Weekly Options Flow Report for September 14–18, 2026
Published September 23, 2026 · By Profit Builders
Activity is shown for research and education. A large execution does not identify the trader, establish intent, or predict an outcome. How we classify options activity →
Weekly options flow highlights
Options flow for the week of September 14 through September 18 totaled 79,526 signals and $27.1 billion in premium, with buying activity outpacing selling by roughly four to one (80.3% buy-leaning by dollar premium). Tech names accounted for the largest share of premium at $13.6 billion, followed by ETF-linked flow at $11.5 billion and consumer names at $3.5 billion -- tech and ETF flow together made up over 92% of the week's total premium. SPY, QQQ, SPCX, META, and MU led individual ticker premium for the week. Unlike the prior edition, this week did not hold a single regime: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday were classified range-bound, Tuesday bull-trending, and Thursday bear-trending. Thursday alone carried $9.6 billion in combined buy and sell premium, more than any other single day. Average VIX readings ran 17.1 to 17.4 through midweek before easing to 15.3 by Friday. This edition separates gross option premium from estimated remaining (extrinsic) option value across four sections: the largest executions by raw dollar value, the largest executions by estimated remaining option value, single-leg activity meeting predeclared research criteria, and large executions whose value is substantially intrinsic and are shown for size context rather than research interest. This report describes observed listed-options activity only -- see the caveat below for what it does not establish.
- →Buying activity outpaced selling by roughly four to one on a premium basis this week (80.3% buy-leaning), with tech and ETF-linked flow together accounting for over 92% of total premium.
- →Unlike the prior edition's uniformly range-bound week, this week held three different regimes: range-bound on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, bull-trending Tuesday, and bear-trending Thursday. Thursday alone carried $9.6 billion in combined premium, roughly double any other single day, while average VIX eased from a midweek high of 17.4 on Tuesday to 15.3 by Friday.
- →All 15 of the largest gross-premium executions this week were in-the-money or deep-in-the-money, led by a cluster of META calls, SNDK calls, and SPCX puts, with none at that size qualifying as out-of-the-money.
- →One ticker, IREN, recorded no premium in this collector's trailing four-week baseline and is shown as new to the tape this week, at $47.3 million across 133 signals. Among returning names, GILD's $21.8 million in premium was 20.5 times its trailing 4-week average, the largest multiple flagged this week.
Sector options flow breakdown
Options flow by sector for September 14–18, 2026 — total observed premium ($27.1B across 79,526 signals) grouped by sector.
| Sector | Premium | Trades |
|---|---|---|
| TECH | $13.6B | 436,053 |
| ETF | $11.5B | 1,856,549 |
| CONSUMER | $3.5B | 318,366 |
| OTHER | $2.1B | 39,688 |
| INDEX | $1.8B | 10,279 |
| HEALTHCARE | $1.2B | 7,130 |
| FINANCE | $330.7M | 17,914 |
| INDUSTRIAL | $320.5M | 6,324 |
| ENERGY | $238.2M | 6,985 |
| TELECOM | $17.0M | 628 |
This Week's Activity
Research-relevant options activity, ranked by estimated remaining option value above intrinsic.
| Symbol | Contract | Structure | Gross Premium | Remaining Value | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA | $230 Call · Nov 20 | Single-leg | $49.9M | $49.9M | OTM (-9.1%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| MU | $1050 Call · Nov 20 | Single-leg | $37.1M | $37.1M | OTM (-14.8%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| GLD | $450 Call · Dec 18 | Single-leg | $35.7M | $35.7M | OTM (-12.9%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 93 days to expiration. |
| MU | $1100 Call · Nov 20 | Single-leg | $29.1M | $29.1M | OTM (-20.2%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| SPY | $745 Put · Sep 25 | Single-leg | $25.3M | $25.3M | ATM (-1.0%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 9 days to expiration. |
| GLD | $485 Call · Jan 15 | Single-leg | $23.5M | $23.5M | OTM (-21.6%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 121 days to expiration. |
| VRT | $260 Call · Jan 15 | Single-leg | $23.0M | $23.0M | OTM (-9.3%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 123 days to expiration. |
| MSFT | $535 Call · Nov 20 | Single-leg | $22.6M | $22.6M | OTM (-7.3%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| NVDA | $245 Call · Dec 18 | Single-leg | $20.1M | $20.1M | OTM (-16.2%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 95 days to expiration. |
| SNDK | $1600 Call · Oct 2 | Single-leg | $18.9M | $18.9M | ATM (-0.6%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 15 days to expiration. |
Large Premium, Different Context
Large executions shown for size context only -- excluded above because most of their value was already intrinsic, not remaining option value.
META $5 Call · Dec 18 · 91 DTE
$233.0M gross premium · ~100.1% estimated intrinsic value
Shown for transaction-size context. Its gross premium was almost entirelyintrinsic value, so it is not included among this week's research candidates.
SNDK $900 Call · Oct 9 · 21 DTE
$157.2M gross premium · ~99.8% estimated intrinsic value
Shown for transaction-size context. Its gross premium was almost entirelyintrinsic value, so it is not included among this week's research candidates.
