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

Analyze the complete KR 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 KR.

Latest Data: 2025-12-23 (EDT)
Max Pain Price
64
Exp: 2025-12-26
Gamma Flip
61.47
Gamma Flip (≈60 days)
Put/Call OI Ratio
0.538
Shows put vs call positioning
IV Skew
-4.17
Put–call IV difference
Max Pain Price Volatility
σ = 1.38
low volatility

Dealer–Gamma Regime

A combined view of KR’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
57.05M
Gamma Regime
Long Gamma
Flip Threshold: 61

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

Dealer Position Index (DPI)
Current DPI
0.144
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 are likely to stay range-bound.

The short-term gamma flip is near 61.47 , with intermediate positioning around 61.47 . The mid-term gamma flip remains near 61.55.


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 KR • As of 2025-12-23
Neutral Outlook (Confidence: 85%)

The options structure reflects a high-confidence neutral environment. Dealer positioning and volatility suppression suggest a stable range-bound setup rather than a directional move. A strong confidence score reflects high directional consensus—or, in the case of neutral bias, a stable volatility regime.


Put-Side Positioning Insight
On the put side, the bearish positioning looks mainly like hedging. This reflects caution and short-term protection rather than a true bearish call. Confidence: 100%


Key Price Levels: Support, Resistance & Pivot for KR
The support levels for KR are at 62.06, 61.69, and 60.95, while the resistance levels are at 62.54, 62.91, and 63.65. The pivot point, a key reference price for traders, is at 64.00.

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 0.77% 1-day move.
The expected range for the next 3 days is 61.48 63.43 , corresponding to +1.81% / -1.32% .

Bullish flow suggests upside interest toward 64.15 (2.96% above spot).

Bearish positioning points to downside pressure toward 61.01 (2.06% below spot).

Options flow strength: 0.60 (0–1 scale).

ATM Strike: 62.00, Call: 0.53, Put: 0.30, Straddle Cost: 0.83.

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 (0.77% Standardized 1-Day Move)

“The ATM straddle implies a standardized 1-day move of 0.77%.”

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:
61.48 – 63.43

Upper: +1.81%  •  Lower: -1.32%

🔺 Bullish Skew — upside potential outweighs downside risk.

3. Bullish Flow vs Bearish Flow

▶ Bullish Flow

Upside interest clusters near 64.15 (2.96% above spot).
This region may act as short-term resistance.

▶ Bearish Flow

Downside pressure clusters near 61.01 (2.06% below spot).
This is a downside “magnet zone” where put demand concentrates.

4. Flow Strength: 0.60

Flow strength is moderate to strong, suggesting that today's positioning carries informational value.

5. ATM Straddle Cost

The ATM straddle costs 0.83 (1.33% of spot).

This is within the normal volatility range for near-term expectations.

🔥 Professional Summary

1️⃣ The options market leans toward upside potential.
2️⃣ Implied volatility is low, indicating calm market expectations.
3️⃣ Call activity dominates — traders position for upside moves.
4️⃣ FlowStrength 0.60 supports meaningful conviction behind today's positioning.

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

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: KR • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total GEX: 57.05M (Regime: Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility), Flip = 39.67M)
Max Danger Expiry: 2026-01-16 (DTE=24)
Expiry GEX: 23.89M (Contribution=41.9%)
Post-Expiry GEX: 33.17M (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
2026-01-16 24 23.89M 41.9% 33.17M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2025-12-26 3 18.08M 31.7% 38.98M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-03-20 87 4.02M 7.1% 53.03M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-01-02 10 3.86M 6.8% 53.19M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-06-18 177 1.89M 3.3% 55.17M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-01-09 17 1.74M 3.0% 55.32M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-04-17 115 1.01M 1.8% 56.04M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-09-18 269 950.46K 1.7% 56.1M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2027-01-15 388 681.16K 1.2% 56.37M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-02-20 59 277.06K 0.5% 56.78M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-01-23 31 207.8K 0.4% 56.85M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-01-30 38 142K 0.2% 56.91M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2028-01-21 759 123.49K 0.2% 56.93M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2027-06-17 541 121.39K 0.2% 56.93M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-12-18 360 33.87K 0.1% 57.02M Long Gamma (Mean Reversion / Low Volatility)
2026-07-17 206 32.17K 0.1% 57.02M 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: KR • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total Vanna
4.36M
Net delta–vol sensitivity
Vanna Regime
Positive Vanna (Volatility Dampening)
Sensitivity to IV shocks
Max Danger Expiry
2025-12-26 (DTE 3)
Contribution: 46.9%
Large negative Vanna clusters increase hedging pressure during volatility spikes, amplifying directional trends.
Vanna Danger Zone Details
Symbol: KR • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total Vanna: 4.36M ( Positive Vanna )
Max Danger Expiry: 2025-12-26 (DTE=3)
Expiry Vanna: 2.05M (Contribution=46.9%)
Post-Expiry Vanna: 2.31M (More Positive — Volatility Dampening)
⚠ This expiry is CRITICAL: removal can sharply increase net negative Vanna, raising volatility sensitivity.
Expiry DTE Vanna Contrib % Post-Expiry Post Regime Tag
2025-12-26 3 2.05M 46.9% 2.31M More Positive (Stabilizing) Critical
2026-01-16 24 1.42M 32.6% 2.94M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-03-20 87 362.55K 8.3% 4M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-02 10 179.12K 4.1% 4.18M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-09 17 124.42K 2.9% 4.23M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-06-18 177 106.79K 2.4% 4.25M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-09-18 269 103.44K 2.4% 4.26M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2027-01-15 388 20.48K 0.5% 4.34M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2028-01-21 759 -15.54K 0.4% 4.37M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-02-20 59 8.66K 0.2% 4.35M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-04-17 115 7.57K 0.2% 4.35M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-30 38 6.83K 0.2% 4.35M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-07-17 206 -3.55K 0.1% 4.36M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-12-18 360 -2.54K 0.1% 4.36M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2026-01-23 31 -2.15K 0.0% 4.36M More Positive (Stabilizing)
2027-06-17 541 -1.47K 0.0% 4.36M 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: KR • As of 2025-12-23
30D ATM IV
22.99%
Front-end implied volatility
90D ATM IV
25.31%
Medium-term volatility anchor
IV Ratio (90D / 30D)
1.10
Long-term vs short-term IV
Term Structure Regime
Contango (Long-term Elevated)
Slope: 2.32 pts (30D→90D).

