Quickly Retrieve Top Options By Volume

The TopOptionsByVolume function helps you instantly fetch the highest-volume options contracts for a given stock Symbol directly in Excel. With MarketXLS, you can specify how many top contracts you want to see, effortlessly monitor active trades, and make more informed decisions—all without leaving your Excel spreadsheet.

Why Use This Function?

• Efficiently Identify Market Movers: Discover the most heavily traded options in seconds.
• Targeted Research: Narrow your focus to only the top 10, 20, or any number of contracts you specify.
• Data-Driven Strategies: Make smarter trading decisions backed by real-time volume snapshots.
• Automate Your Workflow: Save time by not having to visit multiple data sources for options volume.
• Simple Yet Versatile: Works seamlessly with other MarketXLS functions and standard Excel formulas.

How to Use in Excel

=TopOptionsByVolume(Symbol, [NumberOfOptions])

1. In an empty Excel cell, type =TopOptionsByVolume(
2. Enter the stock ticker symbol as a string (e.g., "AAPL").
3. Optionally, add the number of top options contracts you want to see. If you do not specify this or set it to 0, the function will default to 10.
4. Press Enter to retrieve and populate the top options by volume below your formula cell.

Upon calculation, the function prints a table with the columns of returned data, including details like last trade price, bid, ask, and more. An extra blank row is added at the end to denote the boundary of the returned data.

Parameters Explained

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. Top 10 Contracts (Default)
   • In a cell, type:
   =TopOptionsByVolume("AAPL")
   • Press Enter.
   • 10 rows of Apple’s highest-volume option contracts are printed below the formula.
   • Each contract shows volume, price data, and expiration details.

2. Specify 5 Contracts
   • =TopOptionsByVolume("MSFT", 5)
   • This returns only the top 5 option contracts with the highest volume for Microsoft.

3. Different Symbols
   • =TopOptionsByVolume("TSLA")
   • Default top 10 for Tesla.
   • =TopOptionsByVolume("GOOGL", 15)
   • Top 15 option contracts for Alphabet.

Advanced Scenarios

• Including in a Watchlist:
If you have a list of symbols in column A, from A2 down, you can place the formula in a new column and reference each symbol dynamically.
For example, in cell B2:
=TopOptionsByVolume(A2, 5)
Then copy down to instantly see top 5 options for each symbol in your watchlist.

• Integrating With Other Functions:
Combine with technical or fundamental data from other MarketXLS functions (e.g., implied volatility or Greeks) to build a comprehensive analysis sheet for your trading strategy. Sort or filter by columns (e.g., contracts with the highest open interest, smallest spread, or nearest expiration).

• Using in Trading Research:
Pair the output with your own calculations (e.g., implied volatility ranges, risk profiles) to identify the best opportunities for writing calls or puts.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

1. “Why are my cells not updating?”

   • Check your Excel calculation mode. Ensure automatic calculations are turned on, or press F9 to recalculate.

2. “I see ‘No Data Retrieved’ or an error message.”

   • Verify you entered a valid symbol. Also confirm you have an active MarketXLS data subscription and network connectivity.

3. “Will this overwrite my existing cells?”

   • Yes. The function overwrites cells below the formula cell to lay out the data. Plan your worksheet layout carefully before using it.

4. “What if I request more contracts than available?”

   • You’ll simply get all the contracts that exist up to that count. If fewer contracts exist than you requested, fewer will be listed.

With TopOptionsByVolume, you’ll have a clear view of the day’s most active option contracts in Excel. Whether you’re analyzing for short-term trades or building an option strategy, this function streamlines the process and keeps you focused on the data that matters most.