Meta Platforms (META) Unusual Options Activity

Unusual options activity refers to order flows in the option market that stand out and are not consistent with the normal trading patterns. This could be in terms of volume, price, open interest, or a combination of these factors.

We consider unusual options activity as any option contract where the volume exceeds the open interest for that day.

Unusual options activity can be an indicator of significant upcoming events or shifts in investor sentiment. It might be related to earnings announcements, mergers, sector disruptions, or other major news. By tracking this activity, traders can gain insights into potential future stock movements.

No. While unusual options activity can provide insights into potential movements, it's not a guarantee. Many factors can influence stock prices. It's essential to incorporate a variety of data points and strategies into your trading decisions.

Date: The day the unusual option activity was observed.
Option Details: Information about the option, including the ticker, expiration date, and strike price.
Sentiment: Indicates whether the unusual activity is bullish (expecting the price to go up) or bearish (expecting the price to go down).
Type: Specifies if the option is a call (an option to buy) or a put (an option to sell).
Strike: The predetermined price at which the holder can buy (for call options) or sell (for put options) the underlying security.
Expiration: The date when the option contract expires.
Volume: Number of option contracts traded on the given date.
Open Interest: The total number of outstanding option contracts that are held by market participants.
Ratio: The ratio of the volume to open interest, giving a measure of the activity relative to the existing interest.

The sentiment column provides an insight into the general market sentiment of that particular option activity. "Bullish" indicates an expectation of the stock price increasing, while "Bearish" indicates an expectation of the stock price decreasing. A “Neutral” sentiment indicates that something unusual is happening, but we don’t have enough information to read the direction.

While the sentiment provides an indication of market mood, it doesn't guarantee stock movement in that direction. It's crucial to consider other factors and do thorough research before making trading decisions.

For Call Option: We categorize an option contract as having a "Bullish" sentiment when:

The volume surpasses the open interest, and the closing price of the contract for the day is greater than its closing price from the previous day.

This perspective is grounded in the observation that option buyers, particularly those executing "Buy to Open" orders, often contribute to a rise in the option's price. In contrast, sellers with "Sell to Open" orders tend to drive the price down.

For Put Options: We classify an option contract as having a "Bullish" sentiment when:

The volume exceeds the open interest and the closing price of the contract for the day is less than its closing price of the previous day.

This reasoning stems from the fact that, while increased buying activity generally pushes the price of a put option up (indicating a bearish sentiment for the underlying asset), a reduction in the contract's price often signals that sellers, executing "Sell to Open" orders, dominate the market, hinting at a broader bullish sentiment.

For Call Options: We categorize an option contract as having a "Bearish" sentiment when:

The volume surpasses the open interest, and the closing price of the contract for the day is less than its closing price from the previous day.

This understanding is rooted in the observation that while increased buying activity, especially from those executing "Buy to Open" orders, typically drives the option's price up, a decrease in the option's price often signals that sellers, particularly those with "Sell to Open" orders, have a stronger influence in the market, indicating a bearish sentiment for the underlying asset.

For Put Options: We classify an option contract as having a "Bearish" sentiment when:

The volume exceeds the open interest and the closing price of the contract for the day is greater than its closing price from the previous day.

This rationale arises from the fact that while selling activity usually pressures the price of a put option down (indicating a bullish sentiment for the underlying asset), an uptick in the contract's price often signifies that buyers, executing "Buy to Open" orders, are more influential, reflecting a predominant bearish sentiment in the market.

The ratio is calculated by dividing the volume of the option contracts traded by the open interest. A high ratio indicates that the unusual activity is significant compared to the existing interest in that option.

This shows that unusual activity was observed on multiple dates for the same option. The activity might differ in terms of volume, sentiment, or other factors from one date to another.

"Volume" represents the number of option contracts traded on a specific date. "Open Interest" indicates the total number of outstanding contracts. A significant increase in volume compared to open interest can indicate new interest or a significant shift in strategy among traders.

Currently our platform updates the unusual option activity once a day.

Yes. Like any other market data, option activity can be influenced by large institutional traders or other market participants. It's crucial to use this data as one of many tools in your trading strategy and not solely rely on it.

In conjunction with unusual option activity, it's beneficial to look at technical indicators, fundamentals, news, and sector trends. The more comprehensive your research, the better informed your trading decisions will be.