# Options Unusual Activity (`gochujang/options-unusual-activity`) Actor

Track unusual options activity for US stocks: large premium sweeps, high volume/OI ratio trades, bullish/bearish signals. Supports screener mode (top unusual trades across market) and ticker mode (specific stocks). Data from Barchart and Yahoo Finance.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/gochujang/options-unusual-activity.md
- **Developed by:** [Hojun Lee](https://apify.com/gochujang) (community)
- **Categories:** Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $30.00 / 1,000 options record returneds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Options Unusual Activity Tracker

**Options Unusual Activity Tracker** surfaces **large options sweeps, high volume-to-open-interest spikes, and directional premium flows** for US-listed stocks. It combines Barchart's unusual activity screener with Yahoo Finance option chain analysis to identify the trades that sophisticated money makes before earnings, catalysts, and major moves.

Options unusual activity is one of the most reliable leading indicators of institutional positioning — smart money can't hide large options bets the way they hide stock purchases.

***

### Why use Options Unusual Activity Tracker?

1. **Earnings run positioning** — Institutions often buy calls or puts 5-10 days before earnings to position ahead of the catalyst. Track large premium flows to gauge the expected direction.
2. **Sweep detection = urgency signal** — When a trader sweeps multiple exchanges at once (pays up for immediate fills), it signals time sensitivity — they expect a move very soon.
3. **Dark pool confirmation** — Unusual call buying on a high-short-interest stock is a classic pre-squeeze setup. Combine with short interest data to find high-conviction opportunities.
4. **Insider activity proxy** — Large OTM call purchases in illiquid names before M\&A announcements have historically foreshadowed takeover bids. Monitor for these patterns.
5. **Portfolio hedging signals** — Large put purchases in SPY or QQQ signal institutional hedging. When the hedge-to-speculate ratio shifts, it often precedes volatility spikes.

***

### How to use

1. Open the actor on Apify Store and click **Try for free**.
2. Choose `mode`: `screener` (market-wide unusual activity) or `tickers` (specific stock analysis).
3. In screener mode, set `minPremium` to filter for large trades only. Set `optionType` for calls or puts.
4. In tickers mode, paste your watchlist and set `minVolume` threshold.
5. Click **Start**. Results are structured unusual options records sorted by premium size or vol/OI ratio.

***

### Input

| Field | Type | Default | Description |
|-------|------|---------|-------------|
| `mode` | string | `"screener"` | `screener` (market-wide) or `tickers` (specific stocks) |
| `tickers` | string | `""` | Comma-separated tickers for `tickers` mode |
| `optionType` | string | `""` | Filter: `"call"`, `"put"` (empty = both) |
| `sentimentFilter` | string | `""` | Filter: `"BULLISH"`, `"BEARISH"` (empty = both) |
| `minPremium` | number | `50000` | Minimum total premium in USD for screener mode |
| `minVolume` | number | `100` | Minimum contracts volume for tickers mode |
| `maxResults` | number | `25` | Maximum records to return |

***

### Output

```json
{
  "ticker": "NVDA",
  "contract_type": "CALL",
  "strike": 130.0,
  "expiry_date": "2026-09-19",
  "moneyness": "OTM",
  "last_price": 4.85,
  "volume": 15400,
  "open_interest": 8200,
  "vol_oi_ratio": 1.88,
  "implied_volatility_pct": 42.3,
  "premium_estimate": 7469000,
  "sentiment": "BULLISH",
  "activity_type": "SWEEP",
  "contract_name": "NVDA260919C00130000",
  "source": "barchart"
}
```

#### Output fields

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `ticker` | string | Stock symbol |
| `contract_type` | string | `CALL` or `PUT` |
| `strike` | float | Strike price in USD |
| `expiry_date` | string | Option expiration date (YYYY-MM-DD) |
| `moneyness` | string | `ITM` (in-the-money), `ATM`, or `OTM` (out-of-the-money) |
| `last_price` | float | Last traded option price per contract |
| `volume` | integer | Contracts traded today |
| `open_interest` | integer | Total open interest for this contract |
| `vol_oi_ratio` | float | Volume ÷ OI — high ratio = fresh positioning |
| `implied_volatility_pct` | float | Implied volatility percentage |
| `premium_estimate` | float | Estimated total premium (volume × price × 100) |
| `sentiment` | string | `BULLISH` (call) or `BEARISH` (put) |
| `activity_type` | string | `SWEEP`, `BLOCK`, or `SPLIT` (Barchart classification) |
| `contract_name` | string | Full OCC contract symbol |
| `source` | string | `barchart` or `yahoo_finance` |

