>>> We’ll play 1DTE Roulette and look for the strongest trending stocks this week to see if we can find a cheap play expiring Friday, do some live trading and cover stocks making interesting moves — Profit Panel starts at 2:30 PM ET, click HERE to JOIN Live! <<<
Price action lies… Headlines lie… Even your own gut can lie to you when volatility hits.
But there’s one number that cuts through all the noise — and I check it every single day on every active position I hold.
Open interest.
It’s not flashy, but it tells me something price alone can’t: whether traders are staying committed to a move or quietly closing the door behind them.
And once you learn how to read it, it becomes one of the most valuable tools for managing trades.
In simple terms, open interest is the total number of contracts that are still active — meaning they’ve been opened but not closed out.
When that number holds steady or rises, it tells you participants are staying with the trade.
When it falls, they’re backing away.
When Price Drops But Open Interest Doesn’t
Take Zeta Global (ZETA), which I entered on Jan. 6 in my Free Ride Scanner strategy.
We got in right at the peak — literally right as it popped on my $1.63 entry price — and it’s been selling off hard ever since.
If I were watching price alone, I’d be out. But price isn’t the full story…
Open interest kept rising after we entered. Even during the sell-off, contract activity stayed high.
That tells me institutions and larger players haven’t bailed. They’re sitting through the same drawdown I am, which means the underlying thesis has not broken.
That’s why this metric is so powerful. It reveals commitment.
Price shows emotion, but open interest shows participation. And when participation stays strong during a dip, the move is often still intact — just delayed.
This isn’t unique to ZETA. I apply the same lens to Redwire Corporation (RDW), USA Rare Earth (USAR) and U.S. Gold and Silver Corporation (USAS).
Their open interest levels remain strong, which signals the smart money is still in.
Make This Your Daily Ritual
I check open interest every day, and you should too.
It’s one of the simplest habits you can build, yet it gives you a clearer view of what’s happening beneath the surface than almost anything else.
It’s especially important when you’re holding options where time decay adds pressure.
A rising or steady open interest tells you the trade is still alive.
A collapsing number tells you the crowd is leaving and you should at least reassess.
This metric becomes your position management compass — the tool that keeps you grounded when price swings try to shake you loose.
It won’t tell you when to enter, but it will keep you from exiting for the wrong reasons.
If open interest changes meaningfully, I’ll adjust.
Until then, I trust the data over the drama.
We’re live every weekday walking through setups, exits and the metrics that matter: Click here to join the LIVE session — Profit Panel at 2:30 p.m. ET weekdays!
To better trading,
Alex Reid
WealthPin
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*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
Ps. I’m Still Giving Away Access to My No. 1 Scanner
Would you be trading earnings next week?
Well, I would. And the one tool that will come in handy for me as we head into earnings season is the Free Ride Scanner.
As Wall Street funds flow in and out of certain stocks…
You’ll need a powerful engine scanning the order flow and feeding you both the names that are seeing the bulk of Wall Street’s funds…
As well as the best way to capitalize on that move for healthy payout opportunities.
Granted, I can’t make reckless guarantees on the market here…
But that’s exactly what we’ve been doing over the past couple of months, and earnings season sends our little party into overdrive.
So if you’d like to get in on the action… and even get access to the Free Ride Scanner…
