What is the MA 30-day expected price range?

As of May 29, 2026, with MA at $495.13 and ATM IV at 24.3%, the implied 30-day one-standard-deviation range is approximately ±$34.56, or about $460.57 to $529.69.

What does MA risk-neutral density tell us?

Risk-neutral density is the probability distribution of future MA 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 MA 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.

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) 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.

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically the Financial - Credit Services industry, with a market capitalization near $437.41B, listed on NYSE, employing roughly 35,300 people, carrying a beta of 0.76 to the broader market. Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. Led by Michael Miebach, public since 2006-05-25.

Snapshot as of May 29, 2026.

Spot Price: $495.13
ATM IV: 24.3%
IV Rank: 50.4%
IV Percentile: 56.0%
HV 20-Day: 19.2%
IV Skew 25Δ: 0.003

As of May 29, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (MA) at $495.13 has an ATM IV of 24.3%, implying a 30-day one-standard-deviation range of approximately ±$34.56. IV rank is 50.4% (near its 1-year median). IV percentile is 56.0%. The 25-delta skew is +0.003: roughly symmetric wings. 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 MA probability analysis Data Feeds Strategy Selection

Strategy selection on Mastercard Incorporated 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 24.3% 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 MA probability distribution

The probability cone above is the option-market-implied distribution of where Mastercard Incorporated 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 24.3% and spot at $495.13, the 1σ band is approximately ±8.4% over a 30-day horizon. Recent realized HV-20 of 19.2% runs 5.1 vol points below the current implied, suggesting the chain is pricing more dispersion than the underlying has been delivering.

MA 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 MA 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. 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 MA probability analysis questions

What is the MA 30-day expected price range?: As of May 29, 2026, with MA at $495.13 and ATM IV at 24.3%, the implied 30-day one-standard-deviation range is approximately ±$34.56, or about $460.57 to $529.69.
What does MA risk-neutral density tell us?: Risk-neutral density is the probability distribution of future MA 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 MA 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.