***

### What makes an option "unusual"?

| Signal | Threshold | Meaning |
|--------|-----------|---------|
| Vol/OI ratio | > 1.0 | More contracts traded than open — fresh positioning |
| Vol/OI ratio | > 3.0 | Extremely high — almost certainly directional |
| Premium size | > $100K | Institutional size; not retail |
| Sweep activity | Multi-exchange fill | Time-sensitive urgency |
| OTM strike | > 10% OTM | Directional bet, not hedging |

***

### Cost estimation

**Pay-Per-Event: $0.005 per actor start + $0.03 per options record returned.**

The $0.03/record reflects the cost of pulling and analyzing full option chains.

| Use case | Records | Estimated cost |
|----------|---------|----------------|
| Top 25 unusual (screener) | 25 | ~$0.75/run |
| 10 tickers × 4 contracts | 40 | ~$1.20/run |
| Daily unusual sweep alert | 25/day | ~$0.75/day |
| Pre-earnings 5 stocks | 20–30 | ~$0.60–$0.90/run |

***

### FAQ

**Does it catch 0DTE unusual activity?**
Yes — 0DTE (zero days to expiry) contracts are included. They're often the most urgent signals. Filter for `expiry_date = today` in post-processing.

**Is the volume real-time?**
Barchart screener data is delayed ~15 minutes. Yahoo Finance option chains are also delayed ~15 minutes for non-subscribers. For live data, use your broker's platform alongside this actor for confirmation.

**Can I distinguish between a hedge and a speculative bet?**
Not perfectly, but `OTM` + high `vol_oi_ratio` + `SWEEP` type strongly suggests speculative directional positioning rather than hedging. Deep ITM options with moderate OI are more likely hedges.

***

### Related actors

- [Short Interest Tracker](https://apify.com/gochujang/short-interest-tracker) — High short interest + unusual call sweeps = squeeze setup
- [Upcoming Earnings Calendar](https://apify.com/gochujang/upcoming-earnings-calendar) — Time unusual activity scans around earnings dates
- [Options Expiration Calendar](https://apify.com/gochujang/options-expiration-calendar) — Max pain and put/call ratios by expiration date

### Feedback

If this actor is useful, a quick review helps other options traders find it: [Leave a review on Apify Store](https://apify.com/gochujang/options-unusual-activity#reviews)

***

**Keywords:** unusual options activity, dark pool options, large options flow, options whale tracker, unusual call volume, unusual put volume, sweep order detection, block trade options, options flow scanner, high volume options, implied volatility spike, options market maker, OI spike detector, unusual derivatives activity, options alpha signals

# Actor input Schema

## `mode` (type: `string`):

'screener' to find unusual activity across the market; 'tickers' to analyze specific stocks.

## `tickers` (type: `string`):

Comma or space separated tickers (e.g. AAPL, NVDA, TSLA). Max 20.

## `optionType` (type: `string`):

Filter by option type.

## `sentimentFilter` (type: `string`):

Filter by sentiment direction.

## `minVolume` (type: `integer`):

Minimum options contract volume to include.

## `minPremium` (type: `integer`):

Minimum total premium (contracts × price × 100) to include. 0 = no filter.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of options records to return.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "mode": "screener",
  "tickers": "",
  "optionType": "all",
  "sentimentFilter": "",
  "minVolume": 100,
  "minPremium": 0,
  "maxResults": 50
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("gochujang/options-unusual-activity").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("gochujang/options-unusual-activity").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call gochujang/options-unusual-activity --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,gochujang/options-unusual-activity"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/rWQdiU3QefD7ZUKb5/builds/aHuSeaWV0Mnsjn5iq/openapi.json