This page reflects VSEC options positioning from the latest published market-close snapshot. Intraday price and contract changes are not displayed.
Published Snapshot
Aug 18, 2026 close
Max Pain — VSEC
Data as of market close Aug 18, 2026
Nearest listed expiration 2026-08-21 shows max pain at $220.00 (15.53 below spot). Use this page to evaluate pin-risk zones, strike pressure, and open-interest concentration before selecting trade structure.
Max Pain Strike
$220.00
Nearest expiry
Expected Move
±$11.30
±4.8%
Days to Expiry
3
Calendar days
Total Call OI
295
Nearest expiry
Total Put OI
1,338
Nearest expiry
P/C OI Ratio
4.54
Put-heavy
Spot Price
$235.53
Published close
Consensus
-
Open report for full read
Max Pain by Expiration
Pain by Strike
Drill into expiration
Selected: 2026-08-21
Expiration
Max Pain Strike
Last Updated
2026-06-18
$180.00
6/18/2026, 11:39:36 PM
2026-07-17
$210.00
7/17/2026, 11:37:19 PM
2026-08-21NextUpdated
$220.00
8/18/2026, 11:44:18 PM
2026-09-18
$250.00
8/18/2026, 11:44:18 PM
2026-10-16
$180.00
8/18/2026, 11:44:18 PM
2027-01-15
$175.00
8/18/2026, 11:44:18 PM
Selected expiration: 2026-08-21 at max pain $220.00.
VSEC pain by strike for 2026-08-21 expiration
Strike
Call Pain
Put Pain
Total Pain
100
0
10581500
10581500
105
1500
9912500
9914000
110
7000
9243500
9250500
115
13000
8574500
8587500
120
20000
7905500
7925500
125
27000
7236500
7263500
130
34500
6657000
6691500
135
43000
6077500
6120500
140
52000
5498000
5550000
145
61000
4919500
4980500
150
71500
4343500
4415000
155
82000
3770000
3852000
160
93000
3281500
3374500
165
104000
2844500
2948500
170
115000
2454500
2569500
175
126500
2069500
2196000
180
138500
1686000
1824500
185
150500
1403500
1554000
190
163500
1121500
1285000
195
177500
890000
1067500
How to Read Max Pain
Compare pin-risk and strike-pressure across expirations from the latest published close.
What max pain measures
Max pain is the strike where option holders would collectively lose the most at expiration, based on open interest across the listed chain.
How traders use it
It is most useful as a possible pinning zone, especially when spot is already trading near a crowded strike into expiration.
What can break it
Strong directional flows, news, or fast spot moves can overwhelm any pinning tendency, so max pain should support a thesis rather than drive it alone.
The closer you are to expiration, the more useful this becomes as context and the less useful it is as a standalone prediction.