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

Analyze the complete UAL 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 UAL.

Latest Data: 2025-12-23 (EDT)
Max Pain Price
110
Exp: 2025-12-26
Gamma Flip
92.11
Gamma Flip (≈60 days)
Put/Call OI Ratio
0.708
Shows put vs call positioning
IV Skew
-2.63
Put–call IV difference
Max Pain Price Volatility
σ = 3.27
low volatility

Dealer–Gamma Regime

A combined view of UAL’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 Long Options · Low Volatility
Low Volatility Mean Reversion Bias DPI Trend: neutral

Gamma Exposure
Total GEX
35.13M
Gamma Regime
Long Gamma
Flip Threshold: 91

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

Dealer Position Index (DPI)
Current DPI
0.907
Dealer Positioning
Strong Net Long Options
Trend Label: neutral

A Strong Net Long 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 91.44 , with intermediate positioning around 92.11 . The mid-term gamma flip remains near 93.25.


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 Long Options

Options-Based Market Outlook & Short-Term Sentiment for UAL • As of 2025-12-23
Bullish Bias (Confidence: 38%)

A slight bullish tilt is present, but the overall setup remains largely neutral with limited directional reliability. Lower confidence indicates limited directional agreement across option indicators.


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 UAL
The support levels for UAL are at 112.51, 110.99, and 106.38, while the resistance levels are at 114.55, 116.07, and 120.68. The pivot point, a key reference price for traders, is at 110.00.

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 1.03% 1-day move.
The expected range for the next 3 days is 110.29 115.02 , corresponding to +1.31% / -2.85% .

Bullish flow suggests upside interest toward 115.69 (1.90% above spot).

Bearish positioning points to downside pressure toward 108.23 (4.67% below spot).

Options flow strength: 0.66 (0–1 scale).

ATM Strike: 114.00, Call: 1.23, Put: 0.80, Straddle Cost: 2.03.

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 (1.03% Standardized 1-Day Move)

“The ATM straddle implies a standardized 1-day move of 1.03%.”

This means:

  • Implied volatility is within normal range.
  • Price movement expectations are typical for UAL.
  • The market is not signaling unusually high risk.

📌 Plain interpretation: Normal volatility — nothing unusual is being priced.

2. Expected Price Range (Next 3 Days)

The options market is pricing the following risk range:
110.29 – 115.02

Upper: +1.31%  •  Lower: -2.85%

🔻 Bearish Skew — downside risk exceeds upside potential.

3. Bullish Flow vs Bearish Flow

▶ Bullish Flow

Upside interest clusters near 115.69 (1.90% above spot).
This region may act as short-term resistance.

▶ Bearish Flow

Downside pressure clusters near 108.23 (4.67% below spot).
This is a downside “magnet zone” where put demand concentrates.

4. Flow Strength: 0.66

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

5. ATM Straddle Cost

The ATM straddle costs 2.03 (1.78% of spot).

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

🔥 Professional Summary

1️⃣ The options market assigns greater weight to downside risk.
2️⃣ Implied volatility is within normal range for near-term movement.
3️⃣ Put activity dominates — institutional hedging demand is elevated.
4️⃣ FlowStrength 0.66 supports meaningful conviction behind today's positioning.

⭐ One-sentence takeaway: The options market is pricing elevated downside risk for UAL.

