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KHC Options Chain — Open Interest, Implied Volatility, Max Pain & Gamma Exposure

Analyze the complete KHC options chain including strike-level open interest, real-time implied volatility (IV), max pain levels, gamma exposure, dealer positioning, and options flow trends. This dashboard provides data-driven insights for traders building directional or hedging strategies around KHC.

Latest Data: 2025-12-23 (EDT)
Max Pain Price
25.5
Exp: 2025-12-26
Gamma Flip
29.35
Gamma Flip (≈60 days)
Put/Call OI Ratio
0.883
Shows put vs call positioning
IV Skew
-5.02
Put–call IV difference
Max Pain Price Volatility
σ = 0.82
low volatility

Dealer–Gamma Regime

A combined view of KHC’s total gamma exposure (GEX) and Dealer Position Index (DPI). This helps identify whether dealer hedging flows support mean reversion or trend continuation in the current options market.

Overall Market Regime
Mean Reversion Zone
Long Gamma · Strong Net Short Options · Low Volatility
Low Volatility Mean Reversion Bias DPI Trend: neutral

Gamma Exposure
Total GEX
79.77M
Gamma Regime
Long Gamma
Flip Threshold: 29

In a long gamma regime, dealers hedge against price moves, strengthening mean reversion and suppressing volatility.

Dealer Position Index (DPI)
Current DPI
-0.589
Dealer Positioning
Strong Net Short Options
Trend Label: neutral

A Strong Net Short Options profile indicates how dealers hedge daily flows, influencing whether trends extend or revert.


Market Behavior (Gamma Flip–Based)

Price moves may extend once a direction forms.

The short-term gamma flip is near 29.48 , with intermediate positioning around 29.35 . The mid-term gamma flip remains near 24.19.


Combined Interpretation

With Long Gamma and a neutral DPI trend , the current setup favors Mean Reversion Zone .

Dealer hedging flows interact with gamma positioning to form short-term volatility regimes. Stronger directional movement is more likely when gamma is short or unstable.

Volatility Environment
Low Volatility
Trend vs Mean Reversion
Mean Reversion Bias
Dealer Hedging Behavior
Strong Net Short Options

Options-Based Market Outlook & Short-Term Sentiment for KHC • As of 2025-12-23
Bullish Bias (Confidence: 53%)

The options data shows a moderate bullish tilt. There is some directional support, though momentum remains limited. Medium confidence reflects partial agreement across option-based signals.


Put-Side Positioning Insight
Looking only at the put-side activity, there is a bearish directional push. This suggests some traders are actively betting on downside. Confidence: 80%


Key Price Levels: Support, Resistance & Pivot for KHC
The support levels for KHC are at 23.62, 23.50, and 23.28, while the resistance levels are at 23.78, 23.90, and 24.12. The pivot point, a key reference price for traders, is at 25.50.

Important intraday and swing-trading price levels derived from max pain, open interest distribution, and gamma positioning. These price levels are derived from Max Pain analysis, gamma exposure trends, and open interest dynamics, which are crucial factors for assessing market sentiment and potential price movements. Traders can use the support and resistance levels to identify key price zones for entry or exit points, while the pivot point serves as an important reference for gauging trend direction.


Option-Implied Price Range (DTE: 3)
Based on the latest options positioning (DTE 3), the ATM straddle implies a standardized 0.88% 1-day move.
The expected range for the next 3 days is 23.31 24.61 , corresponding to +3.82% / -1.65% .

Bullish flow suggests upside interest toward 25.30 (6.73% above spot).

Bearish positioning points to downside pressure toward 23.07 (2.65% below spot).

Options flow strength: 0.56 (0–1 scale).

ATM Strike: 23.50, Call: 0.32, Put: 0.04, Straddle Cost: 0.36.

Estimated using ATM implied volatility, OTM option flow, and dealer hedging conditions to capture the market-implied price range.

📘 Show Options Market Insight

1. Core Volatility Signal (0.88% Standardized 1-Day Move)

“The ATM straddle implies a standardized 1-day move of 0.88%.”

This means:

  • Implied volatility is below normal.
  • The market expects relatively muted price action.
  • Little near-term uncertainty is being priced.

📌 Plain interpretation: Subdued volatility — traders expect limited movement.

