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High IV Stocks Today: Live Scan + 10 That Run Hot
The highest IV stocks today from a live scan, plus ten liquid stocks with high implied volatility all year, ranked by their median IV.
On this page
- The short answer
- The full ranking
- Today's highest-IV liquid stocks
- How to Use the High IV Stock List and the Live Scan
- How We Measure High IV
- What High Implied Volatility Pays Option Sellers
- Matching the High IV Stock to the Trade
- When High IV Is an Opportunity and When It Is a Trap
- Questions
- Keep reading
The short answer
High IV stocks are stocks whose options price in large price swings. ApexVol's line is a 30-day implied volatility (IV) of 45% or more, about three times the 14% typical of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) over the past year. Their options pay sellers more because the shares really do move more.
There are two ways to call IV high. IV compares stocks with each other: a stock at 75% is priced to move about three times as much as one at 25%. IV percentile compares a stock with its own past year: a percentile of 90 means IV was lower on 90% of the past year's days. IV rank is a close cousin that uses the year's high and low instead of every day. The live scan needs both (percentile 60 or higher, then sorted by IV). The ten names below are picked on their median IV over the year, so several are quiet by their own standards today, and their percentile shows it.
Each stock on ApexVol's high-IV list had a median 30-day implied volatility of at least 45% over the past year, more than three times the 14% of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY). IREN was highest of the ten at 106%.
Ranked at a glance
10 picks,
in order.
How the ten were picked: stocks with deep options markets (100,000+ contracts a day), a market value over $5 billion and a share price over $10, whose median 30-day IV over the past year was 45% or more. From that pool we chose ten well-known names spread across different kinds of risk, ranked by that median. Others that pass the same test include BE, CIFR, NBIS, MRNA and INTC.
| Rank | Name | Key stat | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IREN (IREN Ltd) | IV percentile 32 (IV 112.2%) | Median IV over the past year: 106%, the highest of the ten. A bitcoin miner that has moved into renting out AI computing power, so it swings with both bitcoin and AI spending. Its IV was above 90% on nine days in ten, though it sits near its one-year low today. The share price is low, so one contract needs little cash. |
| 2 | RKLB (Rocket Lab) | IV percentile 8 (IV 78.9%) | Median IV over the past year: 91%. A rocket launch and spacecraft company whose shares move on launch results, contract wins and space-sector news. Launch days and earnings are the known events to plan around. |
| 3 | CRWV (CoreWeave) | IV percentile 91 (IV 109.1%) | Median IV over the past year: 89%, and rarely below 70%. An AI cloud company that rents out banks of Nvidia chips, listed since March 2025. The stock trades on AI spending news and on the debt it carries to build data centers. |
| 4 | SMCI (Super Micro Computer) | IV percentile 26 (IV 84.1%) | Median IV over the past year: 78%. Super Micro builds the servers that AI chips go into. The stock has a history of accounting and reporting problems on top of the AI cycle, which keeps its IV high. |
| 5 | MSTR (Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy) | IV percentile 29 (IV 72.1%) | Median IV over the past year: 71%. A software company that now mostly holds bitcoin, often bought with borrowed money, so the shares move like a leveraged bitcoin fund. It has one of the deepest options markets of any stock on this list. |
| 6 | COIN (Coinbase Global) | IV percentile 27 (IV 69.9%) | Median IV over the past year: 68%. The largest US crypto exchange. Trading revenue rises and falls with crypto prices and activity, so its IV follows crypto, and regulation news adds single-day risk. |
| 7 | HOOD (Robinhood Markets) | IV percentile 10 (IV 68.0%) | Median IV over the past year: 66%, and it has not fallen below 49%. The retail broker whose revenue depends on how much its customers trade, including options and crypto. It moves with market sentiment more than with its own news. |
| 8 | AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) | IV percentile 35 (IV 61.0%) | Median IV over the past year: 58%, well above most very large companies. A large, profitable chipmaker whose share price has risen a long way, so one contract now needs the most cash of any name here. Spreads are the practical way in for most accounts. |
| 9 | PLTR (Palantir Technologies) | IV percentile 62 (IV 64.5%) | Median IV over the past year: 52%. Data and AI software for governments and companies. The stock trades at a high valuation, which keeps its IV high for a company its size. Earnings and government contract news drive the big moves. |
| 10 | TSLA (Tesla) | IV percentile 11 (IV 39.0%) | Median IV over the past year: 46%, the lowest of the ten but still more than three times SPY's. The most familiar high-IV stock and one of the most traded options markets of any company. Headlines about the company and its CEO move it often. |
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IREN (IREN Ltd) Top pick
Median IV over the past year: 106%, the highest of the ten. A bitcoin miner that has moved into renting out AI computing power, so it swings with both bitcoin and AI spending. Its IV was above 90% on nine days in ten, though it sits near its one-year low today. The share price is low, so one contract needs little cash.
