Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) IV/HV History
Comparing implied volatility to historical (realized) volatility reveals whether options are priced rich or cheap relative to actual price movement. Persistent gaps can signal trading opportunities.
Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically the Asset Management industry, with a market capitalization near $2.43B, listed on CBOE, carrying a beta of 0.18 to the broader market. The Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF seeks to track the return of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), to a cap, and provide a measure of downside protection by seeking to buffer investors against losses. public since 2021-07-01.
Snapshot as of May 15, 2026.
- Spot Price
- $34.08
- ATM IV
- 21.9%
- HV 20-Day
- 1.2%
- HV 60-Day
- 2.2%
- IV Rank
- 16.0%
- IV Percentile
- 28.6%
As of May 15, 2026, Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) ATM implied volatility is 21.9%. 20-day realized volatility is 1.2%, producing an IV-HV spread of +20.7 vol points. Options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently delivered, the volatility risk premium. IV rank is 16.0%.
How BALT iv/hv history Data Feeds Strategy Selection
Strategy selection on Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF options does not derive from any single metric in isolation. The iv/hv history view above sits inside a broader read: ATM IV currently sits at 21.9% and dealer gamma exposure is positive, so dealer hedging is mechanically mean-reverting. Combine the iv/hv history data here with the volatility-skew surface, dealer-gamma exposure, max-pain level, and upcoming-events calendar to build a positioning thesis. Risk-defined structures (credit spreads, debit spreads, iron condors) are usually safer than naked positions while the regime is uncertain; the data on this page anchors the inputs but does not by itself constitute a trade thesis.
Learn how implied vs realized volatility is reported and how to read the data →
Frequently asked BALT iv/hv history questions
- Is BALT options pricing rich or cheap right now?
- As of May 15, 2026, Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF (BALT) ATM IV is 21.9% against 20-day realized volatility of 1.2%. IV rank is 16.0%. BALT options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently realized: a positive variance risk premium worth 20.7 vol points.
- What is the BALT variance risk premium?
- The variance risk premium is the persistent gap between implied and subsequently realized volatility. In equity markets it averages positive because option sellers demand compensation for bearing variance shocks. BALT is currently priced consistently with this premium, which is one input to whether short-vol or long-vol structures carry their typical edge.
- What does BALT IV rank mean for strategy selection?
- IV rank normalizes the current ATM IV to its 1-year range: 0% is the low, 100% is the high. BALT's current rank of 16.0% signals where current pricing sits in its own 1-year history. High-rank regimes typically favor premium-selling structures (credit spreads, condors, covered calls); low-rank regimes typically favor premium-buying or long-volatility structures.