Options Skew Analytics

UNH options analytics

UNH · Stock

Data as of 24 September 2026 (end of day)

UNH options are pricing a 30-day at-the-money volatility of 40.9%, a move of about ±11.7% over the next month. That is higher than 85% of the 252 sessions in its trailing year.

Its 25-delta puts carry 1.63 volatility points more than the calls, around the middle of its own range for the past year.

The term structure is inverted: 90-day volatility is 18% below 30-day, which happens when the market prices something dated into the nearer expirations.

Its next earnings report is 2026-10-13, before the open.

Across its last 8 reports the options market priced an average move of ±7.2% and UNH moved 8.9% on average, staying inside the priced band 4 times out of 8.

Current readings

30-day ATM implied volatilityⓘ
40.89%

Prices a move of about ±11.7% over 30 days, or ±2.6% on a typical day.

Higher than 85% of the past year.

25-delta risk reversalⓘ
+1.63

Puts carry 1.63 volatility points more than calls the same distance from the money.

Higher than 54% of the past year.

25-delta butterflyⓘ
-0.56

The wings carry 0.56 volatility points less than at-the-money.

Term structure slopeⓘ
0.824

90-day volatility is 18% below 30-day.

Lower than almost every reading of the past year.

Where 30-day implied volatility sits

Against 252 prior sessions (one-year window)

40.9% — 85th percentile
24.5%54.2%
IV percentile, 1 year
85%
IV rank, 1 year
55%
IV percentile, 2 years
85%
IV rank, 2 years
38%

Rank is the position between the lowest and highest readings in the window, so a single past extreme pins everything after it near one end. Percentile is the share of sessions below the current reading and is unaffected by how far that extreme reached. Both are withheld when the window holds fewer than 180 sessions.

Session detail

Underlying close
$375.01
30-day implied forward
$376.47
60-day ATM IV
35.34%
90-day ATM IV
33.67%
180-day ATM IV
32.72%
Expirations used
13
Total open interest
617,127
Put / call open interest
0.76

The forward is derived from put-call parity on the strikes nearest the money, not taken from the underlying close. It is what every moneyness and delta on this page is measured against.

