return rate for a 42.00% annualized return rate (for comparison purposes only). Cimarex Energy has a current annual dividend yield of 0.50%. [FBB-Seven Summits Research]