Barchart allows you to view options by Expiration Date (select the expiration month/year using the drop-down menu at the top of the page).Weekly expiration dates are labeled with a (w) in the expiration date list.
Options information is delayed 15 minutes.
Select an options expiration date from the drop-down list at the top of the table, and select "Near-the-Money" or "Show All' to view all options.
Note: Option quotes with an asterisk * after the strike price are "restricted options", typically created after spin-offs or mergers.
You can also view options in a StackedorSide-by-Sideview. The View setting determines how Puts and Calls are listed on the page. For both views, "Near-the-Money" Calls and Puts are highlighted:
Near-the-Money - Puts: Strike Price is greater than the Last Price
Near-the-Money - Calls: Strike Price is less than the Last Price
Logged in Barchart Members can set a preference for how this page displays.
- Select your desired number of strikes
- 5 Strikes +/-
- Near-the-Money (10 Strikes +/-)
- 20 Strikes +/-
- 50 Strikes +/-
- All Strikes
- Select the page layout (Stacked, Stacked OHLC, Side-by-Side, Side-by-Side HLC)
- Choose whether or not to show the Volume Graph. The Volume Graph highlights the comparative proportion of volume and open interest for selected strikes. It helps you easily see activity that may signal new positions or a potential move in the underlying asset.
- Sort the Strike column in ascending or descending order
- Finally, click the "Make this my default view" link top right of the page to save your preference for the next time you visit the page.
For the selected Options Expiration date, the information listed at the top of the page includes:
- Options Expiration: The last day on which an option may be exercised, or the date when an option contract ends. Also includes the number of days till options expiration (this number includes weekends and holidays).
- Next Earnings Date: The next reported earnings date. Stocks whose Next Earnings Date falls within the next 7 days are highlighted in red.
- Next Ex-Dividend Date: Shareholders on record as of this date are entitled to any dividend paid.
- Implied Volatility: The average implied volatility (IV) of the options contract that is 30-days or more out. IV is a forward looking prediction of the likelihood of price change of the underlying asset, with a higher IV signifying that the market expects significant price movement, and a lower IV signifying the market expects the underlying asset price to remain within the current trading range. IV is calculated based on the last price for today, if no last then the midpoint between the bid/ask assuming it exists for today.
- Historic Volatility: The 30-day historic volatility for the underlying asset. Historic volatility is the standard deviation of the "price returns" over a given number of sessions, multiplied by a factor (260 days) to produce an annualized volatility level.
Stacked View
AStackedview lists Puts and Calls one on top of the other, sorted by Strike Price.
- Strike: The price at which the contract can be exercised. Strike prices are fixed in the contract. For call options, the strike price is where the shares can be bought (up to the expiration date), while for put options the strike price is the price at which shares can be sold. The difference between the underlying contract's current market price and the option's strike price represents the amount of profit per share gained upon the exercise or the sale of the option. This is true for options that are in the money; the maximum amount that can be lost is the premium paid.
- Moneyness- the percent from the last price: (strike price - last / last). Moneyness refers to the relative position of the underlying asset's last price to the strike price. When a call option's Moneyness is negative, the underlying last price is less than the strike price; when positive, the underlying last price is greater than the strike price. When a put option's Moneyness is negative, the underlying last price is greater than the strike price; when positive, the underlying last price is less than the strike price.
- Bid: The bid price for the option.
- Midpoint: The midpoint between the bid and ask.
- Ask: The ask price for the option.
- Last: The last traded price for the options contract.
- Change: The difference between the current price and the previous day's settlement price.
- %Change: The difference between the current price and the previous day's settlement price, expressed as a percent.
- Volume: The total number of option contracts bought and sold for the day, for that particular strike price.
- Open Interest: Open Interest is the total number of open option contracts that have been traded but not yet liquidated via offsetting trades for that date.
- Open Interest Change: The change in open interest from the previous session.
- Delta - measures the sensitivity of an option's theoretical value to a change in the price of the underlying asset.
- Implied Volatility - Implied Volatility (IV) is the estimated volatility of the underlying stock over the period of the option. IV can help traders determine if options are fairly valued, undervalued, or overvalued. It can therefore help traders make decisions about option pricing, and whether it is a good time to buy or sell options. Implied volatility is determined mathematically by using current option prices in a formula that also includes Standard Volatility (which is based on historical data). The resulting number helps traders determine whether the premium of an option is "fair" or not. It is also a measure of investors' predictions about future volatility of the underlying stock.
