1. EQUITY RESEARCH
July 20, 2005 North America
Investment Strategy & Macro
Equity Derivatives Strategy Equity Derivatives Strategy
Market CommentaryStrategy Ryan Renicker
1.212.526.9425
Amazon.com: Volatility Sale rrenicke@lehman.com
Sector View:
New: 0-Not Rated
Old: 0-Not Rated
Investment conclusion
q Despite a recent up-tick in Amazon.com (AMZN) front-month implied volatilities, option market participants continue to price in historically
low risk expectations for the company heading into earnings, as measured by AMZN 1-month implied volatility levels. Specifically, AMZN
1-month implied volatilities have generally traded within the range of 43% - 56% as of 1 week prior to each of the past 8 earnings
releases. In contrast, AMZN 1-month implied volatility currently trades at only ~31%. In addition, AMZN 1-month implied volatility is
trading relatively cheap versus AMZN 22-trading day realized volatility. This spread has generally been much wider heading into earnings.
We believe investors should consider expressing directional viewpoints in AMZN by purchasing AMZN calls (bullish) or puts (bearish).
Alternatively, investors not having a directional bias in AMZN should consider going long AMZN volatility through either straddles or
strangles.
Figure 1 : AMZN 1-Month Implied Volatility (Last 2 Years)
60%
55%
50%
1-Month Implied Volatility
45%
40%
35%
30%
= Earnings Announcement Date
25%
20%
07/15/03
08/15/03
09/15/03
10/15/03
11/15/03
12/15/03
01/15/04
02/15/04
03/15/04
04/15/04
05/15/04
06/15/04
07/15/04
08/15/04
09/15/04
10/15/04
11/15/04
12/15/04
01/15/05
02/15/05
03/15/05
04/15/05
05/15/05
06/15/05
07/15/05
Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy.
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Customers of Lehman Brothers in the United States can receive independent, third-party research on the company or
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PLEASE SEE ANALYST(S) CERTIFICATION(S) ON PAGE 5 AND IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
BEGINNING ON PAGE 6
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2. EQUITY RESEARCH
• Despite a recent up-tick in Amazon.com (AMZN) front-month implied volatilities, option market participants continue to price in
historically low risk expectations for the company heading into earnings, as measured by AMZN 1-month implied volatility
levels (Q2 release date: July 26).
Figure 2 : AMZN 1-Month Implied Volatility into Earnings
60%
55%
50%
1-Month Implied Volatility
45%
40%
35%
30%
= Earnings Announcement Date
25%
20%
07/15/03
08/15/03
09/15/03
10/15/03
11/15/03
12/15/03
01/15/04
02/15/04
03/15/04
04/15/04
05/15/04
06/15/04
07/15/04
08/15/04
09/15/04
10/15/04
11/15/04
12/15/04
01/15/05
02/15/05
03/15/05
04/15/05
05/15/05
06/15/05
07/15/05
Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy.
• Specifically, AMZN 1-month implied volatilities have generally traded within the range of 43% - 56% as of 1 week prior to each of the
past 8 earnings releases. In contrast, AMZN 1-month implied volatility currently trades at only ~31%.
Figure 3 : AMZN 1-Month Implied Volatility 7-Days Prior to Earnings (July 2003 – July 2005)
60%
Risk expectations relatively low
55%
ahead of next week's earnings.
1-Month Implied Vol. 7 Days Prior
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
April 26, 2005
Apr. 22, 2004
July 22, 2004
July 26, 2005
Oct. 21, 2003
Oct. 21, 2004
Jul. 22, 2003
Jan. 27, 2004
Feb. 2, 2005
EPS Announcement Date
Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy.
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3. EQUITY RESEARCH
• In addition, AMZN 1-month implied volatility is trading relatively cheap versus AMZN 22-trading day realized volatility. This
spread has generally been much wider heading into earnings (Figure 4).
Figure 4 : AMZN 1M Implied – 22D Realized Volatility Spread 7 Days Prior to EPS
30%
Implied volatility relatively
low vs. realized.
1M Implied - 22D Realized Vol. Spread
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Jan. 27, 2004
Oct. 21, 2003
Oct. 21, 2004
Feb. 2, 2005
Jul. 22, 2003
Apr. 22, 2004
July 22, 2004
April 26, 2005
July 26, 2005
EPS Announcement Date
Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy.
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4. EQUITY RESEARCH
• Against this backdrop, we believe investors should consider expressing directional viewpoints in AMZN by purchasing
AMZN calls (bullish) or puts (bearish).
• Alternatively, investors not having a directional bias in AMZN should consider going long AMZN volatility through either
straddles or strangles.
• Below we plot AMZN’s 1-day stock price return immediately following each of the past 8 earnings releases. On half of these
occasions, AMZN moved more than 10%.
Figure 5 : AMZN 1-Day Stock Return Following EPS Release (Last 8 Quarters)
20%
15%
15%
AMZN 1-Day Return Post EPS
10%
5%
0%
-3%
-5%
-7% -5%
-9%
-10%
-13% -12%
-15%
-15%
April 26, 2005
Apr. 22, 2004
July 22, 2004
Jan. 27, 2004
Jul. 22, 2003
Oct. 21, 2003
Oct. 21, 2004
Feb. 2, 2005
EPS Announcement Date
Source: Lehman Brothers Equity Derivatives Strategy.
