ThetaOwl

NFLX

Netflix, Inc.Close $103.01EOD only
Max Pain
$92.00
Next expiry Apr 17, 2026
Expected Move
±$6.95
6.8% from close
Price Gap
-11.01
Distance to max pain
IV Rank
56
Middle-high premium
P/C OI
0.90
Slightly call-heavy
Consensus
6.0/10
Range bias
Published snapshot: Apr 10, 2026 close
End-of-day snapshot

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

Published Snapshot
Apr 10, 2026 close
NFLX Directional Report
Analysis based on market close April 8, 2026

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

You are viewing an older report from April 8, 2026. A newer directional report is available for April 10, 2026.

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Outlook

Neutral-to-slightly-bullish with upside magnet to the $100/$101 pin cluster; Confidence: 8.0/10 (base). Strongest supports: large positive GEX (+$234.2M) concentrated at $100–$102, net premium inflow +$45.4M, and max pain near $97 short-term; conflict: elevated ATM mid-term IV (9d ATM 58.3%) and upcoming earnings 2026-04-16 that can widen range.

Confidence:
8 / 10
Base 8.0/10 provided; supported by concentrated positive GEX at $100-$102 (+$46.4M/$16.4M/$9.3M) pinning spot and net premium +$45.4M; no override — earnings priced into 9d IV but pin/GEX dominate short-term.
Supports: GEX +$234.2M with concentrated +$46.4M at $100; net premium +$45.4M; max pain $97 (4/10) near EM lower bound
Conflicts: 9d ATM IV 58.3% (event-pickup ahead of 4/16), Avg IV 49.9% higher than very short-dated 37.7% (2d), and mixed flow prints (large call flow at $100)
📌Pinning: GEX +$46.4M at $100 is the dominant short-term magnet (spot $99.39).
🕰️Event: 9d IV 58.3% signals earnings-driven skew into 4/16 — expect realised vol > 2d EM.
🧭Max pain trend falling (97→95) suggests slowly lower MP over expirations, but near-term pins concentrated at $100-$101 create a sticky zone.

Regime Classification

Vol Regime
Normal
Vol: 'Normal' overall but term structure shows a sharp 9d ATM IV spike to 58.3% versus 2d 37.7% — short-term event premium into earnings.
Gamma Regime
Pinning
Gamma: 'Pinning' — large positive GEX +$234.2M with concentrated NTM gamma at $100 (+$46.4M) and $101/$102 supports mean-reversion into those strikes.
Flow Regime
Mixed
Flow: 'Mixed' — net premium +$45.4M and P/C vol 0.94 slightly call-biased; large call flow at $100 and structural call OI wall $105-$125.
Spot vs Max Pain
Above
Spot above max pain (spot $99.39 vs MP $97 on 4/10) but within EM; Dealers bias to hedge calls near $100 creating upside pin.
Thesis duration: Multi-week — Pinning and GEX concentration persist across next expirations (significant OI at $100–$105 across expiries) and MP trend shifts slowly; prefer 30-45 DTE for primary trades with weeklies for tactical overlays.

Price Range Forecast

Next 2 days
$97.20$101.58
Sustained dealer hedging at $100 (+$46.4M) will pull spot toward $100 unless a >~2.2% move breaks EM bounds.
Next 1 week
$92.14$106.64
Earnings fear (9d IV 58.3%) can expand range; break above $106.64 or below $92.14 requires strong directional flow or earnings surprise.
Next 2 weeks
$91.36$107.41
If pin holds and earnings are muted, expect mean-reversion toward $95–$100; volatility crush after earnings would compress IV and favor premium sellers.

Key Levels

Max pain pins: $97 (2026-04-10); $92 (2026-04-17); $95 (2026-04-24)
EM guardrails: 2d $97.20/$101.58; 1w $92.14/$106.64
Support: $97.00 · $95.00 · $92.00
Resistance: $100.00 · $101.00 · $105.00
Gamma flip: ~$73.00Approx — based on put OI concentration of 48,184 (26.6% below spot)
Structural: Structural call OI wall from $105–$125 caps larger rallies; gamma flip/put floor at ~$73 is distant (structural hedge zone).

