Big news!
Get a FREE Pro+ upgrade by connecting your TradeStation or Tradier Brokerage account!
Learn more
.
Home
Resources
Bots 101
Workshops
Integrations
Templates
Education
Courses
Strategies
Handbook
Podcast
Blog
Pricing
FAQs
Help
Join Now
Login
Login
Create Account
Home
Blog
For the love of trading
A blog about options trading, strategy research, and autotrading best practices.
optionalpha.com/blog
Trade Ideas Performance: Analyzing Option Probabilities & DTE
We analyzed more than 1.7mil Trade Ideas across various days to expiration in November 2023's volatile market to uncover key insights about the performance of Expected Value and Alpha.
6 min read
XSP Now Available for Trading
2 min read
United Petition to CBOE to Lower SPX Option Minimum Bid Increments
6 min read
Option Alpha Announces tastytrade Integration
2 min read
Beyond Entry: Addressing the “Moment in Time” Problem in Option Profit Probabilities
5 min read
Compare Position Properties for Expanded Trade Management
4 min video
Featured
Newest
Platform Updates
Research Insights
Company News
Platform Updates
New Position Screen Improvements
The open and closed position pages have been updated to display more of the essential details traders want to see. Plus, the stock's last price is now colorized to quickly show a position's moneyness.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Customizable Columns Added to All Table Views
You can now customize your Trade Ideas, Bots, Positions and Screener columns to display the key information you want to see.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Partial Closes and Ability to Close Short Legs
Manual position closing now includes the ability to exit only the short legs of spreads and partially close multi-contract positions for increased trade management.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
6 min video
Company News
Congrats on $1 Billion in Live Trades
We’re pleased to announce that together we have crossed a huge milestone in live options trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 2, 2023
•
3 min read
Company News
Option Alpha October 2023 Release
Option Alpha's October platform release includes enhanced position management controls, customizable columns, and all-new updates to display key trade details.
Jack Slocum
Oct 30, 2023
•
4 min read
Trader Spotlight: Lee
Option Alpha is thrilled to finally spotlight one of the most unique and passionate trader who embodies the spirit of camaraderie and enthusiasm, Lee.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 20, 2023
•
3 min read
Research Insights
Evaluating Alpha: The Anticipated Return on Risk per Trade
Our newest research blog explores Alpha, which measures return on risk using Expected Value. We analyzed 960k trades on 155 tickers to determine Alpha’s accuracy.
Robert Cernera
Oct 13, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
Black-Scholes Model: Why Option Alpha Uses Historical Volatility to Calculate EV
This study examines the Black-Scholes-Merton model's flexibility in calculating expected value. We explore how this formula allows us to calculate probabilities and expected values in multiple ways, and we’ll compare the different methods to show why Option Alpha uses historical volatility.
Robert Cernera
Sep 20, 2023
•
6 min read
Company News
Option Alpha is now Free with a Qualifying TradeStation Account
Option Alpha traders are eligible for a free Pro+ account when you connect a qualified TradeStation account.
Kirk Du Plessis
Sep 5, 2023
•
2 min read
Research Insights
How to Calculate Expected Value: Simple EV, Simple-Partial EV, and Real EV
We share the three EV calculations you can use with the information available in any brokerage platform and compare the methods to determine their accuracy.
Robert Cernera
Sep 5, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
Trade Ideas Probability & Performance: Expected Value vs. Realized P/L
We analyzed 130k Trade Ideas positions to visually compare each trade's realized P/L to its Expected Value at trade entry.
Robert Cernera
Aug 17, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
0DTE Options: Strategy Insights from the Top Performing Trades
We analyzed 230k 0DTE options trades to determine what successful Option Alpha traders are doing and the key metrics that influenced profitable strategy setups.
Robert Cernera
Aug 8, 2023
•
10 min read
Platform Updates
Visually Analyze Your Trading Results on Option Alpha
Analyze your trading performance and filter live or paper results by strategy type, ticker symbol, account, bot, and tags for in-depth portfolio analysis.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 27, 2023
•
8 min video
Trader Spotlight: Pen
We are very excited to spotlight one of the most inquisitive and fearlessly engaging members in the Option Alpha Community, Pen.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 14, 2023
•
3 min read
Company News
Option Alpha July 2023 Release
Option Alpha's newest platform release introduces Trade Ideas 2.0, including autotrading, EV and Alpha calculations, top strategies, a bot leaderboard, and more!
Jack Slocum
Jul 6, 2023
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Find Better Trade Ideas (2.0)
Trade Ideas 2.0 revolutionizes the way you find potential trading opportunities using math and probabilities. Plus, you can now autotrade using Trade Ideas.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
15 min video
Platform Updates
New Leaderboard featuring the Top Performing Bots
There's a new leaderboard that tracks the top performing bots shared in the Option Alpha community to help you discover new ideas and strategies.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
2 min read
Trader Spotlight: Bob Gould
We are very excited to spotlight one of the kindest, selfless, and most helpful autotraders in the Option Alpha Community, Bob Gould.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 13, 2023
•
3 min read
Trader Spotlight: Charles
We are thrilled to spotlight Charles, an engineer who embraces education, strategy development, and selflessly sharing ideas with the Option Alpha Community.
Kirk Du Plessis
May 19, 2023
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
New, Streamlined Way to Filter Trading Opportunities
Using pre-trade opportunity filters is always a best practice. This update gives you an easier format to add entry and position criteria for more efficiency and reduced friction in your automations.
Kirk Du Plessis
May 16, 2023
•
6 min video
Platform Updates
1-Min Trailing Stops Added to Exit Options
Exit options now include trailing stops for the most advanced automated position management available.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
9 min video
Platform Updates
New, More Intuitive Automation Editor
Say hello to a more intuitive, easier to use automation editor with color coded actions and collapsible decision blocks.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
6 min video
Company News
Option Alpha April 2023 Release
2023's second major platform release includes 1-minute trailing stops, a reimagined automation editor, SmartPricing upgrades, Trade Ideas improvements, and more.
Jack Slocum
Apr 10, 2023
•
7 min read
Trader Spotlight: Reuben Helmuth
We are so grateful and thrilled to be able to spotlight one of the most prolific bot builders and tireless people we know, Reuben Helmuth.
