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INTC

Intel CorporationClose $68.50EOD only
Max Pain
$51.00
Next expiry Apr 17, 2026
Expected Move
±$1.98
2.9% from close
Price Gap
-17.50
Distance to max pain
IV Rank
100
High premium
P/C OI
0.98
Balanced positioning
Consensus
6.5/10
Bullish tilt
Published snapshot: Apr 16, 2026 close
End-of-day snapshot

This page reflects INTC options positioning from the latest published market-close snapshot. Intraday price and contract changes are not displayed.

Published Snapshot
Apr 16, 2026 close
INTC Earnings Report
Analysis based on market close April 17, 2026
DirectionalTheta GangFlowEarningsConsensus

Historical consensus-supported lens with full content, report chain context, and metric rail.

Earnings Verdict

Bullish bias into earnings with pinning mechanics and strong call-side flow; elevated IV but significant post-print crush expected.

Confidence:
8 / 10
base 5; +2 GEX/flow strongly aligned; +1 GEX positive (pinning); -1 spot 30.5% from MP; +1 VIX 17; override: Flow, GEX and historical beat-rate align; spot elevated vs MP
Most important: Flow/GEX alignment around $69–71 max pain and concentrated short-dated put/call prints
📈GEX and flow strongly bullish, supports pinning near $69–71.
⚠️Very high near-term IV on certain strikes; expect sharp post-earnings crush.
🔎75% historical beat rate biases upside but not guaranteed; monitor prints.

Regime Classification

Vol Regime
High
Gamma Regime
Pinning
Flow Regime
Bullish
Spot vs MP
Above

Earnings Overview

Next earnings: 2026-04-23 (6 days)explicit

Expected moves:

  • 2026-04-24 (7d): ±$7.65 (11.2%)
  • 2026-05-01 (14d): ±$9.10 (13.3%)
  • 2026-05-08 (21d): ±$5.40 (7.9%)

IV Setup

Term structure: Near-term IV elevated into earnings (1w–2w peaks; front-week much higher than longer DTE).

Crush estimate: Large near-term IV crush likely post-earnings (material repricing on 1w–2w expiries).

Skew: Put skew concentrated ~66–69 for 04/24–05/01 expiries; calls active further out (~$90 Jul).

Historical Context

Beat rate: 75% (3/4 quarters)

Avg move vs expected: Historical moves have tended to be in-line-to-above model; 75% beat rate supports asymmetric upside risk.

Directional bias: Slight bullish tilt historically, consistent with recent GEX/flow.

Key Levels

1EM guardrails: 1w $60.85/$76.15
2Max pain pins: $52 (2026-04-17); $56 (2026-04-24); $55 (2026-05-01)

Flow Highlights

Large short-dated put/call volume at 68–71 strikes (4/17 prints).

Pinning risk near $69–71 intraday; gamma elevated.

Unusual put prints 04/24–05/01 at 66–69 with high IV.

Hedging or directional protective flow pushing short-term put skew.

Big call flows into Jul $90.

Longer-term upside exposure from flow players.

Strategies

May 1 $70/$75 bull call spread
Buy 2026-05-01 $70.00/$75.00 call spread
Debit: $1.48-$1.80
Max loss: $1.80
Max gain: $3.20
BE: $71.80
Trigger: Enter near bottom of entry range; trim or roll after a strong gap up or if price pins at max pain; keep size small vs portfolio.
Balances upside exposure with limited premium into heavy post-print IV crush and aligns with call-side flow/GEX near $69–$71.
Outperforms: Participate in upside while capping loss; cheaper than straight calls and less sensitive to front-week IV collapse.
Underperforms: Loss of support weakens upside continuation thesis.
Front-week $67P / $71C strangle
Buy 2026-04-24 $67.00 put + buy $71.00 call
Debit: $5.28-$6.45
Max loss: $6.45
Max gain: Unlimited
BE: 60.55 / 77.45
Trigger: Buy day of print; take profits on >50% move or cut if underlying stays near $69–$71 into close.
Lower cost than ATM straddle but captures sizable gaps either way with elevated front-week IV.
Outperforms: Trades a directional move while reducing premium paid vs ATM; still exposed to IV crush if move small.
Underperforms: Insufficient realized move reduces long-strangle edge.
ATM April 24 $69 straddle
Buy 2026-04-24 $69.00 put + buy $69.00 call
Debit: $6.91-$8.44
Max loss: $8.44
Max gain: Unlimited
BE: 60.56 / 77.44
Trigger: Use tight position sizing; exit into first big gap or pre-set loss given severe post-print IV decay.
Max symmetric exposure to a large surprise; highest vega and cost so biggest crush risk.
Outperforms: Pure volatility play for a gap/whipsaw around earnings.
Underperforms: Under-realized move and IV crush hurt long-vol thesis.

Risk Assessment

!Post-earnings IV crush may erase premium fast
!Pinning can lead to intraday squeezes near max pain levels
!Spot ~30% above MP increases gap/down risk if surprise weak

What to Watch

?04/24–05/01 short-dated IV moves and bid/ask widening
?Max pain pins at $69–71 and intraday stickiness there
?Unusual print follow-through size vs open interest

Read the Earnings analysis for INTC for 2026-04-17. Each report is a market-close snapshot with regime read, key levels, and strategy context that translates options positioning into an actionable setup.