Significant Friday Options Trading: GWW, ACTG, LUNR
Acacia Research Corp Options Activity: Acacia Research Corp (ACTG) has seen a trading volume of 889 options contracts today, equating to about 88,900 underlying shares, which is 40.7% of its average daily trading volume over the past month.
High Volume Call Option for ACTG: The $2.50 strike call option expiring on May 15, 2026, has particularly high activity with 877 contracts traded, representing approximately 87,700 underlying shares.
Intuitive Machines Inc Options Activity: Intuitive Machines Inc (LUNR) reported a significant options trading volume of 26,685 contracts, or about 2.7 million underlying shares, also making up 40.7% of its average daily trading volume.
High Volume Call Option for LUNR: The $9.50 strike call option expiring on November 14, 2025, has seen notable trading with 8,155 contracts, representing around 815,500 underlying shares.
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- Board Composition: Following its merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV, Merlin, Inc. announced a seven-member Board of Directors, including founder and CEO Matt George as Chairman, reflecting the company's commitment to high governance standards.
- Leadership Background: The board features members like Kenneth Braithwaite, former Secretary of the Navy, and Michael Blitzer, who has extensive experience in aerospace, ensuring strategic depth and diverse perspectives in complex aerospace projects.
- Contract Value Achievement: Under George's leadership, Merlin has secured over $100 million in total contract value, including a USSOCOM IDIQ contract for the C-130J program, showcasing the company's strong position in the defense sector.
- Technological Innovation Goals: Merlin aims to drive technological innovation in aerospace through the development of its autonomous flight operating system, targeting full-stack autonomy for military and civilian aircraft to enhance national security capabilities.
- Artemis II Success: The Artemis II mission has successfully concluded, with four astronauts safely back on Earth, laying the groundwork for future lunar bases and demonstrating NASA's ongoing commitment to deep space exploration.
- Reduced Launch Costs: According to CSIS Aerospace Security, SpaceX's reusable Falcon 1 rocket has brought launch costs down to under $6,000 per pound, while Falcon Heavy's costs are around $1,000, significantly lowering the economic barriers to accessing space.
- Emerging Investment Opportunities: With decreasing launch costs, companies like AST SpaceMobile are capitalizing on this trend, planning to deploy up to 60 satellites in low Earth orbit by year-end to provide global mobile broadband, attracting customers like Verizon and Telus.
- Industry Growth Outlook: Research firm IMARC anticipates that the global space launch service market will grow at an average annual rate of nearly 15% through 2034, indicating substantial opportunities for investors in this emerging sector.
- Dramatic Cost Reduction: The cost of sending payloads into space has fallen by over 90% since the inception of modern rocketry, accelerating the development of satellites and related technologies, which is expected to create new investment opportunities in the space industry.
- Successful Artemis II Mission: NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully returned four astronauts to Earth, marking a significant step in the U.S. lunar exploration efforts and laying the groundwork for future lunar base establishment.
- AST SpaceMobile Network Expansion: AST SpaceMobile plans to deploy up to 60 satellites in low Earth orbit by the end of the year to provide mobile broadband internet from space, having already partnered with Verizon and Telus, indicating strong market potential.
- Optimistic Industry Growth Outlook: IMARC forecasts that the global space launch service market will grow at an average annual rate of nearly 15% through 2034, reflecting increasing investment opportunities as launch costs continue to decline.
- SpaceX IPO Outlook: NASA ETF portfolio manager Yuri Khodjamirian stated that the anticipated SpaceX IPO in June could serve as a significant catalyst for space stocks, drawing increased investor attention to the space economy, particularly with a projected valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion.
- Blue Origin's Market Impact: Khodjamirian highlighted that launch activities planned by Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin could alter supply dynamics in the launch market, thereby enhancing valuations for downstream satellite and infrastructure plays, further propelling growth in the space sector.
- Long-Term Drivers: He noted that long-term drivers such as satellite fleet upgrades, space station replacements, and potential orbital data infrastructure are poised to provide multi-year tailwinds for the space economy, especially as launch costs decrease.
- Market Sentiment Shift: Although the NASA ETF saw slight declines in afternoon trading, it has gained nearly 20% since its launch alongside the Artemis II mission on April 1, reflecting strong market interest and optimistic sentiment among investors regarding space stocks.
- Stock Surge: Intuitive Machines' stock jumped 5.5% to $23.71 by midday Friday, reflecting investor optimism regarding the upcoming Artemis II mission, which is expected to pave the way for the company's future lunar endeavors.
- Artemis II Mission: Should the Artemis II mission land successfully, it will lay the groundwork for NASA's subsequent plans, including the Artemis III mission next year and the Artemis IV lunar landing in 2028, further driving Intuitive Machines' business growth.
- Contract Wins: The company recently secured its fifth contract worth $180.4 million for lunar cargo transport, showcasing its competitiveness in the aerospace sector, with additional contracts for an Earth-to-moon communications system potentially worth billions more.
- Future Investments: NASA's plan to invest $20 billion in establishing a moon base will directly impact Intuitive Machines' business outlook, especially as the company's lunar cargo missions become increasingly critical following a successful Artemis II landing.
- Artemis II Landing: The Artemis II mission is scheduled to land tonight at 8 PM, with its success being crucial for NASA's future $20 billion moon base plans, highlighting the mission's strategic significance.
- Intuitive Machines Contract: Intuitive Machines has secured its fifth contract worth $180.4 million for lunar cargo delivery, further solidifying its position in the space industry and paving the way for potentially billions in future contracts.
- Stock Price Reaction: Ahead of the Artemis II landing, Intuitive Machines' stock rose 5.5% by Friday noon, reflecting investor optimism about upcoming space news, despite the absence of specific company announcements.
- Market Outlook: Analysts note that while Intuitive Machines was not included in the top investment stocks list, its ongoing contracts and technological advancements in space exploration could yield significant returns for future investors.











