What is the ES 30-day expected price range?

As of May 29, 2026, with ES at $68.44 and ATM IV at 21.9%, the implied 30-day one-standard-deviation range is approximately ±$4.30, or about $64.14 to $72.74. IV rank is subdued, so the priced distribution is tighter than the 1-year typical width.

What does ES risk-neutral density tell us?

Risk-neutral density is the probability distribution of future ES price implied by listed option prices. Extracted via Breeden-Litzenberger (twice-differentiating the call price function with respect to strike), it represents the pricing kernel rather than the real-world probability of outcomes. Persistent skew or fat-tail features in the density reflect how the market is pricing tail risk.

How does ES ATM IV translate to a probability range?

ATM IV is annualized; multiplying by sqrt(t/365) scales it to the chosen tenor. Under lognormal assumptions, the resulting standard deviation defines the ±1σ band that contains roughly 68% of outcomes, ±2σ for 95%. Empirical equity returns have fatter tails than log-normal, so the implied tail probabilities under-state realized tail frequency in stressed regimes.

E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES) Probability Analysis

Probability analysis extracts the risk-neutral probability distribution implied by option prices. It shows the market-implied likelihood of the underlying reaching various price levels by expiration.

E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES) operates in the Equity Index Futures sector, specifically the Equity Index Futures industry, listed on CME. CME E-mini S&P 500 futures (ES): the most liquid US equity index futures contract, tracking the S&P 500 index.

Snapshot as of May 29, 2026.

Spot Price: $68.44
ATM IV: 21.9%
IV Rank: 2.4%
IV Percentile: 52.8%
HV 20-Day: 21.5%
IV Skew 25Δ: 0.027

As of May 29, 2026, E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES) at $68.44 has an ATM IV of 21.9%, implying a 30-day one-standard-deviation range of approximately ±$4.30. IV rank is 2.4% (subdued, distribution priced tighter than usual). IV percentile is 52.8%. The 25-delta skew is +0.027: upside tail priced richer than downside, biasing probability mass above spot. Under lognormal assumptions roughly 68% of outcomes fall within ±1σ and 95% within ±2σ; risk-neutral probability analysis refines this by extracting the market-implied distribution directly from options prices, capturing the fat tails that real markets exhibit.

How ES probability analysis Data Feeds Strategy Selection

Strategy selection on E-mini S&P 500 Futures options does not derive from any single metric in isolation. The probability analysis 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 probability analysis 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.

How to read the ES probability distribution

The probability cone above is the option-market-implied distribution of where E-mini S&P 500 Futures spot could end up at expiration. It's derived from the implied-volatility surface via a risk-neutral pricing transformation, not from historical realized returns. With ATM IV at 21.9% and spot at $68.44, the 1σ band is approximately ±7.6% over a 30-day horizon. Recent realized HV-20 of 21.5% runs 0.4 vol points below the current implied, suggesting the chain is pricing more dispersion than the underlying has been delivering.

ES risk-neutral vs real-world probabilities

The probabilities derived from option prices reflect the market's risk-adjusted view, not the realized statistical distribution. Risk-neutral probabilities include the equity risk premium and skew preferences priced into options, so they tend to overstate tail probability and understate upside drift relative to actually-realized outcomes. For probability-of-touch calculations and assignment-risk modeling, risk-neutral is the right benchmark. For position-sizing your own conviction, blend with realized-volatility-based statistics from the HV columns.

Trading the ES distribution

Probability-driven strategies aim to capture mispricings between the implied distribution and your own probability assessment. Premium-selling structures (credit spreads, iron condors, cash-secured puts) profit when the implied distribution overprices tail probability relative to realized; premium-buying (debit spreads, long calls/puts, long straddles) profits in the reverse. With ES IV rank at 2.4%, the chain is pricing tighter tails than recent realized history; buyers get cheaper optionality but need a real catalyst to monetize. Always pair probability-driven strategy selection with a stop loss or wing-defined risk - the implied distribution is a snapshot, and regime shifts can invalidate it intraday.

Learn how risk-neutral density is reported and how to read the data →

Frequently asked ES probability analysis questions

What is the ES 30-day expected price range?: As of May 29, 2026, with ES at $68.44 and ATM IV at 21.9%, the implied 30-day one-standard-deviation range is approximately ±$4.30, or about $64.14 to $72.74. IV rank is subdued, so the priced distribution is tighter than the 1-year typical width.
What does ES risk-neutral density tell us?: Risk-neutral density is the probability distribution of future ES price implied by listed option prices. Extracted via Breeden-Litzenberger (twice-differentiating the call price function with respect to strike), it represents the pricing kernel rather than the real-world probability of outcomes. Persistent skew or fat-tail features in the density reflect how the market is pricing tail risk.
How does ES ATM IV translate to a probability range?: ATM IV is annualized; multiplying by sqrt(t/365) scales it to the chosen tenor. Under lognormal assumptions, the resulting standard deviation defines the ±1σ band that contains roughly 68% of outcomes, ±2σ for 95%. Empirical equity returns have fatter tails than log-normal, so the implied tail probabilities under-state realized tail frequency in stressed regimes.