IV percentile 32 (IV 112.2%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level Very High
Capital required $4,600 per 100 shares
Ideal for Small, defined-risk positions for experienced sellers
Pros Highest year-round IV on the list; Low cash needed per contract; Busy options market for its size
Cons Tied to bitcoin and AI spending at once; Moves of 10% or more in a day are common; Small company next to the rest of the list
-
RKLB (Rocket Lab)
Median IV over the past year: 91%. A rocket launch and spacecraft company whose shares move on launch results, contract wins and space-sector news. Launch days and earnings are the known events to plan around.
IV percentile 8 (IV 78.9%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level High
Capital required $7,400 per 100 shares
Ideal for Traders comfortable sizing small around known event dates
Pros IV has stayed above 70% nearly all year; Moderate cash needed per contract; Clear, dated events (launches, earnings)
Cons A failed launch can gap the stock; Thinner options market than the large names here; Still growing into its valuation
-
CRWV (CoreWeave)
Median IV over the past year: 89%, and rarely below 70%. An AI cloud company that rents out banks of Nvidia chips, listed since March 2025. The stock trades on AI spending news and on the debt it carries to build data centers.
IV percentile 91 (IV 109.1%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level Very High
Capital required $9,000 per 100 shares
Ideal for Defined-risk sellers who want AI exposure with rich option prices
Pros IV consistently among the highest of the large AI names; Deep options market; Moderate cash needed per contract
Cons Short trading history; Heavy borrowing to fund growth; Moves with every AI spending headline
-
SMCI (Super Micro Computer)
Median IV over the past year: 78%. Super Micro builds the servers that AI chips go into. The stock has a history of accounting and reporting problems on top of the AI cycle, which keeps its IV high.
IV percentile 26 (IV 84.1%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level High
Capital required $4,200 per 100 shares
Ideal for Sellers willing to keep this a small part of their account
Pros Low cash needed per contract; IV rarely below 60%; Busy options market
Cons Company-specific news risk (filings, auditors); Narrow profit margins; Earnings moves are large
-
MSTR (Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy)
Median IV over the past year: 71%. A software company that now mostly holds bitcoin, often bought with borrowed money, so the shares move like a leveraged bitcoin fund. It has one of the deepest options markets of any stock on this list.
IV percentile 29 (IV 72.1%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level Very High
Capital required $16,200 per 100 shares
Ideal for Traders who already have a view on bitcoin and size for it
Pros Very deep options market; IV stays above 60% most of the time; A leveraged way to trade bitcoin's swings
Cons Amplifies bitcoin's falls as well as its rises; Debt and share issuance change the picture; Weekend bitcoin moves gap the Monday open
-
COIN (Coinbase Global)
Median IV over the past year: 68%. The largest US crypto exchange. Trading revenue rises and falls with crypto prices and activity, so its IV follows crypto, and regulation news adds single-day risk.
IV percentile 27 (IV 69.9%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level High
Capital required $19,900 per 100 shares
Ideal for Crypto-aware traders who want a company rather than a bitcoin proxy
Pros Deep options market; IV high but less extreme than MSTR; Business earns fees in both up and down markets
Cons Tied to crypto trading activity; Moves sharply on regulation news; Large earnings moves
-
HOOD (Robinhood Markets)
Median IV over the past year: 66%, and it has not fallen below 49%. The retail broker whose revenue depends on how much its customers trade, including options and crypto. It moves with market sentiment more than with its own news.
IV percentile 10 (IV 68.0%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level High
Capital required $12,100 per 100 shares
Ideal for Sellers who want high IV without a single-product company
Pros Busy options market; IV floor near 50%; Moderate cash needed per contract
Cons Revenue swings with retail trading activity; Crypto exposure; Falls hard when markets sell off
-
AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)
Median IV over the past year: 58%, well above most very large companies. A large, profitable chipmaker whose share price has risen a long way, so one contract now needs the most cash of any name here. Spreads are the practical way in for most accounts.
