Research

Research

Data-driven analysis of volatility, options strategies, and market structure. Every article includes real scanner data from 595 symbols.

Options Strategies

How to Use Volatility to Select Covered Call Strikes in 2026

Learn how IV percentile and expected move calculations determine optimal covered call strikes. Target 16-20 delta at IV above 50% for best returns.

Options Strategies

Iron Condor in High Volatility: When to Sell, How Wide, and How to Manage

Iron condors collect 2-3x premium when VIX is above 25. Learn wing width rules, delta targets, position sizing, and management for elevated volatility.

VIX Trading

How to Trade the VIX: Complete Strategy Guide for 2026

Trade VIX using futures, options, and ETFs. 5 backtested strategies with entry/exit rules, risk management, and regime filters. Data from 2008-2025.

Options Trading

0DTE Options and Volatility: The Complete Day Trading Guide

0DTE options now represent 59% of SPX volume. Learn theta decay timing, gamma effects, VIX1D signals, and position sizing for same-day expiration trading.

Volatility Products

UVXY Explained: Why It Always Goes Down and How to Trade It

UVXY ETF loses 7.5% monthly from contango and leverage drag. Learn why it decays, when it spikes 50-340%, and how to trade it tactically.

Options Trading

IV Percentile Explained: Why PG at 28% IV Is More Volatile Than AAPL at 32%

PG has lower IV than AAPL but higher IV Percentile. Raw IV is meaningless without context. Learn what IV Percentile measures, how it differs from…

Research

What Is Volatility in Trading: The Complete Guide

Volatility measures price movement magnitude. Learn HV vs IV, the volatility risk premium, four regimes (VIX thresholds), and how to size positions.

VIX Trading

VIX Options Strategies: Calls, Puts, Spreads, and Hedges

VIX options are European-style, cash-settled, and priced off VIX futures (not spot VIX). This distinction causes most retail VIX options trades to fail. A VIX…

Volatility Day Trading

Intraday Volatility Trading: Timing the Open, Midday, and Close

Intraday volatility follows a U-shaped pattern: highest in the first 30 minutes, lowest between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM ET, then rising into the close.…

Volatility Regimes

Trading in Low Volatility: Strategies That Work When VIX Is Below 15

Low volatility environments (VIX below 15) occur roughly 40% of the time and require different strategies than high-vol markets. Premium selling collects thin credit but…

Volatility Trading Strategies

Volatility Risk Premium: How to Harvest It and What to Watch For

The volatility risk premium (VRP) is the persistent gap between implied volatility and realized volatility. IV exceeds RV approximately 85% of the time on SPX…

Options & Volatility

IV Skew Explained: How to Read and Trade the Volatility Smile

Implied volatility skew measures the difference in IV across strike prices at the same expiration. Put skew on SPX averages 5-8 points steeper than call…

Stop guessing. Start using data.

595 symbols. Updated every 2 minutes. Backtested methodology since 2008.

Try the Scanner