• Lehman Internet analyst Douglas Anmuth expects AMZN to report Q2 2005 revenue of $1.75 billion, pro-forma operating income of
$111 million, pro forma fully taxed EPS of $0.14 ($0.08 GAAP), and free cash flow of $149 million. Please see AMZN: Magic for
Muggles, What About Investors? (7/15/05, Douglas Anmuth) for further details.
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5. EQUITY RESEARCH
Options are not suitable for all investors and the risks of option trading should be weighed against the potential rewards.
Supporting documents that form the basis of the recommendations are available on request. Please note that the trade ideas within
this report in no way relate to the fundamental ratings applied to European stocks by Lehman Brothers' Equity Research.
Analyst Certification:
I, Ryan Renicker, hereby certify (1) that the views expressed in this research Industry Note accurately reflect my personal views about any or
all of the subject securities or issuers referred to in this Industry Note and (2) no part of my compensation was, is or will be directly or
indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this Industry Note.
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6. EQUITY RESEARCH
Important Disclosures
Rating and Price Target Chart: AMZN
AMAZON.COM, INC
As of 14-Jun-2005
Currency = USD
64.00
60.00
56.00
52.00
48.00
44.00
40.00
36.00
32.00
28.00
24.00
20.00
16.00
12.00
6-02 9-02 12-02 3-03 6-03 9-03 12-03 3-04 6-04 9-04 12-04 3-05 6-05
Closing Price Price Target
Recommendation Change Drop Coverage
Source: FactSet
Date Closing Price Rating Price Target Date Closing Price Rating Price Target
03-Feb-05 35.75 30.00 16-Dec-03 49.50 3-Underweight
27-Feb-04 43.01 36.00 05-Aug-02 12.87 RS-Rating
16-Dec-03 49.50 40.00 Suspended
FOR EXPLANATION OF RATINGS REFER TO THE STOCK RATING KEYS LOCATED ON THE PAGE FOLLOWING THE LAST PRICE CHART
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7. EQUITY RESEARCH
Important Disclosures:
The analysts responsible for preparing this report have received compensation based upon various factors including the Firm’s total
revenues, a portion of which is generated by investment banking activities.
Related Stocks: Disclosures Ticker Price (07/15) Rating
Amazon.com, Inc C,J,K,M AMZN 37.19 3-Underweight
C - Lehman Brothers Inc. makes a market in the securities of this company.
J - Lehman Brothers Inc. or an affiliate trade(s) regularly in the shares of the subject company.
K - Lehman Brothers Inc. has received non-investment banking related compensation from the subject company within the last 12 months.
M - The subject company is or during the last 12 months has been a non-investment banking client (securities related services) of Lehman
Brothers Inc.
Risk Disclosure:
AMZN: As Amazon opens more stores and extends its third-party platform, focus could be shifted from the core retail business. Amazon
faces increased competition from search providers, portals, and other e-tailers. Amazon is vulnerable to shifts in consumer spending habits.
Guide to Lehman Brothers Equity Research Rating System:
Our coverage analysts use a relative rating system in which they rate stocks as 1-Overweight, 2- Equal weight or 3-Underweight (see
definitions below) relative to other companies covered by the analyst or a team of analysts that are deemed to be in the same industry sector
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www.lehman.com/disclosures
In addition to the stock rating, we provide sector views which rate the outlook for the sector coverage universe as 1-Positive, 2-Neutral or
3-Negative (see definitions below). A rating system using terms such as buy, hold and sell is not the equivalent of our rating system.
Investors should carefully read the entire research report including the definitions of all ratings and not infer its contents from ratings alone.
Stock Rating
1-Overweight - The stock is expected to outperform the unweighted expected total return of the sector coverage universe over a 12-month
investment horizon.
2-Equal weight - The stock is expected to perform in line with the unweighted expected total return of the sector coverage universe over a
12- month investment horizon.
3-Underweight - The stock is expected to underperform the unweighted expected total return of the sector coverage universe over a 12-
month investment horizon.
RS-Rating Suspended - The rating and target price have been suspended temporarily to comply with applicable regulations and/or firm
policies in certain circumstances including when Lehman Brothers is acting in a n advisory capacity in a merger or strategic transaction
involving the company.
Sector View
1-Positive - sector coverage universe fundamentals/valuations are improving.
2-Neutral - sector coverage universe fundamentals/valuations are steady, neither improving nor deteriorating.
3-Negative - sector coverage universe fundamentals/valuations are deteriorating.
Stock Ratings From February 2001 to August 5, 2002 (sector view did not exist):
This is a guide to expected total return (price performance plus dividend) relative to the total return of the stocks’ local market (i.e. the market
where the stock primarily trades) over the next 12 months .
1-Strong Buy - expected to outperform the market by 15 or more percentage points.
2-Buy - expected to outperform the market by 5-15 percentage points.
3-Market Perform - expected to perform in line with the market, plus or minus 5 percentage points.
4-Market Underperform - expected to underperform the market by 5-15 percentage points.
5-Sell - expected to underperform the market by 15 or more percentage points.
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Lehman Brothers Global Equity Research has 1717 companies under coverage.
40% have been assigned a 1-Overweight rating which, for purposes of mandatory regulatory disclosures, is classified as Buy rating, 32% of
companies with this rating are investment banking clients of the Firm.
42% have been assigned a 2-Equal weight rating which, for purposes of mandatory regulatory disclosures, is classified as Hold rating, 7% of
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18% have been assigned a 3-Underweight rating which, for purposes of mandatory regulatory disclosures, is classified as Sell rating, 87% of
companies with this rating are investment banking clients of the Firm.
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