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PUT SUPPORT SCANNER
August 21, 2026 Latest
10 candidates displayed
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37 symbols scanned
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30–50 DTE ∙
Earnings excluded
The Put Support Scanner runs daily across the options universe, identifying short put setups where open interest concentration, GEX anchor confluence, and OI freshness align at the same strike. Every candidate below shows a put support level with a call pin ceiling above - structurally locked between market maker hedging flows.
The top three setups are selected by anomaly strength (OI freshness and confluence). The remaining candidates follow by score. This is pattern recognition, not a trade recommendation - position sizing, IV environment, and individual risk tolerance determine whether any setup is actionable.
▲ Top 3 — Highest Anomaly Signal
#1 Top Pick
NKE
33% of all put open interest for this expiry on NKE sits at the $37.00 strike - a concentration that creates real pinning incentive for market makers over the next 35 days. A call pin ceiling at $45.00 caps the upside, creating a defined range.
Score
11.0
Delta
18.8
Distance
-9.2%
OI Fresh
3.9x
Confluence
4 anchors
OI Conc.
33%
PCR OI
2.16
Ceiling
$45.00 (+10.4%)
#2 Runner-Up
MRK
Options market makers holding short puts at $140.00 on MRK are structurally incentivized to defend that level as expiry approaches. with notable open interest at the anchor strike, with 4 independent support signals converging at the same level reinforcing the zone. A call pin ceiling at $165.00 caps the upside, creating a defined range.
Score
12.1
Delta
16.5
Distance
-8.2%
OI Fresh
3.7x
Confluence
4 anchors
OI Conc.
61%
PCR OI
0.84
Ceiling
$165.00 (+8.2%)
#3 Watch List
QQQ
QQQ appears on the scanner at the $680.00 put strike, 4.7% below spot with 35 days to expiry. The setup shows with notable open interest at the anchor strike. A call pin ceiling at $734.00 caps the upside, creating a defined range. 7% of total put open interest for this expiry is concentrated at this strike.
Score
9.8
Delta
23.4
Distance
-4.7%
OI Fresh
-
Confluence
5 anchors
OI Conc.
7%
PCR OI
1.37
Ceiling
$734.00 (+2.9%)
Further Candidates — Ranked by Score
| Symbol | Strike | Expiry | DTE | Score | Delta | Distance | OI Fresh | Confluence | Ceiling | OI Conc. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | BSX | $47.00 | Sep 25 | 35d | 11.2 | 25.0 | -6.7% | 1.9x | 3 anchors | $56.00 | 29% |
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| ▶ | MSFT | $450.00 | Sep 25 | 35d | 11.0 | 18.2 | -6.9% | - | 3 anchors | $530.00 | 41% |
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| ▶ | BA | $200.00 | Sep 25 | 35d | 10.8 | 21.5 | -6.6% | - | 3 anchors | $225.00 | 39% |
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| ▶ | IBIT | $40.00 | Sep 25 | 35d | 10.6 | 21.8 | -8.4% | - | 2 anchors | $44.00 | 17% |
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| ▶ | AMZN | $240.00 | Sep 25 | 35d | 10.6 | 19.1 | -7.2% | - | 3 anchors | $280.00 | 49% |
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| ▶ | CMG | $32.00 | Sep 25 | 35d | 10.0 | 11.3 | -13.3% | - | 3 anchors | $38.00 | 31% |
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| ▶ | NFLX | $74.00 | Sep 25 | 35d | 9.8 | 20.4 | -7.0% | - | 3 anchors | $85.00 | 30% |
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Understanding the Put Scanner
What is put support and why does it matter?
Put support refers to strike prices where large open interest in put options creates a natural price floor. Market makers who have sold these puts must hedge by buying the underlying as price approaches - this buying pressure tends to stabilize the stock near that level.
The scanner identifies strikes where this effect is unusually strong: high OI concentration, fresh positioning (not stale OI carried over weeks), and confirmation from multiple signal types.
The scanner identifies strikes where this effect is unusually strong: high OI concentration, fresh positioning (not stale OI carried over weeks), and confirmation from multiple signal types.
What does OI Fresh (x vs 20d) mean?
OI Fresh compares current open interest at a strike to its 20-day average. A reading of 8x means 8 times the normal OI has accumulated at this strike recently - indicating fresh, intentional positioning rather than legacy contracts.
