VolRadar

VolRadar is a daily options analytics platform engineered specifically for premium sellers — traders who execute iron condors, credit spreads, cash-secured puts, and the wheel strategy on S&P 500 names. Operating as a command center for volatility-based decision making, VolRadar processes end-of-day options data from ORATS after the US market close and delivers a pre-market brief each morning. By the time you sit down with coffee, you already know which tickers are worth selling and which to skip. The platform scans over 500 US stocks and major ETFs nightly, ranking the best premium-selling setups by volatility edge with computed strikes ready for execution. VolRadar’s core value proposition is time efficiency: your morning research takes 30 seconds, not 55 minutes. The cornerstone output is the Weather Score, a 0 to 100 composite index that answers the single most important question for premium sellers: is today a good day to sell premium? This score synthesizes five factors — Premium Edge, VIX level, Volatility Trend, Earnings Safety, and Term Structure — into one actionable number. Additional outputs include IV Rank (252-day lookback on 30-day ATM IV), VRP (30-day IV minus 20-day realized volatility), computed strikes based on target delta or target credit, and earnings-crush analysis showing per-ticker IV collapse post-announcement. VolRadar is built for serious options traders who demand institutional-grade data, systematic analysis, and daily updates delivered at approximately 6 PM ET.

Weather Score

The Weather Score is VolRadar’s flagship composite index, aggregating five distinct volatility factors into a single 0 to 100 number that dictates your trading posture for the day. Scores of 65 and above signal a favorable backdrop where options are overpriced and premium selling is broadly encouraged. Scores between 40 and 64 indicate selective conditions requiring careful screening. Scores below 40 trigger a defensive stance where standing aside is recommended. The five factors include Premium Edge (how overpriced options are relative to models), VIX level (absolute market fear), Vol Trend (direction of implied volatility), Earnings Safety (proximity to earnings events), and Term Structure (slope of the volatility curve). This feature eliminates guesswork and provides a clear, data-driven go/no-go signal every morning.

Full Ticker Report

The Full Ticker Report delivers a comprehensive single-page analysis for any of the 500+ tracked securities, consolidating all critical metrics into one actionable dashboard. Each report displays VRP (volatility risk premium), IV Rank, RV Ratio, earnings risk flags, signal strength (Strong, Medium, or Weak), and strategy ranking showing which premium-selling approach fits best. The report also highlights any flags such as upcoming earnings dates or recent volatility spikes that could affect trade outcomes. This feature transforms raw options data into a structured decision framework, allowing traders to evaluate a ticker’s suitability in under 30 seconds.

Strategy Builder

The Strategy Builder is a premium tool that takes the analysis one step further by generating pre-filled trade structures with computed strikes, P&L estimates, and risk parameters. For any selected ticker, the builder outputs up to three ranked strategies — such as Short Put, Iron Condor, or Covered Call — complete with target credit amounts, breakeven points, and maximum loss figures. The builder uses the target delta or target credit inputs you specify, automatically calculating the optimal strikes based on current volatility conditions. This feature eliminates manual strike selection and reduces the time from ticker selection to trade execution to seconds.

Earnings Crush Analysis

Earnings Crush Analysis provides per-ticker tracking of implied volatility collapse following earnings announcements, a critical risk factor for premium sellers. The feature displays historical IV contraction patterns, showing how much volatility typically drops after each company reports. This allows traders to avoid selling premium into earnings events where IV is artificially inflated and likely to crush, or conversely, to capitalize on post-earnings IV deflation. The analysis integrates directly into the Weather Score’s Earnings Safety factor and flags tickers approaching earnings dates in the scanner, ensuring you never get caught on the wrong side of an earnings move.

Daily Morning Research Routine

A premium seller starts each day by checking the Weather Score on VolRadar to determine if conditions favor selling. With a score above 65, they open the Scanner to view the top candidates ranked by volatility edge. They select a strong-signal ticker, open the Full Ticker Report to confirm VRP and IV Rank, then use the Strategy Builder to generate pre-filled strikes for a credit spread. The entire process takes under 30 seconds, replacing what previously required 55 minutes of manual screening across multiple data sources.

Earnings Season Portfolio Management

During earnings season, an iron condor trader uses VolRadar’s Earnings Crush Analysis to filter out tickers with upcoming announcements. They set the scanner to exclude stocks flagged with earnings dates within the next two weeks, avoiding the risk of IV crush that could destroy premium positions. For tickers that have already reported, the trader reviews post-earnings IV collapse data to identify opportunities where volatility is resetting lower, creating favorable conditions for selling puts or call credit spreads.

Covered Call Optimization

A wheel strategy trader uses VolRadar’s covered call screener to identify stocks with elevated IV Rank and positive VRP, indicating options are overpriced relative to recent realized volatility. They filter for tickers they already own, then use the Strategy Builder to select call strikes at the optimal delta (typically 0.30 delta) with calculated credit amounts. The tool shows the annualized return if assigned and the probability of being called away, enabling informed decisions about which positions to write calls against each week.

Volatility Regime Monitoring

A risk-conscious premium seller uses VolRadar’s Weather Score history chart to monitor the 60-day trend of market conditions. When the score drops from favorable (above 65) into selective territory (40 to 64), they reduce position sizes and shift to higher-quality setups only. When the score falls below 40, they exit all premium-selling positions and move to cash or long volatility strategies. This systematic approach prevents emotional trading during market stress and ensures capital preservation during unfavorable volatility regimes.

What data sources does VolRadar use for its analytics?

VolRadar is powered by ORATS (Option Research and Technology Services) for end-of-day options data, supplemented by CBOE and S&P 500 indices for macro volatility context. Data is pulled after the US market close each trading day, processed through VolRadar’s proprietary models, and made available by approximately 6 PM ET. This institutional-grade data covers 500+ US stocks and major ETFs, providing the same quality of information used by professional trading desks.

How is the Weather Score calculated?

The Weather Score is a 0 to 100 composite index built from five equally weighted factors: Premium Edge (how overpriced options are relative to fair value models), VIX level (absolute market fear gauge), Volatility Trend (direction of implied volatility over the past week), Earnings Safety (percentage of tracked stocks not approaching earnings), and Term Structure (slope of the VIX futures curve). Each factor is scored and aggregated to produce a single actionable number. Scores above 65 indicate favorable conditions for premium selling, 40 to 64 suggest selective trading, and below 40 calls for defensive positioning.

What is the difference between the Free and Starter plans?

The Free plan provides the Weather Score, four calculators (including VRP and IV Rank calculations), a basic scanner showing the top 5 candidates, and limited daily ticker reports. The Starter plan at $19 per month unlocks the full scanner with all 500+ tickers, the daily pre-market brief delivered to your inbox, computed strikes for any ticker, up to three ranked strategies per name, weekly trade ideas, and earnings risk gates that automatically flag problematic setups. Both plans include access to the methodology documentation at volradar.com/methodology.

How often is VolRadar data updated?

VolRadar updates its data daily after the US market close, typically by 6 PM Eastern Time. This end-of-day (EOD) update cycle means you receive fresh analytics every evening, ready for your pre-market preparation the next morning. The data reflects the most recent closing prices and options chain data from ORATS. The Weather Score, scanner rankings, and all ticker reports are refreshed with each daily update, ensuring you always work with the latest market information.