2. Expected Price Range (Next 3 Days)

The options market is pricing the following risk range:
23.31 – 24.61

Upper: +3.82%  •  Lower: -1.65%

🔺 Bullish Skew — upside potential outweighs downside risk.

3. Bullish Flow vs Bearish Flow

▶ Bullish Flow

Upside interest clusters near 25.30 (6.73% above spot).
This region may act as short-term resistance.

▶ Bearish Flow

Downside pressure clusters near 23.07 (2.65% below spot).
This is a downside “magnet zone” where put demand concentrates.

4. Flow Strength: 0.56

Flow strength is weak — option activity is scattered or light, making directional signals less reliable.

5. ATM Straddle Cost

The ATM straddle costs 0.36 (1.52% of spot).

Traders are pricing elevated volatility, likely due to upcoming catalysts or uncertainty.

🔥 Professional Summary

1️⃣ The options market leans toward upside potential.
2️⃣ Implied volatility is within normal range for near-term movement.
3️⃣ Call activity dominates — traders position for upside moves.
4️⃣ FlowStrength 0.56 indicates moderate informational value.

⭐ One-sentence takeaway: The options market reflects a mild bullish tilt for KHC.

The insights are generated by an AI-driven options analysis model. We strongly recommend interpreting the data in the context of your own judgment and market understanding.

DPI Trend Index

Dealer Position Index (DPI) tracks how options dealers are positioned. Rising DPI → dealers long options (mean reversion). Falling DPI → dealers short options (trend amplification).
DPI does not predict direction. It only answers one question: once price moves, will the market reinforce that move? DPI reflects the direction and strength of dealer gamma exposure — not a bullish or bearish call.

Latest Trend Interpretation:

Neutral consolidation, trend and momentum are indistinct. From the current DPI structure, dealers appear largely neutral, suggesting limited willingness to reinforce directional price moves.

Gamma Exposure & Expiry Risk Zones

Gamma Exposure (GEX) defines how option dealer hedging interacts with price moves. Large expiries can sharply alter hedging pressure and trigger volatility shifts.

Market GEX vs Price History

Aggregate gamma exposure plotted with underlying price. Sharp GEX declines or flip-zone tests often precede increased volatility.

GEX Danger Zone Overview
Symbol: KHC • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total GEX: 79.77M (Regime: Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility), Flip = 75.72M)
Max Danger Expiry: 2025-12-26 (DTE=3)
Expiry GEX: 23.62M (Contribution=29.6%)
Post-Expiry GEX: 56.15M (Regime: Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability))
⚠ This expiry is CRITICAL: removal may push GEX into Flip Zone or weaken gamma support sharply.
Expiry DTE GEX Contrib % Post-Expiry GEX Post Regime Tag
2025-12-26 3 23.62M 29.6% 56.15M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-03-20 87 13.03M 16.3% 66.74M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-01-16 24 12.43M 15.6% 67.34M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-01-02 10 8.23M 10.3% 71.54M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-06-18 177 5.68M 7.1% 74.08M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2027-01-15 388 5.41M 6.8% 74.36M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-04-17 115 2.34M 2.9% 77.43M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-09-18 269 2.3M 2.9% 77.46M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-01-23 31 1.63M 2.0% 78.14M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-02-20 59 1.44M 1.8% 78.33M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-12-18 360 1.43M 1.8% 78.34M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-01-09 17 1.11M 1.4% 78.66M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2028-01-21 759 808.54K 1.0% 78.96M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-01-30 38 239.15K 0.3% 79.53M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-07-17 206 83.73K 0.1% 79.68M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)

Vanna Exposure & Risk Zone

Vanna measures how delta changes when implied volatility shifts. Heavy negative Vanna clusters can amplify volatility during IV shocks.

