As such, exercising an in-the-money call option would allow the trader to buy shares at a discount to the current market ...

Learn about the financial implications when an option reaches its strike price, and the concepts of moneyness, intrinsic value, and why "at the money" matters for investors.

A speculator might buy the stock or buy a call option on the stock. Speculating with a call option—instead of buying the stock outright—is attractive to some traders because options provide leverage.