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:

🔀 Volatility constriction, price is constrained by maker selling/support

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: UAL • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total GEX: 35.13M (Regime: Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability), Flip = 44.11M)
Max Danger Expiry: 2026-01-16 (DTE=24)
Expiry GEX: 12.63M (Contribution=36.0%)
Post-Expiry GEX: 22.5M (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 12.63M 36.0% 22.5M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2025-12-26 3 7.61M 21.7% 27.52M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-03-20 87 4.85M 13.8% 30.27M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-02-20 59 2.11M 6.0% 33.02M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-01-02 10 2.07M 5.9% 33.06M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-06-18 177 1.67M 4.8% 33.46M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-05-15 143 1.18M 3.4% 33.95M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-01-09 17 943.01K 2.7% 34.18M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2027-01-15 388 561.89K 1.6% 34.57M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-09-18 269 436.15K 1.2% 34.69M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-01-23 31 335.79K 1.0% 34.79M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-12-18 360 332.23K 0.9% 34.8M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2026-01-30 38 184.44K 0.5% 34.94M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2027-12-17 724 159.14K 0.5% 34.97M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical
2028-01-21 759 58.92K 0.2% 35.07M Gamma Flip Zone (High Trend Probability) Critical

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: UAL • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total Vanna
-9.44M
Net delta–vol sensitivity
Vanna Regime
Negative Vanna (Trend Amplifying)
Sensitivity to IV shocks
Max Danger Expiry
2026-01-16 (DTE 24)
Contribution: 56.1%
Large negative Vanna clusters increase hedging pressure during volatility spikes, amplifying directional trends.
Vanna Danger Zone Details
Symbol: UAL • Snapshot: 2025-12-23
Total Vanna: -9.44M ( Negative Vanna )
Max Danger Expiry: 2026-01-16 (DTE=24)
Expiry Vanna: -5.3M (Contribution=56.1%)
Post-Expiry Vanna: -4.14M (More Negative — Trend Risk ↑)
⚠ This expiry is CRITICAL: removal can sharply increase net negative Vanna, raising volatility sensitivity.
Expiry DTE Vanna Contrib % Post-Expiry Post Regime Tag
2026-01-16 24 -5.3M 56.1% -4.14M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑) Critical
2026-03-20 87 -1.19M 12.6% -8.25M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2025-12-26 3 -618.99K 6.6% -8.82M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2027-01-15 388 -470.33K 5.0% -8.97M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-12-18 360 -398.78K 4.2% -9.04M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-02-20 59 -339.51K 3.6% -9.1M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-06-18 177 -336.74K 3.6% -9.1M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-05-15 143 -260.95K 2.8% -9.18M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-01-02 10 -195.57K 2.1% -9.24M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-09-18 269 -142.38K 1.5% -9.3M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-01-09 17 -88.29K 0.9% -9.35M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2027-12-17 724 -70.61K 0.7% -9.37M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-01-23 31 -35.75K 0.4% -9.4M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2026-01-30 38 14.9K 0.2% -9.45M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)
2028-01-21 759 -14.3K 0.2% -9.42M More Negative (Trend Risk ↑)

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: UAL • As of 2025-12-23
30D ATM IV
44.53%
Front-end implied volatility
90D ATM IV
46.00%
Medium-term volatility anchor
IV Ratio (90D / 30D)
1.03
Long-term vs short-term IV
Term Structure Regime
Contango (Long-term Elevated)
Slope: 1.47 pts (30D→90D).

Smile Slope (Put25 – Call25)
34.86%
Downside skew / crash premium
HV 21D vs IV
HV 21D: 33.69%
IV – HV: 10.84%
Options trade richer than realized volatility.
IV Percentile / Rank
Percentile: 5.4%
Rank: 0.0%
Relative to 1-year history.
IV Z-Score
-1.80
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.

UAL 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 rising, suggesting upward pressure from options positioning.

↗️ Trend strength: Mild upward.

🔼 Recent movement: Slight upward shift in Max Pain.