Kirk Du Plessis
Mar 27, 2023
•
4 min read
Company News
Option Alpha is Free with a Qualifying Tradier Brokerage Account
Learn how you can get a free Option Alpha Pro+ account when connecting your qualified Tradier Brokerage account.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Say Hello to Trade Ideas, Our Newest Tool for Options Traders
Trade Ideas calculate probabilities for millions of potential options positions using live market data so you can make smarter trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
15 min video
Platform Updates
Backtester Now Includes Technical Indicators
You now have expanded criteria for researching option strategies so you can customize your ideas with more detail.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
12 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing Interactive, Real-Time Options Payoff Diagrams
Every position now includes an interactive real-time option payoff diagram that uses live pricing to update key metrics and probabilities, so there's no guesswork on your position's current status.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Manual Trading Reimagined and Easily Connected to Auto-Management
Manual trading is getting a huge upgrade. We reimagined the user experience of manual trading to solve problems and simplify your life.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
7 min video
Platform Updates
Faster Position Management with 1-minute Auto-Exit Options
Introducing faster position management! Pre-set your exit options when opening a position and let automation manage your position every minute.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
16 min video
Research Insights
0DTE Options Strategies: Insights from 25k Trades
We analyzed over 25,000 0DTE option positions traded in the autotrading platform to assess what worked and how traders set up short-term trading strategies.
Robert Cernera
Aug 18, 2022
•
7 min read
Company News
Introducing $0 Commission Free* Trading with Option Alpha and TradeStation
Announcing $0 commission-free trading for Option Alpha members using TradeStation in the autotrading platform.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 10, 2022
•
2 min read
Company News
Introducing $0 Commission Free* Trading with Option Alpha and Tradier
Option Alpha announces $0 commission-free trading through our exclusive agreement with Tradier Brokerage.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 1, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Introducing the Bot Wizard
Creating a bot has never been easier! The new bot wizard helps you go from idea to automated strategy in a few simple steps.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 11, 2022
•
11 min video
Platform Updates
Create Bots Instantly from Any Backtest
Option Alpha’s new ‘Backtest to Bot’ feature lets you instantly create an automated trading strategy from any backtest in our database.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 11, 2022
•
8 min video
Research Insights
5-Year SPY Put Credit Spread Backtest
Using our Backtester, we explored the historical performance of SPY put credit spreads to help determine the entry and exit criteria that best fit your trading objectives.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 17, 2021
•
7 min read
Research Insights
Trade Ideas Performance: Analyzing Option Probabilities & DTE
We analyzed more than 1.7mil Trade Ideas across various days to expiration in November 2023's volatile market to uncover key insights about the performance of Expected Value and Alpha.
Robert Cernera
Nov 27, 2023
•
6 min read
Platform Updates
XSP Now Available for Trading
XSP, the Mini-SPX Index Options, are now available for autotrading with Option Alpha.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 14, 2023
•
2 min read
Company News
United Petition to CBOE to Lower SPX Option Minimum Bid Increments
Join the options trading community in advocating for a change in the minimum SPX options bid increments from $0.05 to $0.01.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 14, 2023
•
6 min read
Company News
Option Alpha Announces tastytrade Integration
tastytrade is now available for live trading access! Connect your tastytrade account to Option Alpha today and start trading.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 9, 2023
•
2 min read
Research Insights
Beyond Entry: Addressing the “Moment in Time” Problem in Option Profit Probabilities
We explore if options probabilities remain predictive throughout a trade's duration to determine if probabilities are always valid, no matter the moment in time they're calculated.
Robert Cernera
Nov 7, 2023
•
5 min read
Platform Updates
Compare Position Properties for Expanded Trade Management
A new decision recipe allows traders to compare key position stats such as EV, Alpha, and more to give you more control of position management.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
New Position Screen Improvements
The open and closed position pages have been updated to display more of the essential details traders want to see. Plus, the stock's last price is now colorized to quickly show a position's moneyness.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Customizable Columns Added to All Table Views
You can now customize your Trade Ideas, Bots, Positions and Screener columns to display the key information you want to see.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Partial Closes and Ability to Close Short Legs
Manual position closing now includes the ability to exit only the short legs of spreads and partially close multi-contract positions for increased trade management.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
6 min video
Company News
Congrats on $1 Billion in Live Trades
We’re pleased to announce that together we have crossed a huge milestone in live options trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 2, 2023
•
3 min read
Company News
Option Alpha October 2023 Release
Option Alpha's October platform release includes enhanced position management controls, customizable columns, and all-new updates to display key trade details.
Jack Slocum
Oct 30, 2023
•
4 min read
Trader Spotlight: Lee
Option Alpha is thrilled to finally spotlight one of the most unique and passionate trader who embodies the spirit of camaraderie and enthusiasm, Lee.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 20, 2023
•
3 min read
Research Insights
Evaluating Alpha: The Anticipated Return on Risk per Trade
Our newest research blog explores Alpha, which measures return on risk using Expected Value. We analyzed 960k trades on 155 tickers to determine Alpha’s accuracy.
Robert Cernera
Oct 13, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
Black-Scholes Model: Why Option Alpha Uses Historical Volatility to Calculate EV
This study examines the Black-Scholes-Merton model's flexibility in calculating expected value. We explore how this formula allows us to calculate probabilities and expected values in multiple ways, and we’ll compare the different methods to show why Option Alpha uses historical volatility.
Robert Cernera
Sep 20, 2023
•
6 min read
Company News
Option Alpha is now Free with a Qualifying TradeStation Account
Option Alpha traders are eligible for a free Pro+ account when you connect a qualified TradeStation account.
Kirk Du Plessis
Sep 5, 2023
•
2 min read
Research Insights
How to Calculate Expected Value: Simple EV, Simple-Partial EV, and Real EV
We share the three EV calculations you can use with the information available in any brokerage platform and compare the methods to determine their accuracy.
Robert Cernera
Sep 5, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
Trade Ideas Probability & Performance: Expected Value vs. Realized P/L
We analyzed 130k Trade Ideas positions to visually compare each trade's realized P/L to its Expected Value at trade entry.
Robert Cernera
Aug 17, 2023
•
6 min read
Platform Updates
Expanded Trade Ideas Filters Include Open Interest and Trader Count
Trade Ideas now includes a filter option leg open interest. Plus, you can also filter to see the most popular Trade Ideas in the community.
