Option Chains Columns

Customize your Option Chains display to show only the information about each contract that interests you.

Find the Option Chains tab in the Quotes & Research tab.

Options carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Certain requirements must be met to trade options through Schwab. Multiple leg options strategies will involve multiple commissions. Please read the options disclosure document titled "Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options." Member SIPC

 

The following columns are available in the Option Chains Tab. Use the feature to change which columns are displayed.

 

Option Chains Columns

Symbol

Option symbol

Last

Price at which the option last traded

Change from previous close

Change from previous close price

Bid

Current bid price

Bid Quantity

Number of contracts being offered for purchase at the bid price

Ask

Current ask price

Ask Quantity

Number of contracts being offered for sale at the ask price

Day's High

Highest price the security has traded during the current trading session

Day's Low

Lowest price the security has traded during the current trading session

Volume

Cumulative volume for the day

Open Interest

Total number of outstanding option contracts in a particular series

Delta

Indicates how much the price of a call option moves for every one-point move in the price of the underlying security.

Gamma

Measures the change in delta for a change in the underlying stock price.

Theta

The change in option price in relation to the time left before the option expires.

Vega

The change in option price in relation to a 1% change in volatility.

Rho

The change in the price of an option resulting from a 1% change in interest rates.

Implied Volatility

A theoretical value (in %) designed to represent the forecasted volatility of the security or index as determined by the prices of multiple call and put options using the Black-Scholes pricing model.

Multiplier

The number of shares an equity option will convert to if exercised. The multiplier is 100 in the case of standardized options for both equity and index options; however, stock splits can change the multiplier.

Expiration

Date on which the option expires and becomes worthless if not exercised or assigned, as well as how many days remain until expiration.

In the window, you can select your own Default Expiration. You may choose to view:

  • Near expiration, which shows current contracts, plus those for the next period), or
  • Last used expiration, so if you're looking at contracts expiring several months in the future, you won't have to keep selecting that same expiration.

 

Copyright ©Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 2011. All rights reserved. Member SIPC. (0711-4448)