VolRadar

VolRadar is a specialized daily options analytics platform built exclusively for premium sellers. The platform serves traders who employ strategies such as iron condors, credit spreads, cash-secured puts, and the wheel strategy on S&P 500 stocks and major ETFs. By aggregating and analyzing end-of-day options data sourced from ORATS, a leading provider of institutional-grade options analytics, VolRadar delivers actionable trading insights every morning before the market opens. The platform covers over 500 US stocks and major ETFs, allowing users to quickly scan for the most favorable candidates for selling premium. A standout feature is the proprietary Weather Score, which provides an at-a-glance assessment of market conditions to help traders determine whether it is a favorable day for selling options. VolRadar also offers a suite of free tools including an IV Rank Lookup, Expected Move calculator, Options Calculator, Wheel Calculator, Covered Call Screener, and more. These tools help traders analyze implied volatility, expected price movements, and optimal strike selection. The platform is not a brokerage or execution tool; instead, it functions as an educational analytics resource that helps traders understand market conditions and identify potential opportunities. VolRadar emphasizes that its analytics are for educational purposes only and are not financial advice or investment recommendations. The platform is designed to save traders significant time by automating the data collection and analysis process, enabling them to focus on strategy execution rather than manual data gathering.

Weather Score

The Weather Score is a proprietary metric that provides a quick, intuitive snapshot of current market conditions specifically for premium selling strategies. This single score synthesizes multiple data points including implied volatility levels, volatility risk premium, and overall market sentiment. Traders can glance at the Weather Score each morning to instantly understand whether the environment is conducive to selling premium or if caution is warranted. The score simplifies complex market analysis into an actionable indicator.

Scanner

The Scanner tool systematically filters through over 500 US stocks and major ETFs to identify the most attractive candidates for premium selling strategies. It evaluates each underlying based on criteria such as implied volatility rank, option liquidity, expected move, and volatility risk premium. This automated screening process saves traders hours of manual research each day, presenting a curated list of top opportunities that align with their preferred strategies like iron condors or credit spreads.

Signals

VolRadar generates daily trading signals that highlight specific stocks and ETFs showing favorable conditions for premium selling. These signals are derived from quantitative analysis of end-of-day options data from ORATS. Each signal includes key metrics such as implied volatility, IV rank, expected move, and the Weather Score context. Traders can use these signals as a starting point for their own analysis, helping them quickly identify potential trades that meet their risk parameters.

Daily Brief

The Daily Brief is a comprehensive morning report that summarizes the most important market conditions and opportunities for premium sellers. It includes the overall Weather Score, top scanner picks, notable signals, and a review of significant volatility changes across major indices and sectors. This brief allows traders to get fully updated on market conditions in just a few minutes each morning, ensuring they are prepared to make informed decisions before the opening bell.

Identifying High-Probability Iron Condor Candidates

A trader using iron condors on SPY can leverage VolRadar to find optimal strike prices. By reviewing the Expected Move tool and the Scanner, the trader identifies underlyings with high IV rank and favorable volatility risk premium. The Weather Score confirms whether market conditions support selling premium. This systematic approach increases the probability of success by avoiding low-volatility environments where premium collection is insufficient.

Selecting Stocks for the Wheel Strategy

An investor running the wheel strategy on individual stocks uses VolRadar to screen for high IV stocks with strong fundamentals. The platform's Wheel Calculator helps determine appropriate strike prices for cash-secured puts and covered calls. The Scanner filters for stocks with elevated implied volatility relative to historical levels, indicating higher premium potential. The trader then reviews the Daily Brief for any sector-specific volatility events that might affect their positions.

Timing Covered Call Entries

A covered call writer uses VolRadar to identify when to sell calls against existing stock positions. The platform's IV Rank Lookup shows whether current implied volatility is high compared to the past year. The Expected Move tool helps select strike prices that balance premium collection with acceptable upside risk. The Weather Score indicates whether the overall market is in a favorable regime for covered call writing, helping the trader avoid periods of extreme volatility.

Analyzing Volatility Risk Premium

An advanced premium seller uses VolRadar to monitor volatility risk premium (VRP) across different underlyings. The platform provides data on the difference between implied and realized volatility, which is a key indicator of premium selling opportunity. By tracking VRP trends through the Signals feature, the trader can identify when options are overpriced relative to actual historical movement, creating favorable conditions for selling premium. This analysis is crucial for strategies like credit spreads and iron condors.

What data source does VolRadar use for its analytics?

VolRadar uses end-of-day options data from ORATS, a respected provider of institutional-grade options analytics and data. ORATS is known for its comprehensive and accurate options chain data, implied volatility calculations, and historical volatility metrics. This ensures that the analytics provided by VolRadar are based on reliable, high-quality data that professional traders trust.

Is VolRadar suitable for beginners in options trading?

VolRadar is designed for traders who are already familiar with premium selling strategies such as iron condors, credit spreads, and the wheel. While the platform provides educational analytics and a glossary, it assumes a baseline understanding of options mechanics and risk management. Beginners may benefit from first learning options fundamentals before relying on VolRadar for trade selection.

Does VolRadar offer real-time data or only end-of-day data?

VolRadar exclusively uses end-of-day options data from ORATS. The platform is designed for daily analysis and morning preparation, not for intraday trading. All analytics, signals, and the Daily Brief are generated from the previous day's closing data, allowing traders to review opportunities before the market opens. This approach suits premium sellers who typically place trades at the open or during the first hour of trading.

What is the Weather Score and how is it calculated?

The Weather Score is VolRadar's proprietary metric that provides a single, intuitive assessment of market conditions for premium selling. It synthesizes multiple factors including overall implied volatility levels, volatility risk premium, market breadth, and recent price action. The score is presented on a simple scale that indicates whether conditions are favorable, neutral, or unfavorable for selling premium. The exact calculation methodology is proprietary but is grounded in quantitative analysis of options market data.