thetaOwl

XLC

Communication Services Select Sector SPDRClose $116.10EOD only
Max Pain
$115.00
Next expiry May 22, 2026
Expected Move
±$3.35
2.9% from close
Price Gap
-1.10
Distance to max pain
IV Rank
96
High premium
P/C OI
8.08
Slightly put-heavy
Consensus
No reports available
Published snapshot: May 20, 2026 close
End-of-day snapshot

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

Published Snapshot
May 20, 2026 close
Max Pain — XLC
Data as of market close May 20, 2026

Nearest listed expiration 2026-05-22 shows max pain at $115.00 (1.10 below spot). Use this page to evaluate pin-risk zones, strike pressure, and open-interest concentration before selecting trade structure.

Max Pain Strike
$115.00
Nearest expiry
Expected Move
±$3.35
±2.9%
Days to Expiry
2
Calendar days
Total Call OI
407
Nearest expiry
Total Put OI
307
Nearest expiry
P/C OI Ratio
0.75
Put-heavy
Spot Price
$116.10
Published close
Consensus
-
Open report for full read

Max Pain by Expiration

Pain by Strike

Drill into expiration
Selected: 2026-05-22
ExpirationMax Pain StrikeLast Updated
2026-05-08$105.005/8/2026, 11:36:32 PM
2026-05-15$115.005/15/2026, 11:46:42 PM
2026-05-22NextUpdated$115.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-05-29$114.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-06-05$115.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-06-12$112.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-06-18$110.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-06-26$116.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-07-17$109.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-09-18$120.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2026-12-18$118.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
2027-01-15$115.005/20/2026, 11:36:43 PM
Selected expiration: 2026-05-22 at max pain $115.00.
XLC pain by strike for 2026-05-22 expiration
StrikeCall PainPut PainTotal Pain
800967200967200
1020294000294000
1030263500263500
1050202700202700
1060172500172500
1070142400142400
1081000113600114600
10920008500087000
11030006460067600
11141004450048600
11253003290038200
11373002250029800
11497001330023000
11512900620019100
11634700200036700
1175800040058400
11884800084800
1191134000113400
1201449000144900
1211773000177300
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.