SNDK $900 Call · Sep 18 · 0DTE
$156.7M gross premium · ~100.2% estimated intrinsic value
Shown for transaction-size context. Its gross premium was almost entirelyintrinsic value, so it is not included among this week's research candidates.
Full execution data
Largest gross-premium executions
Every execution ranked by raw gross premium, including deep-ITM prints where most of that premium is intrinsic value rather than remaining option value.
| Contract | Timestamp | Spot | Strike / Exp. | DTE | Gross Premium | Moneyness | Flags | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| META C | Sep 18, 2:36 PM | $671.61 | $5 / 2026-12-18 | 91 | $233.0M | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%). est. 100% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 91 days to expiration. |
| SNDK C | Sep 18, 11:38 AM | $1726.42 | $900 / 2026-10-09 | 21 | $157.2M | DEEP_ITM (+47.9%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+47.9%). est. 100% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 21 days to expiration. |
| SNDK C | Sep 18, 11:38 AM | $1726.42 | $900 / 2026-09-18 | 0 | $156.7M | DEEP_ITM (+47.9%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsic0DTELow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+47.9%). est. 100% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 0 days to expiration. |
| META C | Sep 18, 5:44 PM | $668.46 | $5 / 2026-12-18 | 91 | $116.5M | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%). est. 100% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 91 days to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 17, 2:33 PM | $155.00 | $205 / 2026-09-18 | 1 | $113.0M | DEEP_ITM (+32.3%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+32.3%). est. 99% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 1 day to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 15, 3:28 PM | $144.00 | $205 / 2026-09-18 | 3 | $92.5M | DEEP_ITM (+42.4%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+42.4%). est. 99% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 3 days to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 17, 2:33 PM | $155.00 | $200 / 2026-09-18 | 1 | $90.5M | DEEP_ITM (+29.0%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+29.0%). est. 99% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 1 day to expiration. |
| IWM P | Sep 17, 3:48 PM | $285.66 | $315 / 2026-09-18 | 1 | $87.2M | ITM (+10.3%) | High intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | ITM (+10.3%). est. 100% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 1 day to expiration. |
| META C | Sep 18, 2:36 PM | $671.61 | $5 / 2026-11-20 | 63 | $86.7M | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%). est. 100% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 63 days to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 15, 3:28 PM | $144.00 | $200 / 2026-09-18 | 3 | $85.0M | DEEP_ITM (+38.9%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+38.9%). est. 99% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 3 days to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 17, 2:39 PM | $155.00 | $205 / 2026-09-18 | 1 | $79.0M | DEEP_ITM (+32.3%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+32.3%). est. 99% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 1 day to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 17, 3:43 PM | $154.86 | $205 / 2026-09-18 | 1 | $74.4M | DEEP_ITM (+32.4%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+32.4%). est. 101% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 1 day to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 17, 2:29 PM | $155.00 | $205 / 2026-09-18 | 1 | $73.6M | DEEP_ITM (+32.3%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+32.3%). est. 102% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 1 day to expiration. |
| META C | Sep 18, 3:17 PM | $671.89 | $5 / 2026-12-18 | 91 | $73.4M | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+99.3%). est. 100% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 91 days to expiration. |
| SPCX P | Sep 15, 3:52 PM | $144.00 | $205 / 2026-09-18 | 3 | $72.5M | DEEP_ITM (+42.4%) | Deep ITMHigh intrinsicLow extrinsicSingle-leg | DEEP_ITM (+42.4%). est. 101% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 3 days to expiration. |
Largest estimated remaining-risk-premium executions
Every execution ranked by estimated remaining (extrinsic) value above intrinsic at the reference price.
