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Darden Restaurants has been trading sideways for most of the year, and one investor apparently thinks that the stock will hold its ground or push higher.

Our monitoring systems detected the sale 4,025 January 43 puts for $1 against open interest of just 17 contracts. The trade accounted for almost all the options activity in the casual-dining company so far today.

Selling puts obligates investors to buy the stock at the strike price if it falls to that level. But if it doesn't drop, the contracts will expire worthless and the premium received will be kept as profit. The strategy is often used when someone likes a stock but doesn't want to expend capital to get long.

Another benefit is that the strategy lets investors lock in a purchase at a lower price where they might be willing to buy shares. (See our Education section for more on how options can be used to manage trades.)

DRI is up 1.06 percent to $52.03 in morning trading. Its earnings have been mixed over the last year, and now investors are focusing on its proposed acquisition of closely held Yard House. The move would add younger customers than those who frequent its chains such as Red Lobster and Olive Garden.

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