This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: <table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CDE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$116.6K</td>
<td>19.2K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$51.0K</td>
<td>17.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VZLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/18/26</td>
<td>$2.50</td>
<td>$165.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>STLD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/15/26</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$215.0K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td>750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$68.8K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td>594</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HYMC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/20/26</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$37.6K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>335</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NEM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/20/26</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$27.0K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>265</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FCX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$26.2K</td>
<td>13.8K</td>
<td>139</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$25.6K</td>
<td>94</td>
<td>121</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$470.00</td>
<td>$29.5K</td>
<td>386</td>
<td>85</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding CDE (NYSE:CDE), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 35 day(s) on March 20, 2026. Parties traded 476 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $116.6K, with a price of $245.0 per contract. There were 19281 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2583 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ALB (NYSE:ALB), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 125 day(s) on June 18, 2026. Parties traded 85 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.0K, with a price of $600.0 per contract. There were 17101 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2230 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For VZLA (AMEX:VZLA), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 217 day(s) on September 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $2.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $165.0K, with a price of $165.0 per contract. There were 1658 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1021 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding STLD (NASDAQ:STLD), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 91 day(s) on May 15, 2026. Parties traded 250 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $215.0K, with a price of $860.0 per contract. There were 2896 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 750 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AA (NYSE:AA), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 35 day(s) on March 20, 2026. This event was a transfer of 278 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 16 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $68.8K, with a price of $248.0 per contract. There were 2943 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 594 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HYMC (NASDAQ:HYMC), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 7 day(s) on February 20, 2026. Parties traded 235 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.6K, with a price of $160.0 per contract. There were 1763 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 335 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NEM (NYSE:NEM), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 7 day(s) on February 20, 2026. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $125.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.0K, with a price of $540.0 per contract. There were 2002 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 265 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FCX (NYSE:FCX), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 125 day(s) on June 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.2K, with a price of $655.0 per contract. There were 13800 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 139 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SA (NYSE:SA), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 35 day(s) on March 20, 2026. This event was a transfer of 120 contract(s) at a $31.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.6K, with a price of $214.0 per contract. There were 94 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 121 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LIN (NASDAQ:LIN), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 35 day(s) on March 20, 2026. Parties traded 13 contract(s) at a $470.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.5K, with a price of $2270.0 per contract. There were 386 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 85 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our Guide to Understanding Options Alerts or read more news on unusual options activity. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Today's whale activity in materials stocks highlights significant trading opportunities. Notable options activity includes bearish sentiment for CDE and ALB, bullish for STLD and NEM, and neutral for VZLA. Key trades involve various strike prices and expiration dates, with substantial total trade prices and volumes. This data can guide traders in identifying potential market movements based on large transactions by influential entities.

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