Primary read
Bullish
Call-side pressure
Ticker Options Intelligence
IQV options intelligence
IQVIA Holdings Inc options pressure, expected move, strike concentration, and Sharemaestro trend context.
Conviction
41
Market data through 31 Jul 2026
Checked 2 Aug 2026 07:34 · complete available chain
Call-side pressure
Bullish pressure
IQV currently carries bullish options pressure with a 41/100 conviction score. The nearest-chain expected move is 7.3%, with volume/open-interest participation at 0.03.
Expected move
7.3%
Wider near-term move priced
Activity / OI
0.03
Current volume is quieter versus prior open interest
Put-call
0.33
Call-side skew
Trend fit
18
Options are not fully confirming trend
Weekly backdrop
+13.0%
RS 10.1
Expected move
7.3%
Put-call volume
0.33
Volume / OI
0.03
Reference IV
0.38
Max pain
200.00
Underlying
235.02
Nearest expiry
21 Aug 2026
Contracts
454
Research Brief
IQV has a bullish chain read with 41/100 evidence alignment.
The practical question is whether the underlying confirms the options concentration. The chain prices a reference range of 217.82–252.22; The largest call open-interest concentration is 220.00; the largest put concentration is 150.00. The most active strike by current volume is 210.00.
Priced range217.82–252.22
Call concentration220.00
Put concentration150.00
Max pain reference200.00
- Price holds or improves while call-side concentration remains elevated.
- Price weakens while call pressure fades or reverses toward puts.
- Options and the weekly trend are not yet giving the same message.
Priced Move
Where the chain says movement becomes exceptional
Options imply 217.82 to 252.22. Max pain at 200.00 lies outside the priced range, so it is a weak near-term anchor.
Spot
Max pain
217.82235.02 ± 17.20252.22
Confirmation level
A close beyond 252.22 or below 217.82 at the 21 Aug expiry would exceed the move currently priced by this chain.
Important limitation
The range is a pricing reference, not a forecast; volatility can reprice sharply after news or as expiry approaches.
Score Construction
Why conviction is 41/100
Pressure is 52/100 toward calls; conviction uses its strength, while the signal label carries its direction.
Directional pressure52 × 42%
+21.8
How strongly activity leans toward calls or puts.
Participation41 × 22%
+9.0
Volume relative to existing open interest and contract-level activity.
Trend agreement18 × 26%
+4.8
How closely the chain read agrees with the underlying trend backdrop.
Volatility56 × 10%
+5.6
The intensity of implied volatility and the priced move.
Positioning by Strike
Where open interest and current activity concentrate
The largest call open-interest concentration is 220.00; the largest put concentration is 150.00. The most active strike by current volume is 210.00. Open-interest concentrations show where positions exist; they are not proven support, resistance or dealer exposure.
Put open interestStrikeCall open interest
143
135.00-42.6%
5
719
150.00-36.2%
17
666
160.00-31.9%
7
561
165.00-29.8%
25
593
170.00-27.7%
30
324
175.00-25.5%
27
663
180.00-23.4%
297
56
185.00-21.3%
238
49
190.00-19.2%
139
297
195.00-17.0%
99
315
200.00-14.9%
254
87
210.00-10.6%
673
89
220.00-6.4%
1065
343
230.00-2.1%
866
64
240.002.1%
534
51
250.006.4%
544
3
270.0014.9%
449
Nearest spot strike Max pain strikeBars show relative OI within this expiry
Volatility Curve
Balanced volatility curve
Near- and longer-dated implied volatility are broadly aligned; no exceptional front-expiry premium is visible.
0.38
21 Aug
21d
0.39
18 Sep
49d
0.43
20 Nov
112d
0.42
15 Jan
168d
0.43
19 Feb
203d
0.44
21 Jan
539d
Volatility by Strike
Balanced wings
Comparable upside calls and downside puts carry broadly similar implied volatility.
190
195
200
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
Put IV Call IV
Historical Replay
How matured reads behaved through expiry
Forward validation is building. The earliest eligible stored read expires 21 Aug 2026; its result will appear after the matched closing reference is stored.
Directional follow-through-
Moves contained by pricing-
Average expiry move-
Validation readiness
- Versioned calculationv2 observations only
- Independent entryone read per market session
- Point-in-time referencerequired at entry
- Matched expiry closereported only after maturity
Only v2 snapshots with a point-in-time market reference are eligible. Each observation uses one read per market session and the first weekly close on or immediately after expiry. It is an evidence audit, not an executable strategy or evidence of future performance.
Evidence Quality
High
Retained chain100%
Implied volatility100%
Two-sided quotes100%
Open interest100%
- Chain status
- Complete available chain
- Market date
- 31 Jul 2026
- Calculation
- v2.0
- Contracts
- 454 / 454
- No material coverage gap was detected in the retained chain.
Aggregate chain data supports concentration, participation and pricing analysis. It does not identify trade aggressor, opening versus closing activity, multi-leg intent or dealer inventory.
Options Intent Radar
Multi-expiry position-maintenance candidate
Activity is spread across expirations with heavier open interest than current volume, which can be consistent with position maintenance.
Options pressure and weekly price action are pointing in the same constructive direction.
Multi-expiry position-maintenance candidate matters because it connects the options headline to the actual evidence: $541462 of estimated gross traded notional, calls · 91+ days · otm, and a bullish flow confirms price backdrop. Use it as a research priority signal, then validate the chart, liquidity, event calendar, and risk before acting.
Options pressure+52
1W price+13.0%
Call premium81%
Put premium19%
Notional split
C 81% / P 19%
Estimated gross traded notional uses volume × contract multiplier × midpoint, or last price when no valid midpoint is available.
