Moneyness (ITM/ATM/OTM)
Where the strike is relative to stock price. ITM has intrinsic value, ATM is near the price, OTM has no intrinsic value.
Moneyness describes the relationship between an option's strike price and the current stock price. It's one of the most fundamental concepts in options trading.
The Three Categories
In The Money (ITM)
- Calls: Strike price below current stock price
- Puts: Strike price above current stock price
- Has intrinsic value (guaranteed profit if exercised now)
- Higher delta (more stock-like behavior)
At The Money (ATM)
- Strike price approximately equal to current stock price
- No intrinsic value, all time value
- Delta around 0.50 for calls, -0.50 for puts
- Highest gamma and vega
Out of The Money (OTM)
- Calls: Strike price above current stock price
- Puts: Strike price below current stock price
- No intrinsic value (worthless if expired now)
- Lower delta (more lottery-ticket behavior)
Why Moneyness Matters
Different moneyness levels serve different purposes:
- ITM options: Lower risk, higher cost, less leverage - good for stock replacement
- ATM options: Maximum time value exposure, balanced risk/reward
- OTM options: Maximum leverage, cheapest premium, but lowest probability of profit
Reading the Put/Call Ratio by Moneyness
Professional traders analyze P/C ratios separately for ITM, ATM, and OTM options. Heavy ITM activity often signals institutional positioning, while OTM activity may indicate speculative bets.
See it in Action
Moneyness (ITM/ATM/OTM) is used throughout our options analysis platform to help you make better trading decisions.
Related Terms
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