Current Vanna Exposure Overview
Symbol: KHC • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total Vanna
7.48M
Net delta–vol sensitivity
Vanna Regime
Positive Vanna (Volatility Dampening)
Sensitivity to IV shocks
Max Danger Expiry
2026-01-16 (DTE 24)
Contribution: 26.9%
Large negative Vanna clusters increase hedging pressure during volatility spikes, amplifying directional trends.
Vanna Danger Zone Details
Symbol: KHC • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total Vanna: 7.48M ( Positive Vanna )
Max Danger Expiry: 2026-01-16 (DTE=24)
Expiry Vanna: 2.01M (Contribution=26.9%)
Post-Expiry Vanna: 5.46M (More Positive — Volatility Dampening)
Expiry DTE Vanna Contrib % Post-Expiry Post Regime Tag
2026-01-16 24 2.01M 26.9% 5.46M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2025-12-26 3 1.78M 23.8% 5.7M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-03-20 87 1.46M 19.6% 6.01M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-02 10 746.59K 10.0% 6.73M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-06-18 177 617.79K 8.3% 6.86M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2027-01-15 388 314.85K 4.2% 7.16M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-04-17 115 256.83K 3.4% 7.22M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-23 31 123.49K 1.7% 7.35M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-12-18 360 115.36K 1.5% 7.36M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-09 17 97.16K 1.3% 7.38M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2028-01-21 759 -27.28K 0.4% 7.5M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-30 38 23.21K 0.3% 7.45M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-09-18 269 -20.61K 0.3% 7.5M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-02-20 59 -20.19K 0.3% 7.5M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-07-17 206 -3.47K 0.0% 7.48M More Positive (Stabilizing)

Volatility Structure & Term Structure

Short-dated and medium-term implied volatility, term structure shape, downside skew, and realized volatility context.

ATM IV Term Structure Snapshot
Symbol: KHC • As of 2025-12-23
30D ATM IV
20.86%
Front-end implied volatility
90D ATM IV
25.94%
Medium-term volatility anchor
IV Ratio (90D / 30D)
1.24
Long-term vs short-term IV
Term Structure Regime
Contango (Long-term Elevated)
Slope: 5.08 pts (30D→90D).

Smile Slope (Put25 – Call25)
-5.40%
Downside skew / crash premium
HV 21D vs IV
HV 21D: 13.83%
IV – HV: 7.03%
Options trade richer than realized volatility.
IV Percentile / Rank
Percentile: 2.7%
Rank: 0.0%
Relative to 1-year history.
IV Z-Score
-1.81
Deviation vs recent average

ATM IV Term Structure

30D · 90D

IV vs Realized Volatility

HV 21D vs 30D IV
A contango structure shows longer-term volatility is priced higher. Smile slope reflects downside protection demand, while IV percentile and rank show how current IV compares to its own history.

KHC Max Pain — Daily Levels, Trend, Volatility Pressure & Options Positioning

Daily Max Pain levels with trend shifts, volatility pressure and options positioning cycles.

Max Pain Price Trend Index

Latest Trend Interpretation

Max Pain is stable, reflecting neutral options positioning.

➖ Trend strength: Very weak — no meaningful direction.

➖ Recent movement: Largely unchanged.

Trend Shifts

Green = Bullish • Dark Green = Strong Bullish • Gray = Neutral • Red = Bearish • Dark Red = Strong Bearish

Current OI Structure Reliability

OI Concentration / Pain Reliability · Dec 23 2025
Reliability: 54.9 (moderate)
Max Pain @ 25.50 | Concentration=0.31 · Symmetry=0.42 · Sharpness=3.54
Reason
Some OI clustering exists but lacks clear dominance.
Advice
Treat Max Pain as secondary — combine with gamma, DPI, or trend.

