VolRadar

VolRadar is a specialized daily options analytics platform engineered for traders who focus on premium selling strategies within the US equities market. The platform is built to serve a specific audience: 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 processing end-of-day options data sourced from ORATS, a leading institutional-grade provider, VolRadar delivers a curated set of actionable insights each morning. This allows users to review market conditions and identify high-probability trade candidates before the opening bell, eliminating the need for manual data sifting. The core value proposition of VolRadar lies in its ability to transform complex options data into clear, time-efficient signals. A standout feature is the proprietary Weather Score, which provides a single, intuitive metric that indicates whether market conditions are favorable for selling premium on any given day. With coverage spanning over 500 US stocks and major ETFs, the platform helps traders quickly pinpoint top candidates for their specific strategies. VolRadar positions itself not merely as a data feed, but as a comprehensive analytical partner that simplifies the daily workflow for premium sellers, enabling them to focus on execution and risk management rather than data aggregation.

Weather Score

The Weather Score is a proprietary, at-a-glance indicator that condenses complex market conditions into a single, actionable number. This feature assesses multiple variables, including implied volatility levels, volatility risk premium, and overall market sentiment, to determine the relative favorability for selling options premium. A high score suggests a favorable environment where premiums are rich, while a low score warns of potentially unfavorable conditions. This allows traders to quickly gauge whether to scale into their strategies or exercise caution, saving critical time each morning.

Scanner

The Scanner is a powerful screening tool designed to filter the universe of over 500 US stocks and major ETFs for the best candidates for premium selling. It evaluates each underlying based on a combination of factors critical to sellers, such as elevated implied volatility, strong option liquidity, and favorable risk/reward profiles. The Scanner surfaces potential trades for strategies like iron condors and credit spreads, presenting them in a ranked, easy-to-navigate list. This eliminates hours of manual research and ensures traders never miss a high-quality opportunity.

Signals

VolRadar provides daily, data-driven Signals that highlight specific trade setups and market anomalies. These signals are generated from the analysis of end-of-day options data and are delivered each morning before the market opens. Each signal includes a clear rationale, outlining the underlying data that triggered the alert, such as a significant change in IV rank or a deviation in expected move. This feature helps traders act on probabilistic opportunities with a clear understanding of the underlying logic, enhancing both efficiency and decision-making confidence.

Daily Brief

The Daily Brief is a concise, morning-ready summary of the most important market conditions for premium sellers. It aggregates the Weather Score, top Scanner picks, and key Signals into a single, digestible report. This feature ensures that even on the busiest mornings, traders can get a complete overview of the market landscape in minutes. The Daily Brief serves as the starting point for the day’s trading plan, providing a structured and repeatable process for assessing opportunity and risk.

Identifying Favorable Market Conditions for Selling Premium

A core use case for VolRadar is using the Weather Score to quickly determine if the overall market environment supports premium selling strategies. A trader can start their day by checking the Weather Score. If the score is high, they know that implied volatility is elevated relative to realized volatility, creating a favorable environment for collecting premium. If the score is low, they may choose to reduce position sizes or focus on different strategies, directly applying the platform’s analytical output to their daily risk management.

Building a Daily Watchlist of High-Probability Trades

Traders can use the Scanner feature to build a targeted watchlist of stocks and ETFs that meet their specific criteria for selling options. For example, a trader focused on iron condors on S&P 500 stocks can run the Scanner to find underlyings with high IV rank and sufficient liquidity. The results provide a ranked list of top candidates, complete with key data points. This allows the trader to bypass general market noise and focus exclusively on the most promising setups for the day.

Executing the Wheel Strategy with Confidence

For traders employing the wheel strategy (selling cash-secured puts followed by covered calls), VolRadar provides essential data points like IV rank and expected move. A trader can use the platform to identify a stock with elevated IV on its put options, signaling a potentially lucrative entry point for a cash-secured put. After assignment, they can then use the platform to find a favorable covered call strike based on the stock’s current implied volatility. VolRadar streamlines the entire wheel workflow from selection to exit.

Analyzing Volatility Risk Premium (VRP) for Strategy Refinement

Advanced users can leverage VolRadar’s data to analyze the volatility risk premium across different underlyings and timeframes. By comparing implied volatility to historical realized volatility, traders can gauge how much extra premium the market is pricing in. This analysis helps in selecting which stocks to sell premium on and which expiration cycles offer the best risk/reward. This use case is critical for traders looking to refine their strategy based on quantitative data rather than intuition.

What specific strategies is VolRadar designed to support?

VolRadar is specifically designed for premium sellers, including traders who use iron condors, credit spreads (both put and call), cash-secured puts, and the wheel strategy. Its data and signals are optimized to help traders identify favorable conditions for collecting option premium, primarily on US equities and ETFs.

Where does VolRadar get its options data?

VolRadar sources its end-of-day options data from ORATS (Option Research and Technology Services), a leading provider of institutional-grade options data and analytics. This ensures that users receive accurate, reliable, and comprehensive data covering over 500 US stocks and major ETFs.

How does the Weather Score work and what does it mean?

The Weather Score is a proprietary, single-number metric that indicates the overall favorability of market conditions for selling premium. It is calculated by analyzing a combination of factors such as implied volatility levels, volatility risk premium, and market sentiment. A high score suggests a good environment for sellers, while a low score suggests caution.

Is VolRadar suitable for beginner options traders?

VolRadar is designed for traders who have a foundational understanding of options strategies like credit spreads and the wheel. While the platform simplifies data analysis, it is most effective for users who already understand the mechanics and risks of premium selling. The educational resources and methodology pages on the site can help intermediate traders deepen their knowledge.