CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) Options Risk Score

Run a full CAT options risk analysis

See the complete risk breakdown — news catalysts, SEC filings, legal proceedings, earnings overlap, IV vs HV, options flow and Expected Move — all in one scan.

Is it risky to sell options on CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) right now?

For a 4-week expiry, CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) carries an options catalyst-risk score of 100 out of 100 (HIGH). That score is driven by an upcoming earnings report, 3 recent news items and 10 active legal filings falling inside the 4-week window. Anything at 70 or above counts as HIGH, meaning the premium on CAT is at least partly compensation for a scheduled event rather than pure time value. It says nothing about direction — only that something is on the calendar.

CAT shows an IV Rank of 18, near the low end of its one-year range — options are relatively cheap, which favours option buyers over sellers, with a current implied volatility of about 48%. IV Rank is the most useful figure for deciding whether to sell or buy premium on CAT.

The 2026-10-29 earnings report sits inside a standard monthly expiry for CAT, so implied volatility should stay bid into the date and drop sharply once it passes.

CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) current implied volatility and IV Rank

The most recent read on CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) puts its IV Rank at 18 with implied volatility around 48%, alongside a TickerRisk options-risk score of 100/100. That's low — options are cheap relative to the past year, which favours premium-buying strategies such as long calls, long puts and debit spreads when you expect a move.

For what this number does and does not tell you about CAT's options, see IV Rank explained.

CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) next earnings date — 2026-10-29

CATERPILLAR INC (CAT) reports earnings on 2026-10-29 — about 8 days away, which falls inside a typical options expiry window. CAT's IV Rank is currently 18. Earnings are the single biggest scheduled catalyst for an overnight gap: implied volatility usually runs up into the report and collapses immediately after (the IV crush). Selling premium into the event captures that crush but exposes you to the gap; buying premium needs a move large enough to beat the elevated IV you paid.

TickerRisk provides risk scoring for informational purposes only. This is not financial advice. Options trading involves substantial risk of loss. Full disclaimer