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Issue No. 20 • Wednesday June 17, 2026
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THE TRADING ADDICT
NEWSLETTER
by Maria Helmick
» Story No. 1 of 3 · Earnings Watch
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Micron Earnings 6/24
Is This Trade Worth Taking?
MU steps into the AI spotlight
For roughly three years, NVIDIA has been the stock investors watch for clues about where artificial intelligence is heading. This earnings season, Micron may be taking over that role.
AI processors cannot operate at full capacity without DRAM — the high-speed memory used in computers, servers and AI systems. That makes Micron’s June 24 earnings report an important test of AI demand and a major earnings event for active options traders.
Why the Setup Is Constructive
Micron is benefiting from powerful AI demand, tight industry supply and rising memory prices. That combination creates the potential for stronger revenue, expanding margins and continued earnings growth.
The stock trades at roughly 8–9 times forward earnings, suggesting its expected profit growth may not yet be fully reflected in the share price. Sharp pullbacks have often been followed by swift recoveries as investors continue buying into the long-term AI memory story.
MU Earnings Trade Setup
Trade screen reviewed: MU Aug 21, 2026 $680 short put · MU at $1,040.82 when reviewed
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MU Aug 21, 2026 $680 short put on the tastytrade options chain — tap to view full size
Why the $680 Strike Is Attractive
The $680 strike sits approximately 35% below MU’s reviewed price of $1,040.82, providing a substantial cushion before the put moves into the money.
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16% stress test: A similar post-earnings decline would place MU near $874 — still about $194 above the $680 strike and $226 above the $648.65 break-even. |
Elevated implied volatility also increases the premium and may fall sharply after earnings, helping the position reach its 50% profit target faster.
Who This Trade Is For
Best suited for a larger account with ample unused buying power and an investor comfortable owning 100 shares of MU. Assignment would require $68,000, or approximately $64,865 after the premium received. Buying-power requirements could rise sharply if MU falls.
Exit Plan: Take 50%
Sell near $31.35 and buy back near $15.65 for approximately $1,570 before fees — about a 2.42% return on the net assignment cost. This is not a set-it-and-forget-it trade. Monitor MU and be prepared to close, roll or accept assignment.
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Maria’s Bottom Line Micron may be taking over the AI spotlight that has belonged to NVIDIA. Its earnings and guidance could help determine where the AI trade heads next. The August $680 short put offers meaningful premium, a wide downside cushion and additional recovery time after earnings. Sell the Aug 21 $680 short put near $31.35. Target 50% profit near $15.65. |
Educational only. Not financial advice.
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» Story No. 2 of 3 · Market Strategy
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NVIDIA Borrows $25 Billion — And Wall Street Wanted More
The real story is simple: NVIDIA did not borrow because it had to. It borrowed because the market was eager to back it.
Why Is NVIDIA Borrowing?
NVIDIA already generates enormous cash flow, so this is not about needing money. The bond sale lets the company preserve its cash, avoid shareholder dilution and gain more flexibility to invest, pursue acquisitions, secure supply or repurchase shares.
This is strategic borrowing from a position of strength.
Building More Financial Firepower
The offering includes bonds maturing from 2028 through 2056, with interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 5.625%. By establishing a full market for its debt, NVIDIA is giving itself easier access to additional capital whenever future opportunities arise.
NVIDIA already sits at the center of the AI buildout. Now Jensen Huang is strengthening the company’s financial position as well — adding the bond market to NVIDIA’s enormous operating cash flow and giving the company even more firepower to invest, expand and maintain its lead.
What Could the Money Be Used For?
NVIDIA says the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including refinancing debt. That gives management broad flexibility to secure manufacturing capacity, invest in future products, expand partnerships, pursue acquisitions or return more capital to shareholders.
No single use has been announced, which may be the point. NVIDIA is giving itself the flexibility to move quickly when the next major opportunity appears.
