Term structure: IV humped at 18 DTE (50.6%), elevated through May (~49%), then declines to ~46%.
Spot vs MP: Below max pain by 1.9% (spot $331.25 vs MP ~$338)
GEX regime: Pinning (GEX +$4.2M — mean-reverting)
Gamma flip: ~$330.00 — Spot is just above the estimated gamma flip. Positive GEX above $330 suggests dealers will sell into rallies and buy dips, promoting range-bound action.
OI concentrations: Major Call Wall: $330 (42K OI). Major Put Walls: $330 (19K OI), $300 (12K OI), $175 (16K OI). The $330 strike is a massive magnet with significant OI on both sides.
#1put spread
Sell $330 / Buy $325 Put Spread, 2026-04-17 (18 DTE)
Directly targets the massive $330 put OI wall (19,381) for support. Spot is at $331.25, providing a small buffer. The 18-day expected move low is $302.05, giving a wide margin of safety. High IV (50.6% for this expiry) yields outstanding premium for defined risk in a pinning regime.
Mgmt: Close at 65% profit. Roll down to the $325/$320 spread if $330 is breached. Exit the position entirely if spot closes below $327.
#2iron condor
Sell $325/$320 Put Spread & Sell $340/$345 Call Spread, 2026-04-24 (25 DTE)
Defined-risk play on range-bound action between major OI clusters. Short put at $325 is below the $330 support/magnet. Short call at $340 is below the next major call wall and aligns with near-term max pain. Wings are outside the 25-day expected move ($298.02 - $364.48). Collects high premium due to elevated IV (48.9%).
Mgmt: Close at 50% profit. Manage losing side independently; consider rolling untested side in to reduce risk. Exit the entire condor if spot breaches either short strike by more than $2.
#3call credit spread
Sell $340 / Buy $345 Call Spread, 2026-04-10 (11 DTE)
Capitalizes on the $340 call wall (14,427 OI) and the upward pull towards max pain (~$338). Spot is 2.6% below the short strike. The 11-day expected move top is $351.40, providing a buffer. High short-term IV (44.7%) and positive GEX support mean reversion, making this a good weekly defined-risk play.
Mgmt: Close at 70% profit. Exit if spot trades above $339. Let expire worthless if OTM.
#4cash-secured put
Sell $300 Put, 2026-05-15 (46 DTE)
For sellers comfortable with assignment and a longer horizon. Targets the major $300 put OI wall (12,070), requiring a >9% drop to strike. High IV (47.1%) provides substantial premium (~2.5% of strike) and a 11.4% buffer to breakeven. The pinning regime reduces the likelihood of a sharp drop to this level.
Mgmt: Roll down/out at 21 DTE if ITM and avoiding assignment. Close at 70% profit. Monitor for early assignment risk (no dividend imminent).
!Earnings on 2026-04-16 (17 days) — Never sell naked options through earnings. Close or roll all short premium positions before the announcement. IV will be high, but crush risk is severe.
!Gamma Flip at $330 — Spot is just above this level. A sustained break below $330 could shift the gamma regime from pinning to trending, accelerating downward moves. This is the key invalidation level.
!Spot Below Max Pain — Price is 1.9% below aggregate max pain (~$338). This creates a natural, but gentle, upward pull. Be wary of a swift move to test the $338-$340 zone.
!Unusual Put Flow at Low Strikes ($190-$195, May) — High-volume, high-IV put buying far OTM suggests institutional tail-risk hedging, a bearish volatility signal for the longer term.
!Massive $330 Strike Magnet — Extreme OI on both sides (42K calls, 19K puts) creates a powerful battle zone. A decisive break above or below could trigger significant covering flows.
!IV Crush Risk Post-Earnings — Current elevated IV (~44-50%) is partly event-driven. Be prepared for premium depreciation in longer-dated positions after the April 16th earnings.