Big Investor Buys Brunswick Puts

By David Russell, reporter at OptionMonster

Brunswick(BC Quote) has rallied 15% in three days, causing one big investor to bet that the debt-laden speedboat maker may have sailed too far.

OptionMonster's tracking systems detected the purchase of 7,600 January 2.50 puts for 45 cents and 50 cents against open interest of 1,544 contracts. The trade generated more than 90% of the options volume in the name and will turn a profit if the stock falls to $2 by expiration.

The stock rose almost 9% Thursday $4.38, but has lost 87% of its value in the last two years.

The company has been taking charges and racking up losses as the recession eviscerates demand for big-ticket discretionary items. Sales are expected to total $3.58 billion this year, compared with $4.71 billion in 2008 and $5.67 billion in 2007. More than two-thirds of the company's book value evaporated in the last three quarters.