30-day at-the-money implied volatility

Last 518 sessions

0%20%40%60%80%26 Aug6 Mar11 Sep20 Mar24 Sep
Show the underlying numbers (most recent 120)
Session30-day ATM IV25-delta RRTerm slopeClose
2026-09-2440.89%+1.630.824$375.01
2026-09-2339.85%+1.110.834$371.29
2026-09-2239.36%+1.370.845$372.95
2026-09-2138.67%+1.600.850$377.56
2026-09-1839.28%+1.390.844$376.90
2026-09-1738.81%+0.980.850$375.21
2026-09-1637.94%+1.630.864$375.26
2026-09-1534.47%+1.120.947$375.93
2026-09-1432.83%+1.980.971$383.55
2026-09-1130.93%+2.291.024$379.09
2026-09-1032.54%+1.000.986$388.28
2026-09-0932.09%+0.211.000$393.06
2026-09-0833.51%+1.990.994$400.84
2026-09-0429.76%+0.341.088$397.14
2026-09-0325.28%+1.241.275$400.94
2026-09-0227.84%+1.741.146$399.66
2026-09-0127.85%+1.821.155$396.30
2026-08-3127.26%+0.881.186$389.41
2026-08-2826.39%+0.951.214$392.95
2026-08-2727.25%+0.991.190$395.05
2026-08-2628.08%+1.181.182$401.01
2026-08-2527.20%+1.491.176$396.59
2026-08-2428.22%+0.961.127$398.76
2026-08-2127.75%+1.221.150$390.11
2026-08-2028.00%+1.621.142$384.85
2026-08-1927.87%+1.901.130$388.61
2026-08-1826.92%+1.161.169$393.93
2026-08-1727.03%+1.421.163$395.62
2026-08-1425.72%+0.541.204$401.73
2026-08-1326.07%+0.671.192$399.06
2026-08-1226.37%-0.161.206$405.59
2026-08-1126.59%+1.891.171$402.19
2026-08-1027.48%+1.111.154$408.74
2026-08-0726.96%+1.601.178$407.08
2026-08-0627.82%+0.951.156$403.97
2026-08-0528.24%+0.991.140$412.75
2026-08-0428.30%+2.201.133$407.55
2026-08-0328.71%+2.431.105$415.36
2026-07-3127.59%+1.311.144$414.40
2026-07-3027.72%+1.551.137$421.47
2026-07-2926.90%+2.241.184$420.57
2026-07-2828.43%+1.311.123$428.79
2026-07-2728.41%+1.651.135$417.64
2026-07-2427.41%+1.541.158$420.74
2026-07-2327.95%+1.581.159$423.56
2026-07-2228.03%+1.221.146$431.31
2026-07-2128.22%+0.661.112$436.35
2026-07-2028.89%+1.841.129$421.55
2026-07-1729.37%+0.971.104$426.09
2026-07-1630.48%+2.581.060$423.38
2026-07-1540.89%-0.080.844$418.52
2026-07-1438.55%+1.350.919$425.19
2026-07-1339.95%+1.670.900$429.09
2026-07-1036.68%+3.110.930$424.62
2026-07-0938.64%+1.740.900$431.68
2026-07-0838.69%+2.230.892$425.60
2026-07-0737.71%+1.130.901$428.19
2026-07-0638.12%+1.770.902$417.99
2026-07-0236.72%+2.570.891$425.36
2026-07-0136.82%+1.900.886$426.54
2026-06-3037.77%+0.160.866$415.63
2026-06-2935.86%-0.410.913$419.82
2026-06-2635.95%+2.530.890$427.89
2026-06-2537.39%+1.960.881$415.53
2026-06-2439.27%+1.760.859$405.80
2026-06-2336.11%+2.420.899$409.25
2026-06-2236.66%+1.130.893$406.68
2026-06-1836.23%+2.470.897$400.96
2026-06-1735.19%+2.050.913$399.53
2026-06-1634.93%+1.260.922$407.65
2026-06-1531.64%+1.470.988$411.04
2026-06-1228.97%+1.131.112$408.52
2026-06-1128.55%+1.881.177$405.55
2026-06-1028.81%+4.451.177$407.46
2026-06-0928.10%+1.871.185$413.00
2026-06-0829.89%+0.191.176$406.57
2026-06-0529.06%+2.681.181$399.47
2026-06-0428.81%+2.851.180$396.47
2026-06-0331.91%+1.201.107$377.00
2026-06-0229.15%+1.031.176$377.92
2026-06-0130.56%+1.961.136$379.86
2026-05-2928.65%+1.181.155$380.31
2026-05-2826.00%+2.111.236$382.53
2026-05-2725.28%+2.231.288$384.01
2026-05-2627.24%+1.201.226$376.86
2026-05-2225.89%+4.291.225$388.47
2026-05-2127.27%+2.821.190$382.48
2026-05-2028.33%+2.301.160$383.30
2026-05-1928.37%+1.451.150$389.24
2026-05-1829.32%+2.101.121$391.13
2026-05-1528.32%+2.671.161$393.85
2026-05-1428.40%+2.721.165$399.09
2026-05-1330.91%+1.501.075$401.16
2026-05-1230.14%+3.851.076$396.39
2026-05-1128.18%+1.491.121$384.44
2026-05-0827.83%+0.651.092$379.98
2026-05-0724.53%+2.191.163$369.74
2026-05-0625.55%+1.861.131$367.28
2026-05-0527.47%+0.081.076$363.87
2026-05-0426.03%+2.541.141$370.75
2026-05-0126.42%+1.271.125$368.78
2026-04-3026.08%+2.431.146$370.48
2026-04-2927.58%+4.311.083$370.74
2026-04-2828.10%+1.741.090$366.77
2026-04-2729.09%+2.371.048$354.69
2026-04-2428.22%+2.531.048$354.92
2026-04-2329.39%+2.381.005$354.56
2026-04-2230.03%+2.201.002$353.52
2026-04-2129.77%+2.451.005$346.01
2026-04-2038.19%-0.230.852$323.48
2026-04-1734.88%+3.440.910$324.63
2026-04-1636.08%+2.450.910$316.40
2026-04-1535.15%+2.740.942$314.05
2026-04-1435.49%+2.860.955$314.19
2026-04-1335.37%+4.560.904$313.00
2026-04-1034.85%+3.410.915$304.33
2026-04-0936.91%+7.030.860$306.91
2026-04-0836.25%+4.070.924$305.98
2026-04-0739.16%+4.740.901$307.73
2026-04-0647.54%+5.050.860$281.36