Steve Henry
Aug 16, 2023
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Save Your Favorite Position Settings with Trade Ideas Presets
Trade Ideas ‘Presets’ lets you save one or more filters to quickly view all potential trading opportunities with your favorite settings.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 9, 2023
•
3 min read
Research Insights
0DTE Options: Strategy Insights from the Top Performing Trades
We analyzed 230k 0DTE options trades to determine what successful Option Alpha traders are doing and the key metrics that influenced profitable strategy setups.
Robert Cernera
Aug 8, 2023
•
10 min read
Platform Updates
Visually Analyze Your Trading Results on Option Alpha
Analyze your trading performance and filter live or paper results by strategy type, ticker symbol, account, bot, and tags for in-depth portfolio analysis.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 27, 2023
•
8 min video
Platform Updates
Export & Download Bot Position History Data
Export your bot data to easily analyze and compare closed position performance history.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 24, 2023
•
3 min video
Platform Updates
New Event Calendar Integrates Earnings, Ex-Dividend Dates, & Market Events
A new calendar displays key dates and market events to give you all the essential information you need before entering a trade.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 24, 2023
•
6 min video
Trader Spotlight: Pen
We are very excited to spotlight one of the most inquisitive and fearlessly engaging members in the Option Alpha Community, Pen.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 14, 2023
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Use Top Strategies to Find Option Trading Setups
Top Strategies makes it easier than ever to find the best-performing option trading setups using historical data from the Option Alpha community.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 11, 2023
•
7 min video
Company News
Option Alpha July 2023 Release
Option Alpha's newest platform release introduces Trade Ideas 2.0, including autotrading, EV and Alpha calculations, top strategies, a bot leaderboard, and more!
Jack Slocum
Jul 6, 2023
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Open Trade Idea Action Added to Automations
Use Trade Ideas to analyze the entire database of potential trades and sort, rank, and autotrade the best available position based on your defined criteria.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
9 min video
Platform Updates
Bot Notes Now Available
You can now add notes to any bot to include ideas, updated versions, data, research, links, images, and more. Stay organized and track your strategy insights.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Find Trade Ideas for Multiple Symbols
Let you bots scan a list of ticker symbols and find the best trade idea across up to 10 different symbols.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
14 min video
Platform Updates
Expanded Exit Options Now Include EV and Alpha
With the addition of EV and Alpha, we've expanded Exit Option so you now have more ways to manage your positions.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
5 min video
Platform Updates
Find Better Trade Ideas (2.0)
Trade Ideas 2.0 revolutionizes the way you find potential trading opportunities using math and probabilities. Plus, you can now autotrade using Trade Ideas.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
15 min video
Platform Updates
Move Positions Between Bots for Portfolio Flexibility
You can now move positions between any two bots that are connected to the same Option Alpha account so you can manage your portfolio with more control and flexibility.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
3 min video
Platform Updates
New Leaderboard featuring the Top Performing Bots
There's a new leaderboard that tracks the top performing bots shared in the Option Alpha community to help you discover new ideas and strategies.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Upgraded Open Position Screen Includes EV, Alpha, & Probabilities
We've enhanced the Open Position screen to include Expected Value (EV), Alpha, and more probabilities.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
2 min read
Trader Spotlight: Bob Gould
We are very excited to spotlight one of the kindest, selfless, and most helpful autotraders in the Option Alpha Community, Bob Gould.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 13, 2023
•
3 min read
Trader Spotlight: Charles
We are thrilled to spotlight Charles, an engineer who embraces education, strategy development, and selflessly sharing ideas with the Option Alpha Community.
Kirk Du Plessis
May 19, 2023
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
New, Streamlined Way to Filter Trading Opportunities
Using pre-trade opportunity filters is always a best practice. This update gives you an easier format to add entry and position criteria for more efficiency and reduced friction in your automations.
Kirk Du Plessis
May 16, 2023
•
6 min video
Platform Updates
1-Min Trailing Stops Added to Exit Options
Exit options now include trailing stops for the most advanced automated position management available.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
9 min video
Platform Updates
New, More Intuitive Automation Editor
Say hello to a more intuitive, easier to use automation editor with color coded actions and collapsible decision blocks.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
6 min video
Platform Updates
New FOMC Meeting & CPI Decision Recipe
Two new decision recipes give you added control when targeting specific dates, including FOMC meetings and CPI releases.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
5 min video
Company News
Option Alpha April 2023 Release
2023's second major platform release includes 1-minute trailing stops, a reimagined automation editor, SmartPricing upgrades, Trade Ideas improvements, and more.
Jack Slocum
Apr 10, 2023
•
7 min read
Platform Updates
Expanded SmartPricing Settings to Control Slippage
New SmartPricing settings empower you to combat wide bid/ask spreads and abnormal price fluctuations.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
8 min video
Platform Updates
New Probability & Symbol Filters Added to Trade Ideas
Trade Ideas now include additional probability and symbol filters to help you customize your search criteria to find exactly what you're looking for.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
8 min video
Trader Spotlight: Reuben Helmuth
We are so grateful and thrilled to be able to spotlight one of the most prolific bot builders and tireless people we know, Reuben Helmuth.
Kirk Du Plessis
Mar 27, 2023
•
4 min read
Platform Updates
VXX & UVXY Now Available for Autotrading
VXX and UVXY are now available for autotrading. These volatility ETFs provide exposure to the VIX short-term futures index.