Shareholder Returns Are Growing
NVIDIA has increased its dividend and expanded its stock-buyback program, showing it can keep investing in growth while returning more cash to shareholders. The yield remains small, but the message is clear: NVIDIA believes it has enough financial strength to do both.
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Maria’s Bottom Line I see this bond sale as a sign of strength, not concern. NVIDIA is using its credibility to raise capital on favorable terms while preserving its cash and avoiding shareholder dilution. The move gives Jensen Huang even more flexibility to invest, expand and stay ahead in the AI race. NVIDIA is raising capital from a position of strength, with investors eager to fund its next stage of growth. |
Educational only. Not financial advice.
» Story No. 3 of 3 · The AI Trade Tell
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The AI Trade Has a New Tell: Micron
NVIDIA Is Still King, but Micron May Hold the Next Clue
For the last few years, NVIDIA was the scoreboard for artificial intelligence. If NVIDIA was strong, investors believed the AI boom was strong.
But the market is starting to look deeper. NVIDIA still matters — it remains the king of AI chips. But the next stage of the AI trade is no longer just about who makes the GPU. It is about who supports the entire buildout behind it.
The New AI Trade
AI has moved past the “just buy the GPU maker” phase. The next stage is about keeping those chips running: faster memory, bigger data centers, more electricity, better cooling, stronger networking, and tighter cybersecurity.
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That is why power and cooling names now matter too. AI data centers need enormous amounts of electricity, and that has pulled companies like VRT and CEG into the AI conversation. |
Why Micron Matters Now
If NVIDIA is the brain of AI, Micron is the memory.
Micron is one of the world’s major producers of DRAM memory chips, the technology that helps AI systems process massive amounts of data at high speed. Every new AI server needs enormous amounts of memory. As AI systems become larger and more powerful, memory demand grows with them.
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That is why Micron’s June 24 earnings matter. It may give investors a better read on whether the AI infrastructure boom is still accelerating. |
What Micron May Tell Us
Micron is not just reporting numbers on June 24. It is giving the market a look inside the next layer of the AI boom: memory demand, pricing power, and whether data-center spending is still strong.
NVIDIA already told us AI demand is real. Now Micron may tell us how deep that demand is spreading.
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Maria’s Bottom Line I’ve been an NVIDIA bull for years. NVIDIA helped ignite the AI revolution and remains the company most investors associate with the trade. But with NVIDIA earnings now behind us, the market’s attention is shifting to the next major checkpoint: Micron on June 24. AI still needs the brains, but it also needs the memory to keep those brains working. If Micron shows strong demand and solid guidance, it may confirm that the AI buildout is still running hot. NVIDIA may still be king, but this week Micron gets the spotlight. |
Educational only. Not financial advice.
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Math Makes Money TRADES OF THE WEEK0DTE SPX • $30K SCHWAB ACCOUNT Week of June 15, 2026 |
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All trades 0dte SPX iron condors on the $30K Schwab account. MEIC = Multiple Entry Iron Condor. 50W = 50-wide wings. 95% = stop loss on short leg. No profit target — let trades expire. |
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Risk Warning At the time of this writing, we plan on entering most of these trades, but they are part of a much greater and larger trading program and should be considered for educational and entertainment purposes only. Not financial advice of any kind. Trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for every investor. You can lose some or all of your money. Nothing here is financial advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or copy any trade. Do not copy trades blindly. Do your own due diligence, understand the risk, and make decisions based on your own account, risk tolerance, and financial situation. |
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» Daily Trading Update · Day 167 · Tap for live dashboard
Green day. The $1M anchor account won +$5,975 and covered both smaller accounts — combined 0dte +$4,358 on 250 trades.
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» Quick Short · Watch on YouTube The Anchor Carried the Day
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Trade small, trade often.
Trade with your head, not with your heart.
Math Makes Money.
Get a fill, Phil.
— Maria
Math Makes Money · AI Trading Holdings LLC