Dealer Positioning (GEX/DEX)

GEX: $+234.2M

DEX: +143.3M shares

Gamma flip: ~$73 (Approx — based on put OI concentration of 48,184 (26.6% below spot))

NTM gamma: Near-term NTM gamma concentrated at $100 (+$46.4M), $101 (+$16.4M) and $102 (+$9.3M) — dealers will buy Delta if spot rallies above these and sell Delta on declines; if spot moves -2% (~$97.4) dealers reduce long-delta hedges, accelerating downside; if +2% (~$101.4) dealers buy more delta, creating an upside magnet into $101-$102 cluster.

IV Analysis

IV vs VIX: Avg IV 49.9% is elevated vs typical index vol but consistent with stock-specific; 2d ATM IV 37.7% is cheap vs 9d 58.3% (earnings-driven).

Term structure: Front-month kink: 2d 37.7% → 9d 58.3% → 16d 48.9% — clear earnings/near-term event premium at the 9d node (4/17).

Skew: Skew: calls heavy OI at $100/$105 while puts concentrated deep ($73) — opportunity to sell short-dated post-earnings IV (sell 9d premium) or sell stouter mid-term calls against long dated protection; a mispriced play: sell 9d ATM into elevated IV and buy 30–45d (e.g., sell 4/17 ATM IV~58.3%, buy 5/22 ATM IV~40.9% — ~17.4 vol-pt edge).

Flow Analysis

Net premium: + $45.4M bullish net premium; P/C vol 0.94 (~balanced)

Directional prints: 38 call 100 OTM 2026-04-10 — Large flow: 36,100 vol vs OI 16,471 at $100 call exp 4/10 — could be buys (driving OI) or sellers rolling; interpretation: more consistent with call buys increasing dealer hedges and pinning to $100. 34.5 put 100 ITM 2026-04-10 — Active puts: 5,173 vol vs OI 1,284 at $100 put exp 4/10 — likely hedging/sell-to-open protection pre-earnings; both prints point to heavy structural interest at $100.

Unusual: 40.9 call 100 OTM 2026-05-22 — 5/22 $100 call OI 103 vol 507 (4.9x) — institutional positioning in longer-dated upside exposure.

Risks & Catalysts

!Earnings 2026-04-16 increasing realized vol around 4/17 (9d IV 58.3%)
!Gamma flip at ~$73 is far but low-prob tail; a large downside gap removes pinning and accelerates selling
!MP shift lower over expirations (97→95) could gradually bias dealers to the downside if flow flips
!IV crush post-earnings could hurt buyers of short-dated vol but favor sellers who wait

Strategy Viability

StrategyEdgeBest SetupPrimary Risk
Long stockModerate-WeakBuy shares at market (spot $99.39)Earnings volatility and MP below spot; capital intensive
Short stockWeakShort shares at marketStrong positive GEX creates mean-reversion and dealer delta buys into rallies
Covered callModerateBuy stock + sell 2026-05-22 105 call (sell higher-term call against stock)Capped upside by call OI wall at 105–125; earnings drawdown before covered leg expires
Cash-secured put (CSP)Moderate-StrongSell 2026-05-22 $95 put (CSP)If earnings cause gap below $92 support, assignment risk
Long calls (directional)Moderate-WeakBuy 2026-05-22 $105 callHigh theta and IV; expensive vs nearer-dated hedges
Long puts / bear put spreadModerateBuy 2026-04-17 $95 put, sell $90 put (bear put spread)Short-dated; elevated 9d IV inflates debit; limited if pin holds above $97
Iron condorModerate-StrongSell 2026-04-10 $95/$92 put spread + sell $101/$104 call spread (defined-risk condor around pin)Earnings-led gap outside wings; sell premium into concentrated GEX (benefit) but risky if IV spikes further
Calendar / diagonal (sell high-IV near, buy longer)StrongSell 2026-04-17 $100 call (ATM, IV~58.3%), buy 2026-05-22 $100 call (IV~40.9%) — regular calendarGamma into earnings; capture vol roll-down; risk if directional move >EM before decay
PMCC / LEAPS diagonalModerate-StrongBuy 2026-12-18 $85 LEAP call, sell 2026-05-22 $105 call (covered diagonal)Requires capital and management; benefits from selling nearer-term elevated IV vs longer-term cheaper IV
Put spread (short put spread)Moderate-StrongSell 2026-05-22 $95/$90 put spreadPin at $100 helps collect premium; downside breach below $92 invalidates thesis