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: 65.6 (moderate)
Max Pain @ 110.00 | Concentration=0.16 · Symmetry=0.97 · Sharpness=3.34
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
Overbought (Z = 1.08)
Price is trading above Max Pain, indicating overbought positioning and increasing pullback risk.
Price vs Max Pain Distance
Show Mean Reversion History
Date Price Max Pain Distance Z-Score Signal
2025-12-23 113.53 110.00 3.53 1.08 overbought
2025-12-22 116.02 108.00 8.02 2.45 overbought
2025-12-19 113.99 95.00 18.99 5.80 overbought
2025-12-18 112.85 95.00 17.85 5.45 overbought
2025-12-16 112.48 95.00 17.48 5.34 overbought
2025-12-15 107.70 95.00 12.70 3.88 overbought
2025-12-12 106.84 102.00 4.84 1.48 overbought
2025-12-11 108.39 102.00 6.39 1.95 overbought
2025-12-10 107.74 102.00 5.74 1.75 overbought
2025-12-09 105.70 100.00 5.70 1.74 overbought
2025-12-08 104.50 99.00 5.50 1.68 overbought
2025-12-05 104.95 100.00 4.95 1.51 overbought
2025-12-04 104.73 100.00 4.73 1.44 overbought
2025-12-03 108.48 99.00 9.48 2.90 overbought
2025-12-02 104.38 99.00 5.38 1.64 overbought
2025-12-01 101.12 98.00 3.12 0.95 neutral
2025-11-28 101.96 98.00 3.96 1.21 overbought
2025-11-26 101.59 96.00 5.59 1.71 overbought
2025-11-25 98.91 95.00 3.91 1.19 overbought
2025-11-24 95.62 95.00 0.62 0.19 neutral
2025-11-21 92.20 93.00 -0.80 -0.24 neutral
2025-11-20 90.05 100.00 -9.95 -3.04 oversold
2025-11-19 91.33 100.00 -8.67 -2.65 oversold
2025-11-18 91.92 100.00 -8.08 -2.47 oversold
2025-11-17 89.95 100.00 -10.05 -3.07 oversold
2025-11-14 95.03 98.00 -2.97 -0.91 neutral
2025-11-13 97.17 98.00 -0.83 -0.25 neutral
2025-11-12 99.97 98.00 1.97 0.60 neutral
2025-11-11 94.95 98.00 -3.05 -0.93 neutral
2025-11-07 97.43 97.00 0.43 0.13 neutral
2025-11-06 95.72 97.00 -1.28 -0.39 neutral
2025-11-05 96.65 97.00 -0.35 -0.11 neutral
2025-11-04 90.77 97.00 -6.23 -1.90 oversold
2025-11-03 96.11 97.00 -0.89 -0.27 neutral
2025-10-31 94.04 97.00 -2.96 -0.90 neutral
2025-10-30 93.38 97.00 -3.62 -1.11 oversold
2025-10-29 95.93 97.00 -1.07 -0.33 neutral
2025-10-28 94.94 97.00 -2.06 -0.63 neutral

Mean Reversion Backtest

Backtest Summary
Total Signals: 24 (Long: 6 · Short: 18)
1-Day Performance
Avg Return: -0.05%
Win Rate: 39.1%
3-Day Performance
Avg Return: -0.77%
Win Rate: 33.3%
Show Last 10 Trades
Date Signal Side Entry 1D Ret 3D Ret
2025-12-23 overbought short 113.53 0.00% 0.00%
2025-12-22 overbought short 116.02 2.15% 0.00%
2025-12-19 overbought short 113.99 -1.78% 0.00%
2025-12-18 overbought short 112.85 -1.01% -0.60%
2025-12-16 overbought short 112.48 -0.33% -3.15%
2025-12-15 overbought short 107.70 -4.44% -5.84%
2025-12-12 overbought short 106.84 -0.80% -5.63%
2025-12-11 overbought short 108.39 1.43% -3.77%
2025-12-10 overbought short 107.74 -0.60% 0.04%
2025-12-09 overbought short 105.70 -1.93% -1.08%

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: 40.9%
3D: 31.8%
Reversion Strength
0.00
Noise Score
0.84
Score (Win)
14.2 / 40
Score (Strength)
0.0 / 40
Score (Noise)
16.9 / 20
Historical Effectiveness Score: 31.0 (poor)
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.