Max Pain Price Mean Reversion

Latest Mean Reversion Status
Dec 23 2025
Oversold (Z = -2.18)
Price is trading well below Max Pain, signaling oversold conditions and potential mean reversion upward.
Price vs Max Pain Distance
Show Mean Reversion History
Date Price Max Pain Distance Z-Score Signal
2025-12-23 23.70 25.50 -1.80 -2.18 oversold
2025-12-22 24.15 25.50 -1.35 -1.64 oversold
2025-12-19 24.51 25.50 -0.99 -1.20 oversold
2025-12-18 24.75 25.50 -0.75 -0.91 neutral
2025-12-16 24.68 25.50 -0.82 -0.99 neutral
2025-12-15 24.50 25.50 -1.00 -1.21 oversold
2025-12-12 24.45 24.00 0.45 0.55 neutral
2025-12-11 24.39 24.50 -0.11 -0.13 neutral
2025-12-10 24.35 24.00 0.35 0.42 neutral
2025-12-09 24.23 24.00 0.23 0.28 neutral
2025-12-08 24.51 26.00 -1.49 -1.81 oversold
2025-12-05 24.34 26.00 -1.66 -2.01 oversold
2025-12-04 24.59 26.00 -1.41 -1.71 oversold
2025-12-03 25.03 26.00 -0.97 -1.18 oversold
2025-12-02 24.96 26.00 -1.04 -1.26 oversold
2025-12-01 25.37 26.00 -0.63 -0.76 neutral
2025-11-28 25.51 22.00 3.51 4.26 overbought
2025-11-26 25.60 25.50 0.10 0.12 neutral
2025-11-25 25.44 25.50 -0.06 -0.07 neutral
2025-11-24 25.23 25.50 -0.27 -0.33 neutral
2025-11-21 25.29 25.50 -0.21 -0.25 neutral
2025-11-20 24.98 26.00 -1.02 -1.24 oversold
2025-11-19 24.91 26.00 -1.09 -1.32 oversold
2025-11-18 24.97 25.50 -0.53 -0.64 neutral
2025-11-17 24.49 26.00 -1.51 -1.83 oversold
2025-11-14 24.85 24.50 0.35 0.42 neutral
2025-11-13 24.96 24.50 0.46 0.56 neutral
2025-11-12 24.75 24.50 0.25 0.30 neutral
2025-11-11 24.67 24.50 0.17 0.21 neutral
2025-11-07 24.28 25.00 -0.72 -0.87 neutral
2025-11-06 23.72 25.00 -1.28 -1.55 oversold
2025-11-05 24.14 25.00 -0.86 -1.04 oversold
2025-11-04 24.17 25.00 -0.83 -1.01 oversold
2025-11-03 24.33 25.50 -1.17 -1.42 oversold
2025-10-31 24.73 25.00 -0.27 -0.33 neutral
2025-10-30 24.58 24.50 0.08 0.10 neutral
2025-10-29 24.38 25.00 -0.62 -0.75 neutral
2025-10-28 25.52 24.00 1.52 1.84 overbought

Mean Reversion Backtest

Backtest Summary
Total Signals: 18 (Long: 16 · Short: 2)
1-Day Performance
Avg Return: 0.16%
Win Rate: 52.9%
3-Day Performance
Avg Return: 0.54%
Win Rate: 66.7%
Show Last 10 Trades
Date Signal Side Entry 1D Ret 3D Ret
2025-12-23 oversold long 23.70 0.00% 0.00%
2025-12-22 oversold long 24.15 -1.86% 0.00%
2025-12-19 oversold long 24.51 -1.47% 0.00%
2025-12-15 oversold long 24.50 0.73% 0.04%
2025-12-08 oversold long 24.51 -1.14% -0.49%
2025-12-05 oversold long 24.34 0.70% 0.04%
2025-12-04 oversold long 24.59 -1.02% -1.46%
2025-12-03 oversold long 25.03 -1.76% -2.08%
2025-12-02 oversold long 24.96 0.28% -2.48%
2025-11-28 overbought short 25.51 0.55% 1.88%

Historical Max Pain Effectiveness

Based on historical behavior (not current OI)
Weak Influence
Max Pain has shown occasional influence but not consistently.
Win Rate
1D: 56.2%
3D: 62.5%
Reversion Strength
0.37
Noise Score
0.82
Score (Win)
24.0 / 40
Score (Strength)
14.8 / 40
Score (Noise)
16.5 / 20
Historical Effectiveness Score: 55.3 (neutral)
Disclaimer

Our analysis incorporates options market microstructure, institutional flow patterns, gamma and vanna dynamics, and dealer hedging models. The analytics and insights provided on this page are generated from a multi-factor options microstructure model, supported by WhaleQuant’s AI forecasting framework. These results reflect structural dynamics such as dealer positioning, hedging flows, volatility regimes, open interest concentration, and term structure behavior.

The outputs shown—including bias assessments and confidence scores—represent directional tendencies based on option market structure and should not be interpreted as price predictions, probability forecasts, or investment advice. Market conditions can change rapidly, and all analyses are provided for informational purposes only.