The chart covers every session in the archive, 518 in total. The table lists the most recent 120.

25-delta risk reversal

Last 518 sessions

-10.0-5.00.05.010.015.026 Aug6 Mar11 Sep20 Mar24 Sep

The dashed line marks zero, where the 25-delta put and call carry the same implied volatility.

Skew curve

Implied volatility by delta, front expirations

Implied volatility by delta

1d (2026-09-25) · 8d (2026-10-02) · 15d (2026-10-09)

28%30%32%34%36%38%40%2026-09-25 (1d) — 5Δ C — IV 31.61%2026-09-25 (1d) — 10Δ C — IV 30.98%2026-09-25 (1d) — 15Δ C — IV 30.66%2026-09-25 (1d) — 20Δ C — IV 30.29%2026-09-25 (1d) — 25Δ C — IV 30.29%2026-09-25 (1d) — 30Δ C — IV 30.39%2026-09-25 (1d) — 35Δ C — IV 30.51%2026-09-25 (1d) — 40Δ C — IV 30.81%2026-09-25 (1d) — 45Δ C — IV 31.34%2026-09-25 (1d) — ATM — IV 31.83%2026-09-25 (1d) — 45Δ P — IV 32.10%2026-09-25 (1d) — 40Δ P — IV 32.29%2026-09-25 (1d) — 35Δ P — IV 32.49%2026-09-25 (1d) — 30Δ P — IV 32.84%2026-09-25 (1d) — 25Δ P — IV 33.37%2026-09-25 (1d) — 20Δ P — IV 33.81%2026-09-25 (1d) — 15Δ P — IV 34.06%2026-09-25 (1d) — 10Δ P — IV 34.75%2026-09-25 (1d) — 5Δ P — IV 38.07%1d2026-10-02 (8d) — 5Δ C — IV 31.96%2026-10-02 (8d) — 10Δ C — IV 30.98%2026-10-02 (8d) — 15Δ C — IV 30.74%2026-10-02 (8d) — 20Δ C — IV 30.76%2026-10-02 (8d) — 25Δ C — IV 30.72%2026-10-02 (8d) — 30Δ C — IV 30.94%2026-10-02 (8d) — 35Δ C — IV 30.56%2026-10-02 (8d) — 40Δ C — IV 30.98%2026-10-02 (8d) — 45Δ C — IV 31.58%2026-10-02 (8d) — ATM — IV 32.04%2026-10-02 (8d) — 45Δ P — IV 32.76%2026-10-02 (8d) — 40Δ P — IV 32.95%2026-10-02 (8d) — 35Δ P — IV 32.60%2026-10-02 (8d) — 30Δ P — IV 32.63%2026-10-02 (8d) — 25Δ P — IV 33.02%2026-10-02 (8d) — 20Δ P — IV 32.92%2026-10-02 (8d) — 15Δ P — IV 33.11%2026-10-02 (8d) — 10Δ P — IV 33.70%2026-10-02 (8d) — 5Δ P — IV 35.29%8d2026-10-09 (15d) — 5Δ C — IV 34.02%2026-10-09 (15d) — 10Δ C — IV 33.69%2026-10-09 (15d) — 15Δ C — IV 33.49%2026-10-09 (15d) — 20Δ C — IV 33.36%2026-10-09 (15d) — 25Δ C — IV 33.20%2026-10-09 (15d) — 30Δ C — IV 33.50%2026-10-09 (15d) — 35Δ C — IV 33.81%2026-10-09 (15d) — 40Δ C — IV 34.05%2026-10-09 (15d) — 45Δ C — IV 34.53%2026-10-09 (15d) — ATM — IV 34.45%2026-10-09 (15d) — 45Δ P — IV 35.07%2026-10-09 (15d) — 40Δ P — IV 35.26%2026-10-09 (15d) — 35Δ P — IV 35.16%2026-10-09 (15d) — 30Δ P — IV 35.25%2026-10-09 (15d) — 25Δ P — IV 35.47%2026-10-09 (15d) — 20Δ P — IV 35.43%2026-10-09 (15d) — 15Δ P — IV 35.60%2026-10-09 (15d) — 10Δ P — IV 36.41%2026-10-09 (15d) — 5Δ P — IV 37.72%15d10Δ C25Δ CATM25Δ P10Δ Pout-of-the-money calls ← delta → out-of-the-money puts

