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IV Screener: Scanning US Stocks for Implied Volatility Opportunities
The IV Screener is a market-wide scanning tool that filters and ranks every tracked US stock by implied volatility metrics. Instead of checking IV one symbol at a time, you set your parameters and get a ranked list of matching names in one view.
Implied volatility is a pricing signal. Higher IV generally implies expensive premium and often favors option-selling structures, while lower IV can favor option-buying structures when directional or event assumptions support it.
Understanding the IV Spread Metric
The IV Spread column shows the difference between put IV and call IV for each stock. This is a direct measure of the volatility skew. A large positive spread means puts are significantly more expensive than calls on a volatility basis, indicating strong demand for downside protection. This often occurs before earnings, regulatory decisions, or during broader market stress. A small or negative spread suggests that the market is pricing in more upside risk than downside, which can indicate speculative positioning. Filtering by minimum IV spread helps you find stocks where the skew is extreme and therefore potentially mispriced.
IV Range Filtering
Set the minimum and maximum IV to find stocks in any volatility band. Use low IV ranges like 10-25 percent to find cheap premium candidates. Use high ranges like 60-150 percent to find inflated premiums suitable for selling strategies. This targeted filtering eliminates noise and focuses your attention on actionable names.
Volume and Liquidity Filters
The minimum volume filter ensures you only see stocks with active option markets. Low-volume options carry wide bid-ask spreads that erode your returns through slippage. Setting a meaningful minimum volume threshold like 1,000 contracts keeps your focus on liquid names where you can enter and exit trades efficiently.
Flexible Sorting
Sort by maximum IV to find the most volatile names, by IV spread to find the most skewed names, or by total volume to find the most actively traded options. Each sort reveals a different facet of the market and helps you find different types of opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What IV range is best for selling options?
There is no universal threshold, but many premium sellers focus on stocks with IV above their own historical median. An IV rank above 50 generally indicates elevated premiums that favor selling. Extremely high IV can be favorable but carries additional event risk.
Why filter by minimum volume?
Options with low trading volume often have wide bid-ask spreads that can consume a meaningful part of your edge on both entry and exit. Filtering for volume helps you focus on names where fills are more realistic and execution quality is better.
Disclaimer: Options trading involves substantial risk. IV screener data is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.