Pre-Market IV Report August 20, 2026
The following report is a snapshot of noteworthy changes in stock and option volumes, as well as changes in option implied volatilities. By monitoring this market data, traders can create strategies that capitalize on this often over looked information
Options with increasing option implied volatility: ASST MRNA PURR VICI MRK WOLF DNLI ARCT CRWG QGEN CRCG NVAX MSTZ SLS BCRX ACAD TEM BNTX DNA BHF DNA IMXI ETHU HIMS UGL SAN ALHC SLV IMAX PR PFE IBB FLYW BITO AMGN RF LKQ IAU GLD XLV UUP SGOV MUB
Stocks expected to have increasing option volume: DE WMT COTY NTES ROST BABA BULL BILL WOLF COTY ETD
Movers
Moderna (MRNA) 30-day call option implied volatility is 138; compared to its 52-week range of 55 to 138. Call put ratio 1 calls to 2.1 puts amid wide price movement.
Merck (MRK) 30-day call option implied volatility is 34; compared to its 52-week range of 22 to 36. Call put ratio 3 calls to 1 put with a focus on 6K contracts of November 135 puts amid wide price movement.
Biogen (BIIB) 30-day call option implied volatility is 32; compared to its 52-week range of 28 to 50. Call put ratio 3.7 calls to 1 put with a focus on September calls.
Brighthouse Financial (BHF) 30-day call option implied volatility is 55; compared to its 52-week range of 6 to 106. Call put ratio 1 call to 1.5 puts amid active volume and wide price movement.
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (ETD) 30-day call option implied volatility is 26; compared to its 52-week range of 25 to 55. Call put ratio 3.2 calls to 1 put.
PayPal (PYPL) 30-day option implied volatility is at 30; compared to its 52-week range of 25 to 56. Call put ratio 4.9 calls to 1 put with a focus on August 60 calls.
CME Group (CME) 30-day call option implied volatility is 26; compared to its 52-week range of 16 to 35. Call put ratio 1 call to 1.8 puts.
Nebius Group (NBIS) 30-day option implied volatility is at 92; compared to its 52-week of 65 to 168 with a focus on a spreader of 2807 contracts of August 190 and August 28 weekly 200 calls as share price down 11.8%.
Algoma Steel Group (ASTL) 30-day option implied volatility is at 109; compared to its 52-week of 65 to 134. Call put ratio 3.4 calls to 1 put with a focus on 14K contracts of September 7 calls as share price up 17.5%.
Novavax (NVAX) 30-day option implied volatility is at 69; compared to its 52-week of 50 to 105 with a focus on 11K contracts of August 28 weekly 9 calls as share price up 8.8%.
Riot Platforms (RIOT) 30-day option implied volatility is at 85; compared to its 52-week of 70 to 111. Call put ratio 1 call to 2 puts on 185K contracts compared to 90-day average of 61K contracts.
Straddle price into quarter results and outlook
Ross Stores (ROST) August 235 straddle priced for a move of 8.5%. Call put ratio 1.6 calls to 1 put into the expected release of quarter results today after the bell.
BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ) August 90 straddle priced for a move of 7.5%. Call put ratio 1 call to 1.4 puts into the expected release of quarter results before the bell on August 21.
Options with decreasing option implied volatility: KLAR YSS ONDS OMER HSAI NMAX STUB AS DLO BIRK GDSCSCO TPR EL WDAY WEN TGT NU
Increasing unusual option volume: REAL AMLX PR SAN AS CRBG CYPH OPRA ALHC BNTX
Increasing unusual call option volume: REAL PR SAN AS ALHC EVTL CYPH BNTX OPRA NXPI GERN AMPL
Increasing unusual put option volume: KEYS MRNA BNTX GGAL CAPR WYFI LYTE VIK Q BILL EPYT
Popular stocks with increasing option volume: INTC MU MSTR SPCX MRNA AVGO PLTR NFLX PFE SOFI NBIS COIN
Active options: TSLA NVDA AAPL AMZN INTC MU MSFT MSTR SPCX META MRNA AMD AVGO PLTR GOOGL NFLX PFE SOFI NBIS COIN
Global S&P Futures mixed in premarket, Nikkei mixed, DAX mixed, WTI Crude oil recently at $87.50, natural gas down 2%, gold at $4546