IV percentile 35 (IV 61.0%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level Medium-High
Capital required $62,900 per 100 shares
Ideal for Larger accounts, or spread traders in any account size
Pros Large, established business; Very deep options market; Lower tail risk than the smaller names above
Cons Most cash needed per contract on this list; Moves with the whole chip sector; Big earnings reactions
-
PLTR (Palantir Technologies)
Median IV over the past year: 52%. Data and AI software for governments and companies. The stock trades at a high valuation, which keeps its IV high for a company its size. Earnings and government contract news drive the big moves.
IV percentile 62 (IV 64.5%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level Medium-High
Capital required $19,300 per 100 shares
Ideal for Mid-size accounts wanting a large company with high IV
Pros Very deep options market; Profitable, growing business; IV rarely below 45%
Cons High valuation means sharp falls on disappointment; Crowded retail trade; Earnings moves are large
-
TSLA (Tesla)
Median IV over the past year: 46%, the lowest of the ten but still more than three times SPY's. The most familiar high-IV stock and one of the most traded options markets of any company. Headlines about the company and its CEO move it often.
IV percentile 11 (IV 39.0%), measured 2026-10-26
Risk level Medium-High
Capital required $37,800 per 100 shares
Ideal for Sellers who want high IV with the deepest possible options market
Pros Among the most-traded options of any stock; Tight bid-ask on near-dated options; Too large to swing on one contract or product
Cons Headline risk is constant; High cash needed per contract; Earnings and delivery numbers gap the stock
Live data, refreshed October 27, 2026. October 2026 data refresh: IREN IV percentile 44→32, RKLB IV percentile 3→8, SMCI IV percentile 52→26, MSTR IV percentile 34→29, COIN IV percentile 36→27, HOOD IV percentile 35→10, PLTR IV percentile 29→62.
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Today's highest-IV liquid stocks
Live, as of 27 Oct 2026, 15:51 UTC| Ticker | Price | IV30 | IV rank (1y) | IV %ile (1y) | HV20 | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMMT | $14.50 | 123.1% | 55 | 86 | 63.3% | Health |
| CRWV | $55.19 | 106.1% | 63 | 82 | 85.2% | Tech |
| WULF | $11.98 | 105.7% | 54 | 62 | 86.0% | Finance |
| DOCN | $99.53 | 102.8% | 66 | 77 | 85.0% | Tech |
| BSP | $46.63 | 100.9% | 50 | 84 | 181.6% | n/a |
| RIOT | $12.59 | 97.4% | 58 | 80 | 63.8% | Tech |
| FPS | $25.12 | 95.6% | 76 | 87 | 97.6% | n/a |
| GLXY | $15.68 | 90.4% | 42 | 61 | 74.3% | Finance |
| PENG | $54.92 | 87.1% | 44 | 67 | 105.0% | Tech |
| MRNA | $198.85 | 85.8% | 20 | 64 | 105.2% | Health |
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How to Use the High IV Stock List and the Live Scan
The two parts of this page answer different questions. The live scan answers "which stocks have the highest IV today?" It takes liquid stocks (share price over $10, market value over $2 billion, 5,000+ option contracts a day, IV under 150%), keeps only those whose IV percentile is 60 or higher, and sorts them by IV. It refreshes through the trading day.
That scan often leads with small drug developers and other names that have one big event coming. Their IV is high for a reason, and it usually collapses once the event passes. The ranked list answers a different question: "which liquid stocks keep a high IV most of the time?" Those are the names option sellers come back to month after month.
To check any ticker yourself, open the IV module in the Terminal for its IV, IV percentile and term structure, or the screener to sort the whole market by IV.
How We Measure High IV
Median IV is the middle value of each stock's 30-day at-the-money implied volatility over the past 252 trading days, from ORATS end-of-day data. IV percentile is the ORATS figure, measured with the next earnings move taken out, so it can look low next to the IV shown when results are close.
Earnings matter here. Most of the ten report quarterly results between late October and mid November. When results fall inside the next 30 days, 30-day IV includes that one-day move: at the 25 September close only TSLA's did, at 43.6% with earnings and 39.1% without. For most of these names, options price a move of about 10% to 16% on results day.
What High Implied Volatility Pays Option Sellers
For a 30-day put sold at the 25 delta (about a 1-in-4 to 1-in-3 chance of finishing in the money, higher as IV rises), the payment and the distance to the strike both grow with IV:
| 30-day IV | Strike below the price | Premium, % of strike | Example from the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | about 3% | about 0.9% | a typical large company |
| 40% | about 6.5% | about 1.9% | TSLA, PLTR |
| 60% | about 9% | about 3.1% | COIN, HOOD, AMD |
| 80% | about 12% | about 4.4% | SMCI, CRWV |
| 100% | about 14% | about 5.8% | IREN at its usual level |
Figures are from a standard pricing model with rates at 4% and no dividend. Real quotes differ a little, because puts further below the price usually cost more than the model says and you pay the bid-ask spread. The premium is what you collect, not what you keep. At 80% IV a stock is priced for a typical one-month move of about 23%, and one move through your strike can cost more than several months of premium.
