Stepan Company (SCL) 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.
Stepan Company (SCL) operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically the Chemicals - Specialty industry, with a market capitalization near $1.15B, listed on NYSE, employing roughly 2,396 people, carrying a beta of 0.95 to the broader market. Stepan Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells specialty and intermediate chemicals to other manufacturers for use in various end products. Led by Luis E. Rojo, public since 1992-03-17.
Snapshot as of May 15, 2026.
- Spot Price
- $49.30
- ATM IV
- 270.3%
- HV 20-Day
- 34.2%
- HV 60-Day
- 54.0%
- IV Rank
- 86.4%
- IV Percentile
- 98.8%
As of May 15, 2026, Stepan Company (SCL) ATM implied volatility is 270.3%. 20-day realized volatility is 34.2%, producing an IV-HV spread of +236.1 vol points. Options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently delivered, the volatility risk premium. IV rank is 86.4%.
How SCL iv/hv history Data Feeds Strategy Selection
Strategy selection on Stepan Company 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 270.3% 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 →
SCL highest implied-volatility contracts
| Type | Strike | Expiration | Volume | OI | IV | Bid | Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALL | $50.00 | Jun 18, 2026 | 0 | 176 | 507.5% | $0.10 | $5.00 |
Top 1 contracts from the ORATS-sourced nightly scan; ranked by iv within the broader S&P 500/400/600 + ETF universe.
Frequently asked SCL iv/hv history questions
- Is SCL options pricing rich or cheap right now?
- As of May 15, 2026, Stepan Company (SCL) ATM IV is 270.3% against 20-day realized volatility of 34.2%. IV rank is 86.4%. SCL options are pricing in more volatility than the stock has recently realized: a positive variance risk premium worth 236.1 vol points.
- What is the SCL 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. SCL 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 SCL 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. SCL's current rank of 86.4% 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.