Kirk Du Plessis
Feb 16, 2023
•
3 min video
Company News
Option Alpha is Free with a Qualifying Tradier Brokerage Account
Learn how you can get a free Option Alpha Pro+ account when connecting your qualified Tradier Brokerage account.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
3 min read
Company News
Option Alpha January 2023 Release
The first major platform release of the year is here! Check out all the updates, including the all-new Trade Ideas.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
1 hour video
Platform Updates
Say Hello to Trade Ideas, Our Newest Tool for Options Traders
Trade Ideas calculate probabilities for millions of potential options positions using live market data so you can make smarter trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
15 min video
Platform Updates
Exit Options "Presets" Means Faster Trade Entry
Create Presets for your Exit Options to quickly reuse custom settings for long and short option positions.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Exit Options Now Support Customizable SmartPricing
The latest upgrade to Exit Options now supports custom SmartPricing settings for each scenario, plus we added the ability to send Market Orders if you choose.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing In-App Help Docs
In-app help docs and the new 'Get Started' checklist will guide you around Option Alpha to find everything you need to know as an autotrader.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Expanded Bot Performance Stats & Win Rate Charting
The January 2023 platform release includes new stats and charts to give you upgraded visual tools when monitoring your bots’ activity and key metrics.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
New Post-Earnings Decisions
The latest update includes two new decision recipes for targeting past earnings dates.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
3 min video
Research Insights
Trading the Opening Range: Mean Reversion vs Trend Following
How has market volatility impacted intraday mean reversion and trend following strategies? We analyzed the first trading hour in SPY to understand intraday mean reversion vs. trend following signals.
Steve Henry
Oct 31, 2022
•
4 min read
Platform Updates
Backtester Now Includes Technical Indicators
You now have expanded criteria for researching option strategies so you can customize your ideas with more detail.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
12 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing Interactive, Real-Time Options Payoff Diagrams
Every position now includes an interactive real-time option payoff diagram that uses live pricing to update key metrics and probabilities, so there's no guesswork on your position's current status.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Upgraded Backtester Offers Increased Precision
The backtester now includes expanded settings so you have even more precision when testing your options strategies.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Upgraded Bot Logs Add "Highlights" & Quicklinks to Positions
New, interconnected bot logs show you exactly what's happening in your bots and automations. Right where you need them.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
5 min video
Platform Updates
Manual Trading Reimagined and Easily Connected to Auto-Management
Manual trading is getting a huge upgrade. We reimagined the user experience of manual trading to solve problems and simplify your life.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
7 min video
Platform Updates
Faster Position Management with 1-minute Auto-Exit Options
Introducing faster position management! Pre-set your exit options when opening a position and let automation manage your position every minute.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
16 min video
Research Insights
0DTE Options Strategies: Insights from 25k Trades
We analyzed over 25,000 0DTE option positions traded in the autotrading platform to assess what worked and how traders set up short-term trading strategies.
Robert Cernera
Aug 18, 2022
•
7 min read
Company News
Introducing $0 Commission Free* Trading with Option Alpha and TradeStation
Announcing $0 commission-free trading for Option Alpha members using TradeStation in the autotrading platform.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 10, 2022
•
2 min read
Company News
Introducing $0 Commission Free* Trading with Option Alpha and Tradier
Option Alpha announces $0 commission-free trading through our exclusive agreement with Tradier Brokerage.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 1, 2022
•
2 min read
Strategic Thinking
Options Wheel Strategy
The wheel strategy is a popular options strategy investors can use to generate income selling options and potentially owning stock. Learn how to trade the options wheel strategy.
Steve Henry
Jul 8, 2022
•
5 min read
Automated Trading
How To Manage Assigned Autotrading Positions
A step-by-step guide to help you manage position assignments with bots.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 7, 2022
•
3 min read
Bot Inspiration
How to Automate a MACD Strategy with Bots
Learn how to automate a strategy that sells credit spreads when the MACD indicator signals an overbought or oversold condition.
Steve Henry
Jul 6, 2022
•
7 min read
Platform Updates
Introducing the Bot Wizard
Creating a bot has never been easier! The new bot wizard helps you go from idea to automated strategy in a few simple steps.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 11, 2022
•
11 min video
Platform Updates
Create Bots Instantly from Any Backtest
Option Alpha’s new ‘Backtest to Bot’ feature lets you instantly create an automated trading strategy from any backtest in our database.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 11, 2022
•
8 min video
Platform Updates
New Open High Low Close (OHLC) Stock Decisions
Unlock new autotrading opportunities with these two decision recipes that evaluate a symbol's open, high, low, or closing price using a specific look-back period.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 10, 2022
•
3 min video
Bot Inspiration
How to Automate a Bollinger Band Strategy
Learn how to build an automated Bollinger Band bot using debit and credit spreads to trade breakouts.
Steve Henry
Mar 31, 2022
•
6 min read
Company News
Option Alpha Announces Tradier Integration
Tradier is now available for live trading access! Plus, when you connect your account, you'll enjoy exclusive pricing on all trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Mar 26, 2022
•
1 min read
Research Insights
We Analyzed 20,000 Options Trades: Here’s What We Learned About Position Swings
We studied over 20,000 trades to measure the average time between return extremes over the life of a trade. From all that data and research, see what stands out.
Kirk Du Plessis
Mar 25, 2022
•
4 min read
Research Insights
3 AAPL Bullish Options Strategies Backtested
Bullish on AAPL stock? Use Option Alpha to backtest three bullish strategies and compare the results, or search a database of AAPL options strategies.
Steve Henry
Mar 21, 2022
•
5 min read
Platform Updates
Expanded Strike Selections Give You Even More Control
We’ve expanded the way you can select strike prices. There are now four options for choosing a strike price, so you always have pinpoint accuracy and control of your positions.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
New Community Groups For Targeted Conversations
Easily discover and explore targeted Community conversations on specific topics in four main categories.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Enhanced Bot Performance Stats
We’ve improved the bot dashboard significantly in the latest platform update. The equity P/L graph is enhanced so you can now view more detailed bot performance stats. Plus, you can edit your closed positions and order history.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Crowdsource Backtests in the Community
Crowdsource options backtests like never before. Share strategies, upvote performance results, and comment on backtests in the Community.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Master Your Decision Timing With These Automation Sequencing Improvements
Two new updates improve sequencing so you have more control. Bots now have more intelligent decision timing when looping symbols and running automations.
Steve Henry
Mar 1, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Manage Your Positions with Return on Risk
Intelligently manage your positions with this new decision recipe that evaluates return on risk to exit positions at defined targets.
Steve Henry
Feb 25, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Easily Edit Automation Paths With Negated Decisions
Edit automation paths with negated decisions to save time and increase flexibility.
Steve Henry
Feb 25, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Standard Deviation Decisions Improved to Decimal Precision
We’ve upgraded standard deviation properties so you can use decimal precision for pinpoint accuracy.
Steve Henry
Feb 25, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Increased Automation Flexibility With "Stock or ETF" Decision Recipe
Now you can split automation decisions using a recipe to evaluate if the underlying ticker symbol is a stock or an ETF.
