🚨 I’ll be on at 2 p.m. ET 🚨
Is SpaceX the biggest investment opportunity of the decade — or the biggest pump-and-dump in market history? Join me at 2 o’clock as I break down the numbers, the hype and the smartest ways to profit from the space-stock frenzy without owning a single share of SpaceX [tap to join us for Stonkamania]!
Let me tell you something that separates winning trades from frustrating ones — and it’s got nothing to do with finding the hottest ticker or the best chart pattern.
It’s all about liquidity…
Before anything else, I want to protect traders who are still getting familiar with how options really work. You can have the direction nailed and still lose money if the spreads are too wide.
That’s exactly why I passed on Velo3D (VLD) recently even as it ripped more than 50%. The options were a little wide on the bid-ask, and I didn’t want newer traders getting burned on execution. When you’re fighting a quarter-wide spread just to get in and out, your edge disappears before the trade even starts.
That’s also why liquidity is the very first filter I use whenever I look at a potential trade. If I have to dig into something, I want it to be liquid. Before I think about patterns, catalysts or fundamentals, I check whether the options actually trade cleanly.
If they don’t, I’m out — long before the research phase even begins.
Why NASA Beat Out UFO
I get asked all the time why I picked Tema Space Innovators ETF (NASA) over Procure Space ETF (UFO) when they have similar holdings. The answer is simple: liquidity. It’s not just about finding exposure to a theme like space stocks or defense.
It’s about making sure the vehicle you’re trading actually works when you hit the gas.
UFO just doesn’t offer the tight stops or clean execution I want. On the other hand, NASA had a dime-wide option spread — pretty tight — giving traders a fair shot at entering and exiting without unnecessary slippage.
For anyone wondering what “tight” means, think about a $0.10 spread — a.k.a. “dime wide” — as a solid benchmark and the widest I’d go. If I’m putting something in front of members, I want the tightest bid-ask spreads possible so the trade behaves the way it’s supposed to.
And this matters even more with niche ETFs. Some of these funds remind me of that old Destiny ETF — high fees, low volume and they just don’t make a good market. A theme might look great on paper, but if the structure underneath is shaky, you’re setting yourself up for execution headaches.
Liquidity Trumps Everything
Here’s the reality: Some stocks don’t even have options. Others technically have them, but they’re so illiquid they might as well not exist. That’s why confirming true liquidity — not just the presence of an option chain — belongs on every trader’s checklist.
I’d rather pass on a 50% mover than put you in a trade where execution risk kills the opportunity. That’s not me being cautious — that’s me avoiding expensive mistakes. FOMO pushes traders toward hot momentum names with terrible liquidity, and that’s exactly how people lose money even when they guessed the direction right.
Next time you’re eyeing a setup, pull up the option chain before anything else. If the spreads are tight and the contracts actually trade, you’ve got a real opportunity. If they’re wide or barely moving, walk away — no matter how good the chart looks. Protect your capital first, chase the move second.
Order Flow:
This is for informational and educational purposes only. These are not official alerts issued by Lance, but rather some interesting orders picked by the team at Lance Ippolito Trading.
When you look at these plays, always take the market maker move into consideration.
You can be right on the direction but still lose money if the stock doesn’t move enough. That’s where the market maker move comes in clutch.
With puts, they’re often downside hedges in case a stock tanks, especially around earnings. The further out of the money they are, the more likely they are to be hedges.
Also be sure and check when the company’s earnings date is because many of the plays we post here are centered around earnings!
If a stock is really expensive, consider a spread to lower the cost.
And finally, always remember the golden rule when it comes to buying calls: Buy dips, sell rips — and don’t chase!
If a stock’s moved a ton already today, maybe wait for a pullback.
There is inherent risk in trading. Trade at your own risk.
Note: If no date is listed after the month, it’s the monthly expiration (third Friday).
The team at Lance Ippolito Trading
Lance doesn’t want the CCP spying on him, so you’ll never find him on TikTok. Same goes for other social media sites, which are filled with impersonators, scammers and crypto bros.
You can only find him on his personal YouTube Channel — smash that Subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@LanceIppolito
And in his private Telegram channel: https://t.me/+-gVwEIwGJhplMTgx
Important Note: No one from the team at Lance Ippolito Trading, New Money Crew or any of its associated brands will ever contact you directly on Telegram.
*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
Let’s answer it once and for all…
Is SpaceX a total sham?
Over the weekend, there’s been a ton of commentary on SpaceX regarding its valuation and Elon trying to run the biggest pump and dump in the history of the stock market.
So let’s put that theory to rest at 2 p.m. ET today.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:
- A detailed breakdown of SpaceX and where Lance believes it’s headed.
- The reality of space stocks in general over the next few weeks.
- How traders can take advantage of this craze, without touching a single SPCX stock.
No trading guarantees, of course…
But don’t believe everything you see on the internet.
Tune in at 2 o’clock and I’ll show you what the real numbers are pointing to.
