Implied volatility (IV) is a measure of the market's expectation of a stock's or option's future price fluctuations, derived from the prices of options on that asset. It reflects the anticipated volatility of the underlying asset over the option's lifespan, expressed as an annualized percentage. Higher IV indicates greater expected price swings, often due to upcoming events like earnings reports or market uncertainty, while lower IV suggests more stable price expectations.
IV is calculated using option pricing models like Black-Scholes, where it’s the volatility value that makes the model’s theoretical option price match the market price. It’s not a prediction of direction (up or down) but of the magnitude of potential price changes. Traders use IV to gauge whether options are relatively cheap or expensive, with high IV often signaling overpriced options and low IV suggesting undervaluation. It’s also a key component in options strategies, as it affects premiums and the likelihood of profitable trades.