Steve Henry
Feb 24, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Compare Multiple Backtests for Unparalleled Strategy Development
You can now compare multiple backtests side-by-side to see exactly how they stack up to each other for unparalleled strategy development.
Steve Henry
Feb 24, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Now You Can Schedule Automations to Run After Market Open & Before Market Close
With this platform update, you have even more control of your bots' event automations. You can now automatically check in on your automations and positions at the beginning and end of every trading day.
Steve Henry
Feb 24, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Backtester Enhancements Unlock Research Superpowers for Options Traders
The Option Alpha backtester has improved every aspect with the newest update. You now have expanded research tools to discover your perfect options strategy.
Steve Henry
Feb 22, 2022
•
3 min read
Research Insights
Rising Interest Rates: Taper Tantrum or Opportunity?
Investors expect interest rates to rise this year. We studied four similar environments to deliver the context you need for today’s market.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 27, 2022
•
5 min read
Research Insights
Is the “Golden Bull Market” Finally Ending?
20 years of data suggests this bull market may not be over yet, and the positive momentum could continue into the new year.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 3, 2022
•
4 min read
Best Practices
Using Folders for Organizing and Grouping Bot Automations
We’ve made it incredibly easy for you to group all your automations inside your library. Discover how folders will help you organize your portfolio.
Kirk Du Plessis
Dec 29, 2021
•
5 min video
Platform Updates
Bot & Position Tags: Where Precision Meets Flexibility
Now you can create, add, and remove bot and position tags to take your automations to a whole new level.
Steve Henry
Dec 22, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
New Decisions to Check Bot Trade History & Active Orders
Four new decision recipes help you reference a bot’s trade history and active orders. Find out what this means for you and your bots!
Steve Henry
Dec 22, 2021
•
2 min read
Company News
Autotrading Is Here: The Doors Are Open
We are sending invites to traders on the Waitlist! Share the news, get to the front of the line, and start autotrading!
Kirk Du Plessis
Dec 21, 2021
•
1 min read
Platform Updates
4 New Updates to Make Autotrading Easier
Check out these new updates that are all about improving your experience.
Steve Henry
Dec 15, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
We Just Introduced Bot Warnings for Smoother Autotrading
Bot errors are divided into two categories to help you identify soft and fatal errors and troubleshoot their impact on your portfolio.
Steve Henry
Dec 15, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
All Your Automations Are Now Saved to Your Library
The automations library now gives you more organization and customization in your portfolio.
Kirk Du Plessis
Dec 14, 2021
•
2 min video
Bot Inspiration
Building an RSI Swing Trading Bot with Credit Spreads
Discover how to automate a popular swing trading strategy that opens bullish and bearish credit spreads based on RSI value.
Kirk Du Plessis
Dec 13, 2021
•
30 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing Automation "Switches"
Bot switches make your automations more flexible by allowing you to turn parts of an automation on or off.
Steve Henry
Dec 12, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Automatically Scan a Watchlist of Ticker Symbols Inside Your Bots
You can loop through symbols to create and scan a watchlist of tickers inside your bots. Learn how this powerful feature lets you apply a single strategy to multiple ticker symbols.
Steve Henry
Dec 9, 2021
•
2 min read
Automated Trading
3 Smart Ways to Use SmartStops
SmartStops are not your traditional trailing stop. SmartStops are a proprietary feature that can change the way you exit positions. Learn how SmartStops can be a game-changer for your portfolio.
Steve Henry
Dec 8, 2021
•
4 min read
Platform Updates
Now Your Bots Can Make Decisions Using Market Days or Calendar Days
You can now specify market days or calendar days in an automation. This new feature gives you pinpoint accuracy and flexibility when making decisions.
Steve Henry
Dec 8, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Import Your Positions from Your Brokerage Account to Option Alpha
You can now import positions from your brokerage account into Option Alpha for your bots to manage!
Steve Henry
Dec 8, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
XSP Now Available for Trading
XSP, the Mini-SPX Index Options, are now available for autotrading with Option Alpha.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 14, 2023
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Compare Position Properties for Expanded Trade Management
A new decision recipe allows traders to compare key position stats such as EV, Alpha, and more to give you more control of position management.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
New Position Screen Improvements
The open and closed position pages have been updated to display more of the essential details traders want to see. Plus, the stock's last price is now colorized to quickly show a position's moneyness.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Customizable Columns Added to All Table Views
You can now customize your Trade Ideas, Bots, Positions and Screener columns to display the key information you want to see.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Partial Closes and Ability to Close Short Legs
Manual position closing now includes the ability to exit only the short legs of spreads and partially close multi-contract positions for increased trade management.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 3, 2023
•
6 min video
Platform Updates
Expanded Trade Ideas Filters Include Open Interest and Trader Count
Trade Ideas now includes a filter option leg open interest. Plus, you can also filter to see the most popular Trade Ideas in the community.