Readings above 7x are highlighted as significant. Above 15x is considered an unusual OI spike worth special attention.
Readings above 7x are highlighted as significant. Above 15x is considered an unusual OI spike worth special attention.
What is a Put Pin?
A Put Pin is a strike price with significant put option positioning that can influence dealer hedging activity. As the underlying approaches a heavily positioned put strike, dealer hedging can create buying pressure that may help stabilize price around that level. The Put Support Scanner uses Put Pins as one of several independent signals for identifying potential support.
What is a Call Pin?
A Call Pin is a strike price with significant call option positioning above the current spot price. Dealer hedging around heavily positioned call strikes can create selling pressure as price approaches the level, making it a potential resistance or upside ceiling. The scanner uses Call Pins to identify potential ceilings above a Put Support level.
What is GEX Flip?
The GEX Flip is the price level where aggregate gamma exposure changes from positive to negative or vice versa. This transition can mark a change in dealer hedging behavior and is therefore an important reference level in options market structure. The Put Support Scanner uses the GEX Flip as one of its confluence signals.
What is Max Pain?
Max Pain is the strike price where the combined value of outstanding call and put options would be lowest at expiration. It is commonly used as an options-market reference level and can provide additional context about where option positioning is concentrated. The scanner uses Max Pain as one of its independent support signals.
What is Spot Price?
Spot Price is the current market price of the underlying stock. In the Put Support Chart, the spot price provides the reference point for measuring the distance between the current market price and option-derived levels such as Put Pins, Call Pins, GEX Flip and Max Pain.
What does Unusual mean on the Put Support Chart?
Unusual identifies an options positioning signal that stands out compared with normal activity. In particular, unusual open interest or fresh positioning can indicate that significant new options activity has appeared at a strike. The scanner uses OI freshness and other positioning characteristics to identify unusually strong signals.
What is the Scanner Pick?
The Scanner Pick is the primary support level selected by the Put Support Scanner. Unlike Put Pin, Call Pin, GEX Flip and Max Pain, it is not an independent market indicator. It is the scanner's selected level after evaluating multiple factors including support signal confluence, open interest freshness, distance from spot, delta and other scoring components.
What is confluence and how many anchors is meaningful?
Confluence counts how many independent support signals converge at or near the primary strike: GEX Put Pins, Max Pain, GEX Flip level. Each represents a different mechanism that creates buying pressure at that level.
4+ anchors means four separate dealer-hedging mechanisms point to the same zone - a rare and structurally significant alignment. 2-3 is common; 4+ is the threshold for high-conviction setups.
4+ anchors means four separate dealer-hedging mechanisms point to the same zone - a rare and structurally significant alignment. 2-3 is common; 4+ is the threshold for high-conviction setups.
What is the call pin ceiling?
The call pin ceiling is a strike with heavy call open interest above the current spot price. Just as put support creates a floor through dealer buying, call pins create a ceiling through dealer selling.
When a setup shows both a put support floor and a call pin ceiling, the stock is 'locked' between two hedging flows - reducing directional risk for short put sellers.
When a setup shows both a put support floor and a call pin ceiling, the stock is 'locked' between two hedging flows - reducing directional risk for short put sellers.
What score threshold indicates a quality setup?
The scanner score combines confluence, cluster tightness, delta positioning, OI freshness, and ceiling proximity. Scores of 12.0 and above with OI freshness >= 7x or confluence >= 4 are considered the primary quality threshold for the top setups shown here.
Score alone is not sufficient - the combination of multiple factors is what distinguishes a genuine structural setup from a coincidence.
Score alone is not sufficient - the combination of multiple factors is what distinguishes a genuine structural setup from a coincidence.
Should I trade every setup shown here?
No. This scanner identifies structural options positioning patterns - it is a starting point for research, not a trade signal. Before acting on any setup, consider: current IV environment and IV Rank, your individual risk tolerance and position sizing, broader market conditions (VIX, sector trend), and whether you have a defined adjustment plan if the trade moves against you.
See the strategy pages linked on each setup for execution and management guidance.
See the strategy pages linked on each setup for execution and management guidance.
Important Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. All scanner outputs reflect algorithmic pattern recognition based on options open interest and gamma exposure data only. Past signal patterns are not indicative of future price movements. Please conduct your own due diligence and consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.