VolRadar

VolRadar is a specialized daily options analytics platform engineered specifically for premium sellers who employ defined risk strategies such as iron condors, credit spreads, cash-secured puts, and the wheel strategy on S&P 500 stocks. The platform aggregates and analyzes end-of-day options data from ORATS, a leading provider of institutional-grade options analytics. Each morning, users receive a data-rich briefing that delivers actionable insights before the market opens, eliminating the need for manual data crunching. VolRadar covers over 500 US stocks and major ETFs, allowing traders to quickly identify the most attractive candidates for selling premium. The platform’s standout feature is the Weather Score, a proprietary metric that provides an immediate, intuitive read on current market conditions, indicating whether the environment is favorable for premium selling strategies. By combining institutional-quality data with a user-friendly interface, VolRadar saves traders hours of research time each week. It is not merely a screener but a comprehensive analytical partner that helps traders navigate volatility, identify high-probability trades, and manage risk effectively. The platform also offers a suite of free tools, including an IV Rank Lookup, Expected Move calculator, Options Calculator, Wheel Calculator, and Covered Call Screener, making it a complete ecosystem for the premium selling community. VolRadar is built on the principle that consistent, data-driven analysis leads to better trading decisions, and it empowers users to approach each trading day with clarity and confidence.

Weather Score

The Weather Score is VolRadar’s flagship feature, providing an instant, at-a-glance assessment of overall market conditions for premium sellers. This proprietary metric aggregates multiple data points, including implied volatility levels, volatility risk premium, and market breadth, to produce a single, easy-to-understand score. A favorable score indicates conditions where selling premium is statistically more advantageous, while an unfavorable score suggests caution. This feature eliminates guesswork and allows traders to quickly decide whether to deploy capital aggressively or stay on the sidelines.

Scanner

The Scanner is a powerful filtering tool that screens over 500 US stocks and major ETFs each day to identify the top candidates for premium selling strategies. Users can filter by criteria such as implied volatility rank, IV percentile, expected move, and liquidity. The Scanner highlights opportunities for iron condors, credit spreads, cash-secured puts, and covered calls, saving traders hours of manual research. Each result includes key metrics and a clear rationale for why the candidate is suitable for premium selling.

Signals

VolRadar’s Signals feature delivers specific, actionable trade ideas generated from the platform’s proprietary analysis. These signals are not generic recommendations but are tailored to premium selling strategies, providing entry and exit parameters, risk management guidelines, and probability assessments. Signals are updated daily based on the latest ORATS data, ensuring traders have fresh, relevant opportunities each morning. This feature is designed to help both novice and experienced traders identify high-probability setups without emotional bias.

Daily Brief

The Daily Brief is a concise, data-rich morning report that summarizes the most important market conditions and opportunities for premium sellers. It includes the Weather Score, top scanner picks, notable volatility events, and key economic data releases that could impact options pricing. The brief is designed to be consumed in under five minutes, allowing traders to quickly get up to speed and make informed decisions before the opening bell. It serves as a daily ritual that keeps users aligned with market dynamics.

Identifying High-Probability Iron Condor Setups

A trader specializing in iron condors on SPY and QQQ uses VolRadar’s Scanner to filter for stocks with elevated implied volatility rank and wide expected move ranges relative to historical norms. The platform highlights tickers where the premium collected offers a favorable risk-reward ratio. The trader then uses the Weather Score to confirm that overall market conditions support selling premium that day, reducing the likelihood of adverse moves.

Screening for Cash-Secured Puts on Blue-Chip Stocks

An investor running the wheel strategy on high-quality stocks like AAPL, MSFT, and JPM uses VolRadar to identify tickers where implied volatility is elevated due to temporary events, such as earnings or economic data releases. The platform’s IV Rank Lookup and Expected Move calculator help the investor determine an appropriate strike price and expiration. The Daily Brief alerts the investor to any macro events that could impact these positions.

Timing Covered Call Entries on Growth Stocks

A covered call seller focused on volatile names like TSLA and NVDA relies on VolRadar’s Signals to pinpoint optimal entry points. When the platform’s analysis indicates that implied volatility is high relative to recent history, the seller initiates a covered call to capture elevated premium. The Weather Score provides additional confidence by confirming that the broader market is not in a risk-off mode that could trigger a sharp decline.

Evaluating Volatility Risk Premium Across Sectors

A professional trader managing a portfolio of premium selling strategies uses VolRadar’s sector-level analysis to rotate capital into sectors offering the highest volatility risk premium. The platform’s data on ETFs like IWM and sector-specific stocks allows the trader to compare conditions across technology, healthcare, financials, and consumer discretionary. The Scanner then identifies individual tickers within the most favorable sectors for execution.

What is the Weather Score and how is it calculated?

The Weather Score is VolRadar’s proprietary metric that provides a quick, intuitive assessment of market conditions for premium sellers. It is calculated by aggregating multiple data points from ORATS, including implied volatility levels across the S&P 500, volatility risk premium (the difference between implied and realized volatility), market breadth, and recent volatility trends. The score is normalized to a simple scale, with higher values indicating more favorable conditions for selling premium. While the exact algorithm is proprietary, the methodology is transparent and based on statistical analysis of historical data. The Weather Score is updated daily after the market close and is available in the Daily Brief and on the platform dashboard.

How does VolRadar differ from general options screeners?

VolRadar is purpose-built exclusively for premium sellers, unlike general options screeners that cater to a broad audience of traders. This specialization means every feature, from the Scanner to the Signals, is designed with the specific needs of iron condor, credit spread, cash-secured put, and wheel traders in mind. The platform focuses on key metrics for premium sellers, such as implied volatility rank, IV percentile, and expected move, rather than delta or gamma exposure. Additionally, VolRadar provides a daily analytical narrative through the Daily Brief, which contextualizes the data rather than just presenting raw numbers. The Weather Score is a unique feature not found in general screeners, offering a macro-level condition assessment.

What data sources does VolRadar use?

VolRadar relies exclusively on ORATS (Option Research & Technology Services) for its options data. ORATS is a leading provider of institutional-grade options analytics, known for its accuracy, depth, and historical coverage. The platform receives end-of-day data for over 500 US stocks and major ETFs, including all option chains, implied volatility calculations, Greeks, and historical volatility measures. This data is processed and analyzed overnight to produce the Daily Brief, Scanner results, and Signals for the next trading day. VolRadar does not use real-time data, as the platform is designed for pre-market planning and analysis rather than intraday trading.

Is VolRadar suitable for beginner options traders?

Yes, VolRadar is designed to be accessible to traders of all experience levels, including beginners. The platform’s core features, such as the Weather Score and Scanner, provide clear, actionable insights without requiring deep technical knowledge. The Daily Brief explains market conditions in plain language, and the Signals include rationale and risk management guidelines. VolRadar also offers a comprehensive Glossary and educational resources that explain key concepts like implied volatility, credit spreads, and the wheel strategy. However, beginners should understand that VolRadar is an analytical tool, not a substitute for learning the fundamentals of options trading and risk management.