Steve Henry
Aug 16, 2023
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Save Your Favorite Position Settings with Trade Ideas Presets
Trade Ideas ‘Presets’ lets you save one or more filters to quickly view all potential trading opportunities with your favorite settings.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 9, 2023
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Visually Analyze Your Trading Results on Option Alpha
Analyze your trading performance and filter live or paper results by strategy type, ticker symbol, account, bot, and tags for in-depth portfolio analysis.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 27, 2023
•
8 min video
Platform Updates
Export & Download Bot Position History Data
Export your bot data to easily analyze and compare closed position performance history.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 24, 2023
•
3 min video
Platform Updates
New Event Calendar Integrates Earnings, Ex-Dividend Dates, & Market Events
A new calendar displays key dates and market events to give you all the essential information you need before entering a trade.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 24, 2023
•
6 min video
Platform Updates
Use Top Strategies to Find Option Trading Setups
Top Strategies makes it easier than ever to find the best-performing option trading setups using historical data from the Option Alpha community.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 11, 2023
•
7 min video
Platform Updates
Open Trade Idea Action Added to Automations
Use Trade Ideas to analyze the entire database of potential trades and sort, rank, and autotrade the best available position based on your defined criteria.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
9 min video
Platform Updates
Bot Notes Now Available
You can now add notes to any bot to include ideas, updated versions, data, research, links, images, and more. Stay organized and track your strategy insights.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Find Trade Ideas for Multiple Symbols
Let you bots scan a list of ticker symbols and find the best trade idea across up to 10 different symbols.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
14 min video
Platform Updates
Expanded Exit Options Now Include EV and Alpha
With the addition of EV and Alpha, we've expanded Exit Option so you now have more ways to manage your positions.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
5 min video
Platform Updates
Find Better Trade Ideas (2.0)
Trade Ideas 2.0 revolutionizes the way you find potential trading opportunities using math and probabilities. Plus, you can now autotrade using Trade Ideas.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
15 min video
Platform Updates
Move Positions Between Bots for Portfolio Flexibility
You can now move positions between any two bots that are connected to the same Option Alpha account so you can manage your portfolio with more control and flexibility.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
3 min video
Platform Updates
New Leaderboard featuring the Top Performing Bots
There's a new leaderboard that tracks the top performing bots shared in the Option Alpha community to help you discover new ideas and strategies.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Upgraded Open Position Screen Includes EV, Alpha, & Probabilities
We've enhanced the Open Position screen to include Expected Value (EV), Alpha, and more probabilities.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 3, 2023
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
New, Streamlined Way to Filter Trading Opportunities
Using pre-trade opportunity filters is always a best practice. This update gives you an easier format to add entry and position criteria for more efficiency and reduced friction in your automations.
Kirk Du Plessis
May 16, 2023
•
6 min video
Platform Updates
1-Min Trailing Stops Added to Exit Options
Exit options now include trailing stops for the most advanced automated position management available.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
9 min video
Platform Updates
New, More Intuitive Automation Editor
Say hello to a more intuitive, easier to use automation editor with color coded actions and collapsible decision blocks.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
6 min video
Platform Updates
New FOMC Meeting & CPI Decision Recipe
Two new decision recipes give you added control when targeting specific dates, including FOMC meetings and CPI releases.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
5 min video
Platform Updates
Expanded SmartPricing Settings to Control Slippage
New SmartPricing settings empower you to combat wide bid/ask spreads and abnormal price fluctuations.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
8 min video
Platform Updates
New Probability & Symbol Filters Added to Trade Ideas
Trade Ideas now include additional probability and symbol filters to help you customize your search criteria to find exactly what you're looking for.
Kirk Du Plessis
Apr 10, 2023
•
8 min video
Platform Updates
VXX & UVXY Now Available for Autotrading
VXX and UVXY are now available for autotrading. These volatility ETFs provide exposure to the VIX short-term futures index.
Kirk Du Plessis
Feb 16, 2023
•
3 min video
Platform Updates
Say Hello to Trade Ideas, Our Newest Tool for Options Traders
Trade Ideas calculate probabilities for millions of potential options positions using live market data so you can make smarter trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
15 min video
Platform Updates
Exit Options "Presets" Means Faster Trade Entry
Create Presets for your Exit Options to quickly reuse custom settings for long and short option positions.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Exit Options Now Support Customizable SmartPricing
The latest upgrade to Exit Options now supports custom SmartPricing settings for each scenario, plus we added the ability to send Market Orders if you choose.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing In-App Help Docs
In-app help docs and the new 'Get Started' checklist will guide you around Option Alpha to find everything you need to know as an autotrader.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Expanded Bot Performance Stats & Win Rate Charting
The January 2023 platform release includes new stats and charts to give you upgraded visual tools when monitoring your bots’ activity and key metrics.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
New Post-Earnings Decisions
The latest update includes two new decision recipes for targeting past earnings dates.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
3 min video
Platform Updates
Backtester Now Includes Technical Indicators
You now have expanded criteria for researching option strategies so you can customize your ideas with more detail.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
12 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing Interactive, Real-Time Options Payoff Diagrams
Every position now includes an interactive real-time option payoff diagram that uses live pricing to update key metrics and probabilities, so there's no guesswork on your position's current status.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
4 min video
Platform Updates
Upgraded Backtester Offers Increased Precision
The backtester now includes expanded settings so you have even more precision when testing your options strategies.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Upgraded Bot Logs Add "Highlights" & Quicklinks to Positions
New, interconnected bot logs show you exactly what's happening in your bots and automations. Right where you need them.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
5 min video
Platform Updates
Manual Trading Reimagined and Easily Connected to Auto-Management
Manual trading is getting a huge upgrade. We reimagined the user experience of manual trading to solve problems and simplify your life.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
7 min video
Platform Updates
Faster Position Management with 1-minute Auto-Exit Options
Introducing faster position management! Pre-set your exit options when opening a position and let automation manage your position every minute.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 15, 2022
•
16 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing the Bot Wizard
Creating a bot has never been easier! The new bot wizard helps you go from idea to automated strategy in a few simple steps.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 11, 2022
•
11 min video
Platform Updates
Create Bots Instantly from Any Backtest
Option Alpha’s new ‘Backtest to Bot’ feature lets you instantly create an automated trading strategy from any backtest in our database.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 11, 2022
•
8 min video
Platform Updates
New Open High Low Close (OHLC) Stock Decisions
Unlock new autotrading opportunities with these two decision recipes that evaluate a symbol's open, high, low, or closing price using a specific look-back period.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jun 10, 2022
•
3 min video
Platform Updates
Expanded Strike Selections Give You Even More Control
We’ve expanded the way you can select strike prices. There are now four options for choosing a strike price, so you always have pinpoint accuracy and control of your positions.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
New Community Groups For Targeted Conversations
Easily discover and explore targeted Community conversations on specific topics in four main categories.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Enhanced Bot Performance Stats
We’ve improved the bot dashboard significantly in the latest platform update. The equity P/L graph is enhanced so you can now view more detailed bot performance stats. Plus, you can edit your closed positions and order history.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Crowdsource Backtests in the Community
Crowdsource options backtests like never before. Share strategies, upvote performance results, and comment on backtests in the Community.
Steve Henry
Mar 8, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Master Your Decision Timing With These Automation Sequencing Improvements
Two new updates improve sequencing so you have more control. Bots now have more intelligent decision timing when looping symbols and running automations.
Steve Henry
Mar 1, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Manage Your Positions with Return on Risk
Intelligently manage your positions with this new decision recipe that evaluates return on risk to exit positions at defined targets.