Top Plays

#1
Sell 100 calendar (sell short-high IV, buy longer)
Sell 2026-04-17 $100 call, Buy 2026-05-22 $100 call
Sell elevated 9d IV (58.3%) against cheaper 30d+ (40.9%) — ~17.4 vol-pt edge; plays to pin and expected IV roll-down after earnings.
Max loss: Margin-dependent (directional gamma risk)
Mgmt: Take 50–70% of max credit if spot moves >1.5% away from $100 or IV re-rises; hedge by buying short-dated OTM call if rally threatens >$104.
Premium sellers looking to play mean-reversion and vol roll-down
#2
Sell 95/90 put spread (30–45 DTE)
Sell 2026-05-22 $95/$90 put spread
Defined-risk premium with MP support at $97 and GEX pinning to $100; collects premium while avoiding assignment risk short-term.
Credit: $0.40-$0.75
Max loss: $450.00
BE: $94.60
Mgmt: Take profit at 40–60% of max credit; cut at 1.5x debit or if spot closes below $92 for two sessions.
Accounts wanting defined risk bullish-to-neutral exposure
#3
Short iron condor around pin (weekly tactical)
Sell 2026-04-10 $95/$92 put spread and sell $101/$104 call spread
Exploits concentrated positive GEX and short 2d EM (±$2.19); high edge if no earnings surprise and pin holds to $100.
Credit: $0.60-$1.20
Max loss: $2800.00
Mgmt: Take 50–70% profit if premium decays quickly; exit if spot breaks EM bounds ($97.20 or $101.58) with volume.
Traders tactical into expiry comfortable with weeklies

Watchlist Triggers

Entry Triggers
IFIf spot tags $100.00 and holds for 30 minutesSell 2026-04-17 $100 call and buy 2026-05-22 $100 call (sell calendar)
IFIf spot retraces to $95.00 and shows support (10-min hold)Sell 2026-05-22 $95/$90 put spread
IFIf spot within $99.00–$101.00 before 2026-04-10 openSell 2026-04-10 $95/$92 put spread + sell $101/$104 call spread (short iron condor)
Adjustment Triggers
ADJIf spot rallies above $104.00 for two consecutive 30-min barsBuy back short 101/104 call spread and roll sold 100 call in calendars to 101 short near-term or buy protective calls 105+ (e.g., 105 5/22)
ADJIf IV (9d) > 65% or expected move exceeds $8.00Trim short-dated short premium (close iron condor / calendars) and shift to longer-dated diagonal (sell 5/22 instead)
Exit Triggers
EXITIf spot prints <$92.14 (1-week EM lower bound)Close all short premium (put spreads/condors) and consider buying 30/45d protective puts (buy 5/22 $90 put)
EXITIf you achieve 50–70% of max P/L on short premium tradesTake profits and remove directional gamma exposure

Tactical Summary

Primary thesis: dealers are pinning NFLX to $100–$101 via large positive GEX; favor selling near-term elevated IV and collecting premium around the pin. Invalidation: sustained close below $92.14 (1w EM lower) or a directional earnings surprise outside $92–$106. Top plays: 1) 100-call calendar (sell 4/17 buy 5/22) for vol-roll capture (best for vol sellers), 2) 95/90 put spread 5/22 for defined bullish premium, 3) short iron condor 4/10 tactical for weekly premium sellers.

Read the Directional analysis for NFLX for 2026-04-08. Each report is a market-close snapshot with regime read, key levels, and strategy context that translates options positioning into an actionable setup.