The axis is call delta. Readings to the right of the dashed centre line are taken from the out-of-the-money put at that strike, which is the contract whose quote the volatility was solved from. Points are only plotted where surviving quotes bracket the delta on both sides; nothing is extrapolated past the last traded strike.

Show the underlying numbers
Delta1d8d15d
5Δ call31.61%31.96%34.02%
10Δ call30.98%30.98%33.69%
15Δ call30.66%30.74%33.49%
20Δ call30.29%30.76%33.36%
25Δ call30.29%30.72%33.20%
30Δ call30.39%30.94%33.50%
35Δ call30.51%30.56%33.81%
40Δ call30.81%30.98%34.05%
45Δ call31.34%31.58%34.53%
ATM31.83%32.04%34.45%
45Δ put32.10%32.76%35.07%
40Δ put32.29%32.95%35.26%
35Δ put32.49%32.60%35.16%
30Δ put32.84%32.63%35.25%
25Δ put33.37%33.02%35.47%
20Δ put33.81%32.92%35.43%
15Δ put34.06%33.11%35.60%
10Δ put34.75%33.70%36.41%
5Δ put38.07%35.29%37.72%

Wing readings by expiration

ExpirationDaysForwardATM IV25Δ put25Δ callRRButterflyQuotes
2026-09-251$375.2031.83%33.37%30.29%+3.08+0.0019
2026-10-028$375.6532.04%33.02%30.72%+2.30-0.1733
2026-10-0915$375.9834.45%35.47%33.20%+2.27-0.1132
2026-10-1622$376.1845.33%45.57%43.76%+1.81-0.6744
2026-10-2329$376.4341.29%41.57%39.98%+1.59-0.5231
2026-10-3036$376.6838.89%39.04%37.20%+1.84-0.7735
2026-11-0643$376.0835.98%37.17%36.97%+0.19+1.0812
2026-11-2057$377.4835.61%36.19%34.58%+1.61-0.2324
2026-12-1885$377.3733.76%34.95%32.61%+2.34+0.0232
2027-01-15113$378.2833.36%34.66%32.10%+2.57+0.0235
2027-03-19176$380.1032.69%34.44%31.48%+2.96+0.2743
2027-06-17266$383.1033.16%34.65%31.74%+2.91+0.0454
2027-09-17358$385.7432.26%34.63%31.44%+3.19+0.7751

Each curve above is one expiration. The vertical position is implied volatility; the horizontal position is the delta of the contract it was read from. For US equities the curve normally slopes upward to the right, meaning out-of-the-money puts carry higher implied volatility than equidistant calls.

The 25-delta risk reversal summarises that slope as a single number: the 25-delta put volatility minus the 25-delta call volatility. The butterfly summarises the curvature: the average of the two wings minus the at-the-money reading.