Side-by-Side View
ASide-by-SideView lists Calls on the left and Puts on the right.
- Last: The last traded price for the options contract.
- %Change: The difference between the current price and the previous day's settlement price, expressed as a percent.
- Bid: The bid price for the option.
- Ask: The ask price for the option.
- Volume: The total number of option contracts bought and sold for the day, for that particular strike price.
- Open Interest: Open Interest is the total number of open option contracts that have been traded but not yet liquidated via offsetting trades for that date.
- Strike: The price at which the contract can be exercised. Strike prices are fixed in the contract. For call options, the strike price is where the shares can be bought (up to the expiration date), while for put options the strike price is the price at which shares can be sold. The difference between the underlying contract's current market price and the option's strike price represents the amount of profit per share gained upon the exercise or the sale of the option. This is true for options that are in the money; the maximum amount that can be lost is the premium paid.
Volume Graph
When checked, the Volume Graph highlights the comparative proportion of volume and open interest for selected strikes. It helps you easily see activity that may signal new positions or a potential move in the underlying asset.
Totals
The totals listed at the bottom of the page are calculated from all calls and puts, and not just Near-the-Money options. Volume totals reflect options traded during the current session.
- Put Volume Total: The total volume of all put option premiums.
- Call Volume Total: The total volume of all call option premiums.
- Put/Call Volume Ratio: Put Volume Total / Call Volume Total.
- Put Open Interest Total: The total open interest of all put options.
- Call Open Interest Total: The total open interest of all call options.
- Put/Call Open Interest Ratio: Put Open Interest Total / Call Open Interest Total.
As a seasoned financial analyst and options trading enthusiast with extensive experience in navigating platforms, I can attest to the importance of understanding the intricacies of option trading. My expertise in this domain extends to using platforms like Barchart, and I can confidently provide insights into the concepts mentioned in the article.
Barchart, a powerful financial platform, offers a comprehensive set of tools to analyze options data. One crucial feature is the ability to view options by expiration date, allowing users to select the expiration month and year using the drop-down menu. Weekly expiration dates, denoted with a (w), are easily identifiable in the expiration date list.
Options information is subjected to a 15-minute delay, a standard practice in financial platforms. Users can choose the number of strikes they want to see, ranging from 5 to All Strikes, and customize the page layout, selecting from options like Stacked, Stacked OHLC, Side-by-Side, and Side-by-Side HLC.
The View setting is pivotal, determining how Puts and Calls are listed on the page. "Near-the-Money" options are highlighted in both Near-the-Money - Puts (where the strike price is greater than the last price) and Near-the-Money - Calls (where the strike price is less than the last price).
Logged-in Barchart members can personalize their experience, setting preferences for the page's display. The ability to choose the desired number of strikes, page layout, and other parameters contributes to a tailored and efficient user experience.
For a selected Options Expiration date, the top-of-the-page information includes vital details such as Options Expiration, Next Earnings Date, Next Ex-Dividend Date, Implied Volatility, and Historic Volatility. These metrics offer a holistic view of the market conditions and the underlying asset's performance.
The Stacked View, where Puts and Calls are listed one on top of the other, provides details on Strike, Bid, Midpoint, Ask, Last, Change, %Change, Volume, Open Interest, and Open Interest Change. These parameters are crucial for making informed decisions about option trades.
Similarly, the Side-by-Side View lists Calls on the left and Puts on the right, offering a different perspective on the same set of metrics, including Last, %Change, Bid, Ask, Volume, Open Interest, and Strike.
The article emphasizes the significance of the Volume Graph, a tool that highlights the comparative proportion of volume and open interest for selected strikes. This feature aids in identifying potential market moves and new positions.
Finally, the Totals section at the bottom of the page calculates key metrics from all calls and puts, not just Near-the-Money options. These metrics include Put Volume Total, Call Volume Total, Put/Call Volume Ratio, Put Open Interest Total, Call Open Interest Total, and Put/Call Open Interest Ratio.
In conclusion, Barchart provides a robust platform for options traders, offering a range of features and tools that cater to both novice and experienced users. The ability to customize views, analyze various metrics, and understand market trends is pivotal for successful options trading.
