Royal Bank of Canada (RY) 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.

Royal Bank of Canada (RY) operates in the Financial Services sector, specifically the Banks - Diversified industry, with a market capitalization near $251.28B, listed on NYSE, employing roughly 94,624 people, carrying a beta of 0.94 to the broader market. Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. Led by David I. McKay, public since 1995-10-16.

Snapshot as of May 15, 2026.

Spot Price
$183.16
ATM IV
18.8%
HV 20-Day
17.1%
HV 60-Day
18.7%
IV Rank
57.4%
IV Percentile
74.2%

As of May 15, 2026, Royal Bank of Canada (RY) ATM implied volatility is 18.8%. 20-day realized volatility is 17.1%, producing an IV-HV spread of +1.7 vol points. Options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently delivered, the volatility risk premium. IV rank is 57.4%.

How RY iv/hv history Data Feeds Strategy Selection

Strategy selection on Royal Bank of Canada 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 18.8% 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 RY iv/hv history questions

Is RY options pricing rich or cheap right now?
As of May 15, 2026, Royal Bank of Canada (RY) ATM IV is 18.8% against 20-day realized volatility of 17.1%. IV rank is 57.4%. RY options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently realized: a positive variance risk premium worth 1.7 vol points.
What is the RY 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. RY 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 RY 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. RY's current rank of 57.4% 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.