Steve Henry
Feb 25, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Easily Edit Automation Paths With Negated Decisions
Edit automation paths with negated decisions to save time and increase flexibility.
Steve Henry
Feb 25, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Standard Deviation Decisions Improved to Decimal Precision
We’ve upgraded standard deviation properties so you can use decimal precision for pinpoint accuracy.
Steve Henry
Feb 25, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Increased Automation Flexibility With "Stock or ETF" Decision Recipe
Now you can split automation decisions using a recipe to evaluate if the underlying ticker symbol is a stock or an ETF.
Steve Henry
Feb 24, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Compare Multiple Backtests for Unparalleled Strategy Development
You can now compare multiple backtests side-by-side to see exactly how they stack up to each other for unparalleled strategy development.
Steve Henry
Feb 24, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Now You Can Schedule Automations to Run After Market Open & Before Market Close
With this platform update, you have even more control of your bots' event automations. You can now automatically check in on your automations and positions at the beginning and end of every trading day.
Steve Henry
Feb 24, 2022
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Backtester Enhancements Unlock Research Superpowers for Options Traders
The Option Alpha backtester has improved every aspect with the newest update. You now have expanded research tools to discover your perfect options strategy.
Steve Henry
Feb 22, 2022
•
3 min read
Platform Updates
Bot & Position Tags: Where Precision Meets Flexibility
Now you can create, add, and remove bot and position tags to take your automations to a whole new level.
Steve Henry
Dec 22, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
New Decisions to Check Bot Trade History & Active Orders
Four new decision recipes help you reference a bot’s trade history and active orders. Find out what this means for you and your bots!
Steve Henry
Dec 22, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
4 New Updates to Make Autotrading Easier
Check out these new updates that are all about improving your experience.
Steve Henry
Dec 15, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
We Just Introduced Bot Warnings for Smoother Autotrading
Bot errors are divided into two categories to help you identify soft and fatal errors and troubleshoot their impact on your portfolio.
Steve Henry
Dec 15, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
All Your Automations Are Now Saved to Your Library
The automations library now gives you more organization and customization in your portfolio.
Kirk Du Plessis
Dec 14, 2021
•
2 min video
Platform Updates
Introducing Automation "Switches"
Bot switches make your automations more flexible by allowing you to turn parts of an automation on or off.
Steve Henry
Dec 12, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Automatically Scan a Watchlist of Ticker Symbols Inside Your Bots
You can loop through symbols to create and scan a watchlist of tickers inside your bots. Learn how this powerful feature lets you apply a single strategy to multiple ticker symbols.
Steve Henry
Dec 9, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Now Your Bots Can Make Decisions Using Market Days or Calendar Days
You can now specify market days or calendar days in an automation. This new feature gives you pinpoint accuracy and flexibility when making decisions.
Steve Henry
Dec 8, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Import Your Positions from Your Brokerage Account to Option Alpha
You can now import positions from your brokerage account into Option Alpha for your bots to manage!
Steve Henry
Dec 8, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Choose Your Path with these Automation Editor Improvements
The Automation Editor just got a lot better. Now you can customize your automations with improved “choose your path” flexibility.
Steve Henry
Aug 26, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Use Bot-Level Decisions for Added Flexibility
New bot-level decisions give you more capital and position flexibility when building bots.
Steve Henry
Aug 25, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Strike Price Selection Enhancements Released
Learn how the strike price selection process is enhanced with our new platform update. It’s never been easier to choose the right contract!
Steve Henry
Aug 23, 2021
•
1 min read
Platform Updates
Scanner and Monitor Ordering Released
New scanner and monitor automation ordering gives you even more customization options for your bots. Check it out!
Steve Henry
Aug 20, 2021
•
1 min read
Platform Updates
Account Management Improvements Released
We've added new platform features to enhance your account management, organization, and portfolio visibility. Check it out!
Steve Henry
Jul 29, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
Order Controls Released
Order controls got a major upgrade in our latest platform update. Keep reading to learn about all the new improvements!
Steve Henry
Jul 16, 2021
•
2 min read
Platform Updates
SmartPricing Released
SmartPricing is Option Alpha’s proprietary technology that uses timed intervals to dynamically adjust pricing to optimize your entries and exits.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jul 13, 2021
•
6 min read
Platform Updates
Bot Template Versioning Released
The new bot template versioning update keeps your freshest ideas in the spotlight.
Steve Henry
Jul 9, 2021
•
1 min read
Research Insights
Trade Ideas Performance: Analyzing Option Probabilities & DTE
We analyzed more than 1.7mil Trade Ideas across various days to expiration in November 2023's volatile market to uncover key insights about the performance of Expected Value and Alpha.
Robert Cernera
Nov 27, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
Beyond Entry: Addressing the “Moment in Time” Problem in Option Profit Probabilities
We explore if options probabilities remain predictive throughout a trade's duration to determine if probabilities are always valid, no matter the moment in time they're calculated.
Robert Cernera
Nov 7, 2023
•
5 min read
Research Insights
Evaluating Alpha: The Anticipated Return on Risk per Trade
Our newest research blog explores Alpha, which measures return on risk using Expected Value. We analyzed 960k trades on 155 tickers to determine Alpha’s accuracy.
Robert Cernera
Oct 13, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
Black-Scholes Model: Why Option Alpha Uses Historical Volatility to Calculate EV
This study examines the Black-Scholes-Merton model's flexibility in calculating expected value. We explore how this formula allows us to calculate probabilities and expected values in multiple ways, and we’ll compare the different methods to show why Option Alpha uses historical volatility.
Robert Cernera
Sep 20, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
How to Calculate Expected Value: Simple EV, Simple-Partial EV, and Real EV
We share the three EV calculations you can use with the information available in any brokerage platform and compare the methods to determine their accuracy.
Robert Cernera
Sep 5, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
Trade Ideas Probability & Performance: Expected Value vs. Realized P/L
We analyzed 130k Trade Ideas positions to visually compare each trade's realized P/L to its Expected Value at trade entry.
Robert Cernera
Aug 17, 2023
•
6 min read
Research Insights
0DTE Options: Strategy Insights from the Top Performing Trades
We analyzed 230k 0DTE options trades to determine what successful Option Alpha traders are doing and the key metrics that influenced profitable strategy setups.