| Contract | Timestamp | Spot | Strike / Exp. | DTE | Est. Remaining Premium | Moneyness | Flags | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA C | Sep 14, 9:55 AM | $210.80 | $230 / 2026-11-20 | 67 | $49.9M | OTM (-9.1%) | Single-leg | OTM (-9.1%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| MU C | Sep 14, 10:45 AM | $914.91 | $1050 / 2026-11-20 | 67 | $37.1M | OTM (-14.8%) | Single-leg | OTM (-14.8%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| GLD C | Sep 16, 10:47 AM | $398.62 | $450 / 2026-12-18 | 93 | $35.7M | OTM (-12.9%) | Single-leg | OTM (-12.9%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 93 days to expiration. |
| MU C | Sep 14, 10:45 AM | $914.91 | $1100 / 2026-11-20 | 67 | $29.1M | OTM (-20.2%) | Single-leg | OTM (-20.2%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| SPY P | Sep 16, 3:34 PM | $752.17 | $745 / 2026-09-25 | 9 | $25.3M | ATM (-1.0%) | Single-leg | ATM (-1.0%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 9 days to expiration. |
| GLD C | Sep 16, 10:55 AM | $398.79 | $485 / 2027-01-15 | 121 | $23.5M | OTM (-21.6%) | Single-leg | OTM (-21.6%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 121 days to expiration. |
| VRT C | Sep 14, 10:13 AM | $237.78 | $260 / 2027-01-15 | 123 | $23.0M | OTM (-9.3%) | Single-leg | OTM (-9.3%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 123 days to expiration. |
| MSFT C | Sep 14, 10:37 AM | $498.56 | $535 / 2026-11-20 | 67 | $22.6M | OTM (-7.3%) | Single-leg | OTM (-7.3%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| NVDA C | Sep 14, 9:55 AM | $210.80 | $245 / 2026-12-18 | 95 | $20.1M | OTM (-16.2%) | Single-leg | OTM (-16.2%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 95 days to expiration. |
| SNDK C | Sep 17, 9:42 AM | $1590.72 | $1600 / 2026-10-02 | 15 | $18.9M | ATM (-0.6%) | Single-leg | ATM (-0.6%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 15 days to expiration. |
| QQQ P | Sep 17, 2:27 PM | $715.94 | $725 / 2026-11-20 | 64 | $18.0M | ATM (+1.3%) | Single-leg | ATM (+1.3%). est. 36% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 64 days to expiration. |
| AMZN C | Sep 14, 10:18 AM | $251.97 | $270 / 2026-11-20 | 67 | $17.0M | OTM (-7.2%) | Single-leg | OTM (-7.2%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 67 days to expiration. |
| AMZN C | Sep 15, 11:34 AM | $248.77 | $265 / 2026-11-20 | 66 | $15.4M | OTM (-6.5%) | Single-leg | OTM (-6.5%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 66 days to expiration. |
| GLD C | Sep 16, 10:47 AM | $398.62 | $485 / 2026-12-18 | 93 | $15.2M | OTM (-21.7%) | Single-leg | OTM (-21.7%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 93 days to expiration. |
| QQQ P | Sep 15, 4:05 PM | $705.24 | $675 / 2026-11-30 | 76 | $14.7M | ATM (-4.3%) | Single-leg | ATM (-4.3%). est. 0% of gross premium is intrinsic value. 76 days to expiration. |
Notable options sweeps this week
The largest sweep orders — trades filled aggressively across multiple exchanges at once, a signal of urgency. See Sweep vs Block vs Dark Pool for how to read them.
| Symbol | Strike | Type | Premium | Fills | Exchanges | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MU | $1100 | put | $13.9M | 3 | 2 | AGGRESSIVE_SELL |
| NDX | $26600 | call | $13.2M | 4 | 2 | NEUTRAL |
| SPY | $750 | put | $13.1M | 6 | 4 | NEUTRAL |
| NDX | $26700 | call | $12.9M | 4 | 2 | NEUTRAL |
| NDX | $26600 | call | $12.8M | 4 | 2 | NEUTRAL |
Week-over-week options activity changes
Symbols whose weekly premium moved sharply against their trailing four-week baseline — the clearest read on unusual options activity this week versus a typical week for that name.
| Symbol | This week | 4-week avg | Multiple | New to tape? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IREN | $47.3M | $0 | — | Yes |
| GILD | $21.8M | $1.1M | 20.5× | No |
| FTNT | $5.8M | $369K | 15.6× | No |
| QUBT | $6.6M | $459K | 14.4× | No |
| UPRO | $7.9M | $561K | 14.1× | No |
| ICE | $9.1M | $800K | 11.3× | No |
| OKTA | $8.2M | $802K | 10.2× | No |
| BX | $14.1M | $1.5M | 9.2× | No |
| TTWO | $29.9M | $3.5M | 8.6× | No |
| VRT | $52.1M | $7.0M | 7.4× | No |
Methodology and data limits
How we classify activity
Signals are built from the same signal-classification pipeline and conviction grading (QUALIFIED / PASS) used across Profit Builders' live scanner, covering 2026-09-14 through 2026-09-18.
Why gross premium differs from remaining option value
Gross premium is the total reported value paid for a contract. In deeply in-the-money or near-expiry contracts, much of that value is intrinsic (the contract's in-the-money amount) rather than remaining option value. Estimated remaining-risk premium is gross premium minus estimated intrinsic value -- shown so a large print dominated by intrinsic value isn't mistaken for a large amount of remaining option risk. Neither figure measures conviction, expected return, or trader intent.
Moneyness / intrinsic-value definitions
Moneyness is the contract's strike relative to the reference spot price at execution time. Deep ITM, ITM, ATM, and OTM bands and the intrinsic/extrinsic split are calculated per contract and shown on every execution in the full data table below.
Data source and timing
Data coverage: 2026-09-14 to 2026-09-18. Generated Sep 19, 7:10 AM.
Known limitations
This report summarizes observed listed-options executions using stated filters and calculations. Execution classification, bid/ask proximity, contract size, premium, open interest, and moneyness do not identify a trader, prove opening versus closing status, establish directional intent, or predict an outcome. Large gross premium can be dominated by intrinsic value in deeply in-the-money or near-expiry contracts. This report is for research and education, not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Read the full Profit Builders methodology →
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See how Profit Builders classifies unusual options flow and monitors contract-level activity in the live scanner — the same engine behind this report.