ThetaOwl

INTC Flow Report

Analysis based on market close March 30, 2026

Flow Verdict

BiasBullish
Confirmation: Spot reclaiming the $42-$43 level on volume, with continued net positive premium flow.
Invalidation: Spot breaks below $38 with a surge in put volume and net premium flipping negative.
Confidence:
7 / 10
base 5; +2 for extreme call-dominant flow (P/C 0.39, net prem +$15.1M); +1 for GEX/flow alignment (trending regime supports momentum); -1 for spot below max pain ($41.17 vs $45) creating a headwind; +0 for high IV (72%) indicating elevated risk.

Watch next session: $42 strike call OI accumulation; Any defensive put flow at $38 or $35; Spot's reaction near the $42-$43 expected move boundary

Flow Summary

Net premium: +$15.1M bullish

P/C volume ratio: 0.39 — extremely call-dominant

P/C OI ratio: 0.88 — moderate put lean in positioning

Aggressive, short-dated call buying is driving a strongly bullish flow regime, despite spot trading well below the max pain level. The flow suggests a tactical bet on a near-term rally, though the high IV and negative GEX warn of potential volatility.

Notable Prints

#1
INTC 4/24/26 $42 Call
Vol: 10,469
OI: 39
Vol/OI: 268.4x
IV: 75.9%
Notional: ~$1.05M (est. $1.00 avg premium)
Intent: Fresh, aggressive directional call buying
Dual read: Bought to open (bullish) or sold short (bearish). High IV and fresh OI point strongly to a buy.

Read-through: This is the most significant single flow signal. A ~$1M+ bet on a move above $42 within ~26 days, placed with high implied volatility. This is a conviction play for a breakout.

#2
INTC 4/2/26 $41.50 Call
Vol: 1,822
OI: 56
Vol/OI: 32.5x
IV: 81.1%
Notional: ~$273K (est. $0.15 avg premium)
Intent: Near-expiry directional bet
Dual read: Likely bought for a quick move above $41.50 before Friday's close.

Read-through: Supports the immediate-term bullish thesis. Traders are targeting a move above the current spot ($41.17) within 4 days, willing to pay extreme short-dated IV.

#3
INTC 4/24/26 $43 Call
Vol: 2,091
OI: 140
Vol/OI: 14.9x
IV: 75.6%
Notional: ~$209K (est. $0.10 avg premium)
Intent: Upside extension of the $42 call bet
Dual read: Part of a bullish vertical spread with the $42C or a separate upside target.

Read-through: Extends the bullish target to $43. The clustering of activity at $42 and $43 for the 4/24 expiry forms a clear bullish strike zone.

#4
INTC 5/8/26 $36 Call
Vol: 178
OI: 1
Vol/OI: 178.0x
IV: 88.8%
Notional: ~$18K (est. $0.10 avg premium)
Intent: Deep-ITM call purchase or part of a complex spread
Dual read: Could be a synthetic long, dividend play, or a leg of a diagonal spread. The tiny OI and high IV are odd.

Read-through: Low notional value makes this noise in isolation, but the extreme IV suggests a non-standard structure, not a pure directional signal.

Institutional Positioning

Call additions: Concentrated at $42-$43 strikes for April expiries (4/2, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24). Significant premium also at $70C ($5.2M net), but this is likely legacy OI.

Put additions: Defensive put flow is minor relative to calls. Small net negative premium at $38 and $35, suggesting some hedging against a drop.

GEX/DEX consistency: Yes — Negative GEX (-$9.0M) indicates the market is in a 'trending' or pro-cyclical regime. This aligns with the bullish flow thesis, as negative GEX can amplify moves in the direction of the trend (up).

OI clusters: Major Call OI: $40C (98K), $50C (75K), $70C (75K). Major Put OI: $15P (55K), $20P (48K), $30P (47K). The $40 strike is a key magnet with massive call OI just below spot.

Hedging evidence: Minimal. The put OI is heavily concentrated at deep OTM strikes ($15, $20, $30), which look like legacy positions or tail-risk hedges, not recent protective activity. The modest put flow at $38 and $35 is the only recent hedging signal.

Max pain context: Spot ($41.17) is significantly below the near-term max pain cluster at $45. This creates a gravitational pull higher, as option writers are short calls above the spot. The flow is aggressively betting on a move toward this pain point.

Signal vs Noise

~The $70 Call and $50 Call premium flows are massive ($5.2M and $1.8M net) but are almost certainly tied to large, pre-existing open interest (75K+ OI). This is likely roll activity or adjustments on legacy positions, not new directional bets.
~Deep OTM Put OI at $15, $20, $30: This is noise for near-term direction. These are likely long-dated, cheap hedges or part of defined-risk structures from months ago.
~The $36 Call (5/8) unusual print has very low notional value (~$18K) and is an outlier in IV. It's likely a leg of a multi-leg trade (e.g., diagonal) and not a standalone directional signal.

Key Conclusions

🚀Extreme call dominance (P/C 0.39) and +$15M net premium signal a strong, tactical bullish bet.
🎯Flow targets the $42-$43 zone across April expiries, aligning with the upper bound of the near-term expected move.
⚖️Spot below max pain ($45) and negative GEX create a setup for a volatile squeeze higher if bullish momentum builds.
⚠️High IV (72%) and trending GEX regime mean moves could be sharp in either direction; stops are advised.

Read the Flow analysis for INTC for 2026-03-30. This AI-generated report covers regime classification, key price levels, strategy recommendations, and actionable trade ideas drawn from end-of-day options data including gamma exposure, delta exposure, and implied volatility.