Robert Cernera
Aug 8, 2023
•
10 min read
Research Insights
Trading the Opening Range: Mean Reversion vs Trend Following
How has market volatility impacted intraday mean reversion and trend following strategies? We analyzed the first trading hour in SPY to understand intraday mean reversion vs. trend following signals.
Steve Henry
Oct 31, 2022
•
4 min read
Research Insights
0DTE Options Strategies: Insights from 25k Trades
We analyzed over 25,000 0DTE option positions traded in the autotrading platform to assess what worked and how traders set up short-term trading strategies.
Robert Cernera
Aug 18, 2022
•
7 min read
Research Insights
We Analyzed 20,000 Options Trades: Here’s What We Learned About Position Swings
We studied over 20,000 trades to measure the average time between return extremes over the life of a trade. From all that data and research, see what stands out.
Kirk Du Plessis
Mar 25, 2022
•
4 min read
Research Insights
3 AAPL Bullish Options Strategies Backtested
Bullish on AAPL stock? Use Option Alpha to backtest three bullish strategies and compare the results, or search a database of AAPL options strategies.
Steve Henry
Mar 21, 2022
•
5 min read
Research Insights
Rising Interest Rates: Taper Tantrum or Opportunity?
Investors expect interest rates to rise this year. We studied four similar environments to deliver the context you need for today’s market.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 27, 2022
•
5 min read
Research Insights
Is the “Golden Bull Market” Finally Ending?
20 years of data suggests this bull market may not be over yet, and the positive momentum could continue into the new year.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 3, 2022
•
4 min read
Research Insights
5-Year SPY Put Credit Spread Backtest
Using our Backtester, we explored the historical performance of SPY put credit spreads to help determine the entry and exit criteria that best fit your trading objectives.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 17, 2021
•
7 min read
Research Insights
Tail Risk Pricing Post-Pandemic
VIX and SPX tail risk pricing is astronomically high compared to before the pandemic. What has happened to the price of downside protection? Find out here.
Kirk Du Plessis
Oct 20, 2021
•
9 min read
Research Insights
Bid-Ask Spread Anomalies: 5 Questions Answered
We answer five key research questions about bid-ask spread volatility and explain how these answers can threaten or inform your trading decisions.
Robert Cernera
Aug 4, 2021
•
18 min read
Research Insights
Bid-Ask Spread Anomalies: Risk and Opportunity
Learn how bid-ask spread anomalies bring unique risks and opportunities in options trading with this SPY case study.
Robert Cernera
Jul 14, 2021
•
8 min read
Research Insights
Bid-Ask Spread Expectations
What is the "personality" of your favorite ticker? Do you know what the bid-ask spread of the specific underlyings you trade should resemble? Learn about bid-ask spread expectations here.
Robert Cernera
Jul 7, 2021
•
5 min read
Research Insights
Bid-Ask Spread Volatility Explained
This case study examines the intraday price volatility of a TLT iron condor to illustrate the forces at play beyond the options Greeks affecting a position's bid-ask spread.
Robert Cernera
Jun 9, 2021
•
4 min read
Company News
United Petition to CBOE to Lower SPX Option Minimum Bid Increments
Join the options trading community in advocating for a change in the minimum SPX options bid increments from $0.05 to $0.01.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 14, 2023
•
6 min read
Company News
Option Alpha Announces tastytrade Integration
tastytrade is now available for live trading access! Connect your tastytrade account to Option Alpha today and start trading.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 9, 2023
•
2 min read
Company News
Congrats on $1 Billion in Live Trades
We’re pleased to announce that together we have crossed a huge milestone in live options trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 2, 2023
•
3 min read
Company News
Option Alpha October 2023 Release
Option Alpha's October platform release includes enhanced position management controls, customizable columns, and all-new updates to display key trade details.
Jack Slocum
Oct 30, 2023
•
4 min read
Company News
Option Alpha is now Free with a Qualifying TradeStation Account
Option Alpha traders are eligible for a free Pro+ account when you connect a qualified TradeStation account.
Kirk Du Plessis
Sep 5, 2023
•
2 min read
Company News
Option Alpha July 2023 Release
Option Alpha's newest platform release introduces Trade Ideas 2.0, including autotrading, EV and Alpha calculations, top strategies, a bot leaderboard, and more!
Jack Slocum
Jul 6, 2023
•
3 min read
Company News
Option Alpha April 2023 Release
2023's second major platform release includes 1-minute trailing stops, a reimagined automation editor, SmartPricing upgrades, Trade Ideas improvements, and more.
Jack Slocum
Apr 10, 2023
•
7 min read
Company News
Option Alpha is Free with a Qualifying Tradier Brokerage Account
Learn how you can get a free Option Alpha Pro+ account when connecting your qualified Tradier Brokerage account.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
3 min read
Company News
Option Alpha January 2023 Release
The first major platform release of the year is here! Check out all the updates, including the all-new Trade Ideas.
Kirk Du Plessis
Jan 30, 2023
•
1 hour video
Company News
Introducing $0 Commission Free* Trading with Option Alpha and TradeStation
Announcing $0 commission-free trading for Option Alpha members using TradeStation in the autotrading platform.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 10, 2022
•
2 min read
Company News
Introducing $0 Commission Free* Trading with Option Alpha and Tradier
Option Alpha announces $0 commission-free trading through our exclusive agreement with Tradier Brokerage.
Kirk Du Plessis
Aug 1, 2022
•
2 min read
Company News
Option Alpha Announces Tradier Integration
Tradier is now available for live trading access! Plus, when you connect your account, you'll enjoy exclusive pricing on all trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Mar 26, 2022
•
1 min read
Company News
Autotrading Is Here: The Doors Are Open
We are sending invites to traders on the Waitlist! Share the news, get to the front of the line, and start autotrading!
Kirk Du Plessis
Dec 21, 2021
•
1 min read
Company News
Option Alpha Announces TradeStation Integration
TradeStation is now available for live trading access! Plus, when you connect your account, you'll enjoy exclusive pricing on all trades.
Kirk Du Plessis
Nov 10, 2021
•
2 min read
Find new trade ideas
Option Alpha calculates probabilities for millions of potential options positions using live market data so you can find new ideas without the guesswork.
Learn more
Try It for Free