Shortâterm volume:
The $1.5âŻbn registered direct offeringâup to 100âŻmillion shares at $7.50ârepresents a massive new supply of ALTS stock. In the first few trading sessions the market will digest the issuance paperwork, the pricing of the offering and the concurrent private placement, which typically translates into a sharp surge in daily shareâcount as institutional and retail participants place large buyâ and sellâorders. Expect the average daily volume to jump 2â3Ă the preâannouncement levels, with the most pronounced spikes occurring on the filing date and on the actual pricing/closing of the offering.
Shortâterm volatility:
The sudden dilution and the âpriceâfloorâ set by the $7.50 purchase price create a clear reference point for the market. If the secondaryâmarket price trades above $7.50, the offering is viewed as a downâside catalyst and may trigger shortâcovering and profitâtaking, widening the bidâask spread. Conversely, a price below $7.50 can be interpreted as a discount to the offering, prompting buying interest from investors seeking a perceived bargain. Both scenarios generate elevated intraday volatilityâoften a 30â50âŻ% increase in the 10âday average true range (ATR) versus the prior twoâweek baseline.
Actionable takeâaways:
1. Scaleâin/out rather than a singleâlump entryâuse 1â2âŻ% of the dayâs heightened volume per trade to avoid being caught in the volatility whiplash.
2. Watch the $7.50 reference level: a break above it with strong volume may signal a shortâcover rally; a break below could open a swingâlow buying opportunity.
3. Monitor orderâflow on the NASDAQ LevelâŻ2 book; large institutional blocks appearing on the offer side often precede a temporary price dip, while aggressive buying on the demand side can provide shortâterm upside.
In short, the direct offering will inflate volume dramatically and inflate volatility for the next 5â10 trading days. Position sizes modestly, keep a tight stop (e.g., 3â4âŻ% below the $7.50 floor if youâre long), and let the marketâs reaction to the dilution dictate the shortâterm trade direction.