Freshness
0.03
Volume divided by open interest across the visible chain.
Trend fit
18/100
Agreement between options pressure and Sharemaestro market context.
Aggregate chain data does not identify trade aggressor or opening versus closing activity; call/put concentration is not proof of market direction.
Roll detection is conservative because opening and closing legs are not directly observable in this snapshot.
Calls · 91+ days · OTM
calls cluster with 57 contracts traded, $165225 estimated gross traded notional, and 31% of visible notional.
$165225
Calls · 46-90 days · OTM
calls cluster with 270 contracts traded, $149435 estimated gross traded notional, and 28% of visible notional.
$149435
Calls · 8-21 days · ITM
calls cluster with 20 contracts traded, $55380 estimated gross traded notional, and 10% of visible notional.
$55380
Puts · 91+ days · ITM
puts cluster with 13 contracts traded, $49955 estimated gross traded notional, and 9% of visible notional.
$49955
Calls · 91+ days · ATM
calls cluster with 10 contracts traded, $30990 estimated gross traded notional, and 6% of visible notional.
$30990
Setup Classification
Opportunity and risk frame
The tape is pricing or displaying unusually elevated activity.
Expected move or upcoming earnings makes the setup more event-sensitive.
Options positioning is not confirming the underlying trend context.
Activity Anomaly
Warming up
3 of 10 completed market sessions are available. More session history is needed before activity can be compared with a reliable normal.
Baseline: 3 completed sessions
Volume rank-
Volume/OI rank-
IV rank-
Market Context
Underlying confirmation
Close235.02
1W+13.0%
RS10.1
Fair value+15.7%
Options pressure52
Speculation41
Volatility56
Trend fit18
Today Versus Normal
Stored-options context
30d avg - · 3/10 sessions
-
90d avg - · 3/30 sessions
-
180d avg - · 3/60 sessions
-
30d avg - · 3/10 sessions
-
90d avg - · 3/30 sessions
-
180d avg - · 3/60 sessions
-
30d avg - · 3/10 sessions
-
90d avg - · 3/30 sessions
-
180d avg - · 3/60 sessions
-
30d avg - · 3/10 sessions
-
90d avg - · 3/30 sessions
-
180d avg - · 3/60 sessions
-
Pressure Trail
Recent pressure and volatility
29 Jul 10:14
Bullish
Pressure 49
Move 17.8%
30 Jul 10:10
Bullish
Pressure 31
Move 19.5%
31 Jul 10:04
Mixed
Pressure 11
Move 15.2%
1 Aug 00:17
Volatility
Pressure -28
Move 13.9%
1 Aug 10:34
Bullish
Pressure 52
Move 13.9%
2 Aug 06:34
Bullish
Pressure 52
Move 7.3%
Strike Map
Where activity is clustering
Strike90.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 1
Puts · V 0 · OI 7
Strike95.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 1
Puts · V 0 · OI 0
Strike100.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 0
Puts · V 0 · OI 0
Strike105.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 5
Puts · V 0 · OI 1
Strike110.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 11
Puts · V 0 · OI 3
Strike115.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 0
Puts · V 0 · OI 10
Strike120.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 0
Puts · V 0 · OI 6
Strike125.00
Calls · V 0 · OI 0
Puts · V 0 · OI 1
Term Structure
Expiration activity
Expiry21 Aug 2026
Contracts78
Avg IV0.38
Put-call0.84
Expiry18 Sep 2026
Contracts60
Avg IV0.39
Put-call0.24
Expiry20 Nov 2026
Contracts80
Avg IV0.43
Put-call-
Expiry15 Jan 2027
Contracts80
Avg IV0.42
Put-call0.74
Expiry19 Feb 2027
Contracts76
Avg IV0.43
Put-call-
Skew
Call/put IV balance
21 Aug 2026Balanced skew
Call IV0.38
Put IV0.40
Skew0.02
18 Sep 2026Balanced skew
Call IV0.38
Put IV0.40
Skew0.02
20 Nov 2026Balanced skew
Call IV0.41
Put IV0.44
Skew0.04
15 Jan 2027Balanced skew
Call IV0.39
Put IV0.43
Skew0.05
19 Feb 2027Balanced skew
Call IV0.41
Put IV0.43
Skew0.03
Contract Tape
Most active contracts
ContractIQV260918C00260000
SideCall
Expiry18 Sep 2026
Strike260.00
Volume198
OI125
IV0.38
ContractIQV260918C00250000
SideCall
Expiry18 Sep 2026
Strike250.00
Volume66
OI128
IV0.38
ContractIQV260918P00210000
SidePut
Expiry18 Sep 2026
Strike210.00
Volume24
OI13
IV0.41
ContractIQV260918P00220000
SidePut
Expiry18 Sep 2026
Strike220.00
Volume19
OI2
IV0.40
ContractIQV260821P00220000
SidePut
Expiry21 Aug 2026
Strike220.00
Volume18
OI89
IV0.40
ContractIQV260821C00210000
SideCall
Expiry21 Aug 2026
Strike210.00
Volume17
OI673
IV0.44
ContractIQV260918P00200000
SidePut
Expiry18 Sep 2026
Strike200.00
Volume15
OI12
IV0.42
ContractIQV260821C00260000
SideCall
Expiry21 Aug 2026
Strike260.00
Volume14
OI120
IV0.41
Research Graph
Related research and context
Sharemaestro research
Related News
No recent ticker-specific news yet.
Market Watch
No recent market-watch posts yet.
Earnings
No upcoming matched earnings event.
Plain English Guide
Options context
What usually looks constructive
What usually looks cautious
Options can move quickly and can lose value fast. Treat this as research context, not a buy or sell instruction.