Smile Slope (Put25 – Call25)
-0.63%
Downside skew / crash premium
HV 21D vs IV
HV 21D: 28.27%
IV – HV: -5.28%
Options trade cheap vs realized volatility.
IV Percentile / Rank
Percentile: 0.0%
Rank: 0.0%
Relative to 1-year history.
IV Z-Score
-1.25
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.

KR 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: 62.5 (moderate)
Max Pain @ 64.00 | Concentration=0.39 · Symmetry=0.57 · Sharpness=3.04
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 = -1.23)
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 62.30 64.00 -1.70 -1.23 oversold
2025-12-22 62.29 64.00 -1.71 -1.24 oversold
2025-12-19 62.41 68.00 -5.59 -4.06 oversold
2025-12-18 62.79 68.00 -5.21 -3.78 oversold
2025-12-16 62.10 67.50 -5.40 -3.92 oversold
2025-12-15 62.66 68.00 -5.34 -3.88 oversold
2025-12-12 63.19 67.00 -3.81 -2.77 oversold
2025-12-11 62.21 67.00 -4.79 -3.48 oversold
2025-12-10 61.24 67.00 -5.76 -4.18 oversold
2025-12-09 62.90 67.00 -4.10 -2.98 oversold
2025-12-08 63.38 67.00 -3.62 -2.63 oversold
2025-12-05 62.71 67.00 -4.29 -3.11 oversold
2025-12-04 63.14 68.00 -4.86 -3.53 oversold
2025-12-03 66.20 67.00 -0.80 -0.58 neutral
2025-12-02 67.03 67.00 0.03 0.02 neutral
2025-12-01 67.55 67.00 0.55 0.40 neutral
2025-11-28 67.28 70.00 -2.72 -1.97 oversold
2025-11-26 67.03 69.00 -1.97 -1.43 oversold
2025-11-25 66.15 68.00 -1.85 -1.34 oversold
2025-11-24 64.29 69.00 -4.71 -3.42 oversold
2025-11-21 66.06 70.00 -3.94 -2.86 oversold
2025-11-20 65.90 70.00 -4.10 -2.98 oversold
2025-11-19 67.41 70.00 -2.59 -1.88 oversold
2025-11-18 67.38 70.00 -2.62 -1.90 oversold
2025-11-17 66.10 70.00 -3.90 -2.83 oversold
2025-11-14 66.71 67.00 -0.29 -0.21 neutral
2025-11-13 65.97 67.00 -1.03 -0.75 neutral
2025-11-12 65.40 67.00 -1.60 -1.16 oversold
2025-11-11 65.02 67.00 -1.98 -1.44 oversold
2025-11-07 64.91 67.00 -2.09 -1.52 oversold
2025-11-06 63.43 67.00 -3.57 -2.59 oversold
2025-11-05 63.15 67.00 -3.85 -2.79 oversold
2025-11-04 63.76 67.00 -3.24 -2.35 oversold
2025-11-03 63.44 67.00 -3.56 -2.58 oversold
2025-10-31 63.63 68.00 -4.37 -3.17 oversold
2025-10-30 65.43 68.00 -2.57 -1.87 oversold
2025-10-29 66.04 68.00 -1.96 -1.42 oversold
2025-10-28 67.69 68.00 -0.31 -0.22 neutral

Mean Reversion Backtest

Backtest Summary
Total Signals: 32 (Long: 32 · Short: 0)
1-Day Performance
Avg Return: 0.03%
Win Rate: 58.1%
3-Day Performance
Avg Return: 0.09%
Win Rate: 44.8%
Show Last 10 Trades
Date Signal Side Entry 1D Ret 3D Ret
2025-12-23 oversold long 62.30 0.00% 0.00%
2025-12-22 oversold long 62.29 0.02% 0.00%
2025-12-19 oversold long 62.41 -0.19% 0.00%
2025-12-18 oversold long 62.79 -0.61% -0.78%
2025-12-16 oversold long 62.10 1.11% 0.31%
2025-12-15 oversold long 62.66 -0.89% -0.40%
2025-12-12 oversold long 63.19 -0.84% -0.63%
2025-12-11 oversold long 62.21 1.58% -0.18%
2025-12-10 oversold long 61.24 1.58% 2.32%
2025-12-09 oversold long 62.90 -2.64% 0.46%

Historical Max Pain Effectiveness

Based on historical behavior (not current OI)
No Historical Effectiveness
Little to no historical alignment between price action and Max Pain.
Win Rate
1D: 53.3%
3D: 53.3%
Reversion Strength
0.11
Noise Score
0.86
Score (Win)
21.3 / 40
Score (Strength)
4.2 / 40
Score (Noise)
17.3 / 20
Historical Effectiveness Score: 42.8 (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.