The shares of Dunkin Brands Group Inc (Nasdaq: DNKN) surged to a new all-time high of $104.87, last seen up 17%, after the company said it was in talks to be bought by Inspire Brands. According to the New York Times, the Arby's and Jimmy John's owner is reportedly taking Dunkin' brands private with a price tag of $106.50 per share -- or nearly $9 billion.

Needless to say, today's news has Dunkin Brands stock a popular pick amongst option buyers. The equity has now tacked on 37.1% in 2020, and sits more than 80% above its 30-day moving average -- a trendline that caught most pullbacks since the summer months.

Optimism is rampant in the options pits. This is per DNKN's 10-day call/put volume ratio of 8.77 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). This ratio sits higher than 84% readings from the past year, suggesting calls have rarely been more popular. 

It's a similar story in today's options pits, as well, where calls are trading at double the pace of puts. In the first hour of trading, over 6,000 calls and 3,000 puts have exchanged hands -- 76 times the intraday average and volume pacing in the highest percentile of its annual range. Most popular today is the December 110 call, where new positions are being opened, followed by the November 95 put.

Now looks to be an affordable time to jump on the options bandwagon, too. Dunkin' stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 38% sits in the 20th percentile of all other readings from the past year -- a boon for premium buyers.