What unusual options activity means
Unusual options activity (UOA) is when a ticker's options volume on a specific strike or expiration is materially higher than its average. It's a tell that someone — often institutional — is positioning aggressively. UOA isn't a guarantee of direction, but it's one of the cleanest "smart money" signals retail traders can access.
What TrendSpider's UOA scanner does
In real time, TrendSpider scans the entire US options market for:
- Volume vs. open interest: new options bought today exceeding existing positions
- Volume vs. 30-day average: abnormal volume spike
- Buy vs. sell pressure: trades hitting the ask (buying) vs. bid (selling)
- Sweep detection: orders that swept multiple exchanges (urgent, often institutional)
- Block trades: large single trades typically requiring institutional execution
You can filter on any combination. The scanner returns a live list of tickers + strikes + expirations with the abnormal flow.
How to find the UOA scanner
Available on the Advanced plan. Open TrendSpider → Scanners → Unusual Options Activity. The default view shows the day's biggest flow.
Setting up your first useful UOA scan
The default view is overwhelming. Filter aggressively. Our default setup:
1. Type: Calls only (or Puts only — separate scanners for each direction)
2. Volume / OI ratio: > 2.0 (meaning today's volume is at least 2x the existing open interest — i.e., new positions, not closing)
3. Volume / 30-day avg: > 3.0 (abnormal vs. recent baseline)
4. Trade type: Sweep OR Block (institutional-looking flow)
5. DTE (days to expiration): 14-90 (skip same-day, skip leaps)
6. Strike distance: within 5% of current spot (skip deep OTM lottery tickets)
This filter typically returns 5-15 tickers per day on a normal market session. Manageable shortlist.
Cross-referencing UOA with technical setup
UOA alone is not a trade signal. Here's how to layer:
1. Open the chart of each ticker on your UOA shortlist
2. Check the technical context:
- Is the stock in a Stage 2 uptrend (Minervini-style)?
- Is it near auto-drawn support or resistance?
- Is there a chart pattern forming (cup and handle, flag, etc.)?
3. Check the catalyst:
- Earnings approaching?
- Recent news?
- Sector rotation?
The trade you want is UOA + technical setup + catalyst alignment. When all three align, the conviction is high.
Real example workflow
1. UOA scanner flags NVDA with 15,000 calls bought at the $130 strike, expiring 30 days out, sweep type, on a day when avg call volume is 3,000
2. Open NVDA chart → in clean Stage 2 uptrend, recently broke out of a flag pattern, anchored VWAP from earnings is rising
3. Catalyst check → next earnings in 18 days; AI sector strong
4. Trade decision: sized long position via shares OR your own call options near the same strike (different size — institutional flow doesn't dictate retail size)
The UOA was the spark. The chart and catalyst were the confirmation. Without all three, skip.
Common UOA scanner mistakes
1. Trading every UOA signal
Don't. Most UOA flow is hedging activity, not directional bets. Filter aggressively.
2. Following without your own setup
Just because someone bought 10,000 calls doesn't mean they're right. Layer your own technical and fundamental analysis on top.
3. Same-strike same-day options
Sub-1-DTE options are rarely directional bets — they're often hedges or volatility plays. Filter them out.
4. Ignoring the spread
UOA on illiquid names with wide bid/ask spreads is a trap. Cross-check that the spread is tight before considering the flow as actionable.
5. Position sizing like the institution
A whale bought $5M of calls. You don't need to. Size relative to your account, not the institution's.
What to do when UOA fires after hours
Some of the cleanest UOA setups print after the close — block trades or unusual late-session flow. TrendSpider's alerts can fire on UOA conditions in real time, including after hours. Set them up to email/SMS so you can plan the next morning's trade overnight.
Plan requirement
The UOA scanner is on the Advanced plan. With code SET25, that's $60.75/mo billed annually — the cheapest way for retail to access institutional-grade UOA scanning.
Standalone UOA services (FlowAlgo, Cheddar Flow, BlackBoxStocks) charge $100-300/mo for similar functionality. If you trade options at all, the upgrade pays for itself with one good UOA-driven trade.
Start the 7-day free trial and apply SET25 at upgrade. Run the UOA scanner during one full session — you'll see whether it surfaces tradeable setups for your style.