Matching the High IV Stock to the Trade
- Large companies, IV around 45-60% (AMD, PLTR, TSLA): cash-secured puts at the 20-25 delta are workable if you would own the shares. AMD and TSLA need a lot of cash per contract, so spreads suit smaller accounts.
- Crypto and brokers, IV around 60-75% (MSTR, COIN, HOOD): these move together when crypto or markets turn. Hold smaller size, avoid owning all three at once, and prefer credit spreads.
- AI infrastructure and space, IV around 75-110% (IREN, RKLB, CRWV, SMCI): defined-risk only, and keep each position to 1-2% of the account. Treat these as speculation, not income.
When High IV Is an Opportunity and When It Is a Trap
The same IV percentile of 75 can mean very different things depending on why IV is high:
| Why IV is high | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| After a sell-off, stock down 15%+ | Fear is elevated and tends to fade | Selling is reasonable, sized small |
| Earnings in the next few days | A one-day move is priced in, and IV drops right after (IV crush) | Sell only if you accept the gap risk; otherwise wait until after |
| Drug trial, court or regulator decision | A yes-or-no event; the price is usually fair | Avoid |
| Whole sector moving | A shared worry across the group | Sell the strongest company in the group, not the weakest |
| One stock spiking on news | More news may follow | Wait until the story is clear |
Found a high-IV stock? Picking the stock is half the trade; the structure matters as much. See the best options strategies for high IV, ranked by how well they use expensive options.
This list is for education, not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Options can lose more than the premium collected.
Run the numbers before you trade. Live IV rank, the smile, the term structure and the cone, free on AAPL. Free, no signup. Or model any multi-leg trade in the options profit calculator.
Open IV Intelligence- Written by
- ApexVol Research Team
Quantitative options research. All calculations use live institutional-grade data — the same source professional volatility desks use. - Reviewed by
- Ryan Silk, ApexVol Founder
Reviewed for technical accuracy. 10+ years trading options; built ApexVol's pricing engine, Greeks model and IV-rank methodology.
Revised as market conditions and institutional data change. Last revised 2026-10-27. How we research →
Questions
About this ranking.
What stocks have the highest implied volatility right now?
It changes every day, which is why this page carries a live scan that refreshes through the trading day. At the 25 September 2026 close, among liquid US stocks whose IV was also high for their own year, the leaders were QURE (145%), FRVO (104%) and PCVX (101%). Among heavily traded, larger names, IREN, RKLB, CRWV and SMCI keep the highest IV all year, with one-year medians of 78% to 106%.
What counts as a high IV stock?
ApexVol uses a 30-day implied volatility of 45% or more. For scale, the median over the past year was 14% for the S&P 500 ETF (SPY), 25% for AAPL and 39% for NVDA, so 45% means options are pricing in more than three times the index's movement. Against its own history, a stock is running high when its IV percentile or IV rank is above 60 to 70.
What is the difference between IV and IV percentile?
IV measures how big a move options expect, so it compares one stock with another. IV percentile ranks today's IV against the stock's own past year: 90 means IV was lower on 90% of days. On 25 September 2026 IREN's IV was 74%, three and a half times AAPL's 21%, yet both sat near the bottom of their own year (0 and 12th percentile). IV rank is a close cousin that uses the year's high and low instead of every day.
How much can you make selling options on high IV stocks?
A 30-day put at the 25 delta collects about 0.9% of the strike when IV is 20%, 1.9% at 40%, 3.1% at 60% and 4.4% at 80%. That is premium collected, not profit: the higher payment comes with larger moves, and one bad month on a high-IV stock can take back several months of premium. Most sellers use smaller size or spreads on these names.
Why is NVDA not on this list?
NVDA's median IV over the past year was 39%, below the 45% line, and on 25 September 2026 it was 30%, near the lowest of its year. It has the busiest options market of any stock, but its options no longer price in the moves the names on this list do.
When should I avoid selling options on high IV stocks?
When there is a single known event behind the IV, such as a drug trial result, a court ruling or earnings in the next few days, the high price is usually fair payment for the risk of a gap. Also avoid them if you cannot afford to own the shares at the strike, or if one losing trade would be a large part of your account.
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