Term structure

At-the-money implied volatility by expiration

At-the-money implied volatility by expiration

13 listed expirations produced a usable reading

30%35%40%45%50%2026-09-25 — 1 days — at-the-money IV 31.83%2026-10-02 — 8 days — at-the-money IV 32.04%2026-10-09 — 15 days — at-the-money IV 34.45%2026-10-16 — 22 days — at-the-money IV 45.33%2026-10-23 — 29 days — at-the-money IV 41.29%2026-10-30 — 36 days — at-the-money IV 38.89%2026-11-06 — 43 days — at-the-money IV 35.98%2026-11-20 — 57 days — at-the-money IV 35.61%2026-12-18 — 85 days — at-the-money IV 33.76%2027-01-15 — 113 days — at-the-money IV 33.36%2027-03-19 — 176 days — at-the-money IV 32.69%2027-06-17 — 266 days — at-the-money IV 33.16%2027-09-17 — 358 days — at-the-money IV 32.26%7306090180days to expiration

The horizontal axis is the square root of days to expiration, which is the scale volatility lives on. A curve that is flat in variance terms plots as a straight line here rather than bending sharply through the front week.

Show the underlying numbers
ExpirationDaysForwardATM IVATM strikeQuotes used
2026-09-251 day$375.2031.83%$375.2519
2026-10-028 days$375.6532.04%$376.0733
2026-10-0915 days$375.9834.45%$376.8932
2026-10-1622 days$376.1845.33%$378.5144
2026-10-2329 days$376.4341.29%$378.9931
2026-10-3036 days$376.6838.89%$379.5035
2026-11-0643 days$376.0835.98%$378.9612
2026-11-2057 days$377.4835.61%$381.2424
2026-12-1885 days$377.3733.76%$382.4232
2027-01-15113 days$378.2833.36%$384.8535
2027-03-19176 days$380.1032.69%$390.0243
2027-06-17266 days$383.1033.16%$398.7654
2027-09-17358 days$385.7432.26%$405.9451

Constant maturities

Interpolated between the bracketing listed expirations, in total variance

30 days
40.89%
60 days
35.34%
90 days
33.67%
180 days
32.72%

Interpolation is linear in total variance, not in volatility. Interpolating volatility directly implies a forward variance that can be negative between two expirations. A tenor beyond the longest listed expiration is reported as unavailable rather than extrapolated.

Term structure slope

Last 518 sessions

0.600.801.001.201.401.6026 Aug6 Mar11 Sep20 Mar24 Sep

The dashed line marks 1.00, where the 90-day and 30-day at-the-money volatilities are equal. Above it the longer tenor carries the higher volatility.

The term structure is the at-the-money implied volatility of each listed expiration, plotted against how far away that expiration is. Its usual shape for a calm underlying slopes gently upward, because a longer horizon admits more uncertainty.

It inverts when the market prices a dated event: an expiration that captures a scheduled announcement carries the variance of that event on top of ordinary trading, so a shorter contract can print a higher volatility than a longer one.

Earnings

What the options priced in before each report, and what happened

Next report

2026-10-13Before the openAnnounced

How the pricing has held up

Over the last 8 reports

Landed inside the implied band
4 of 8
50% — about 68% is what an exactly-priced event gives
Mean implied move
7.2%
Mean move that happened
8.9%
absolute

Reports

Newest first. The implied move is one standard deviation, priced from the session before the release.

ReportSessionImplied ±RealisedRealised / implied
2026-07-16Before the open7.8%+1.2%0.15×
2026-04-21Before the open7.4%+7.0%0.94×
2026-01-27Before the open7.5%-19.6%2.60×
2025-10-28Before the open7.4%+0.5%0.07×
2025-07-29Before the open10.0%-7.5%0.75×
2025-04-17Before the open6.2%-22.4%3.60×
2025-01-16Before the open5.4%-6.0%1.11×
2024-10-15Before the open6.1%-7.0%1.15×
2024-07-16Before the open———
2024-04-16Before the open———
2024-01-12Before the open———
2023-10-13Before the open———

The implied move is read from the at-the-money straddle on the first expiration strictly after the report date, converted to a one-standard-deviation move and divided by the forward. Realised moves are the close-to-close return across the event, measured from the session before the release to the session after it.

Report dates that have already happened come from the company’s own 8-K filing and are exact. A date still in the future is either one the company has announced, or an estimate from its reporting cadence.