{"slug":"ex-dividend-dates-and-options","qid":"exercise_names","label":"Where the exercise-optimal calls concentrated on June 29, 2026","post_title":"How Ex-Dividend Dates Affect Options","post_url":"/blog/ex-dividend-dates-and-options#q-exercise_names","columns":["ticker","dividend","itm_calls","exercise_optimal"],"rows":[{"ticker":"USB","dividend":0.52,"itm_calls":64,"exercise_optimal":32},{"ticker":"DIS","dividend":0.75,"itm_calls":47,"exercise_optimal":19},{"ticker":"HST","dividend":0.72,"itm_calls":11,"exercise_optimal":10},{"ticker":"APLE","dividend":0.08,"itm_calls":10,"exercise_optimal":7},{"ticker":"NLY","dividend":0.75,"itm_calls":7,"exercise_optimal":6},{"ticker":"BXSL","dividend":0.77,"itm_calls":7,"exercise_optimal":6},{"ticker":"DEI","dividend":0.19,"itm_calls":5,"exercise_optimal":5},{"ticker":"MDLZ","dividend":0.5,"itm_calls":18,"exercise_optimal":5},{"ticker":"BRSP","dividend":0.16,"itm_calls":6,"exercise_optimal":5},{"ticker":"AGNC","dividend":0.12,"itm_calls":11,"exercise_optimal":5}],"shape":"ranking","sql":"WITH divs AS (\n    SELECT ticker, max(cash_amount) AS dividend\n    FROM global_markets.stocks_dividends\n    WHERE ex_dividend_date = toDate('2026-06-30') AND cash_amount > 0\n    GROUP BY ticker\n)\nSELECT g.underlying_symbol AS ticker,\n       round(any(d.dividend), 2) AS dividend,\n       count() AS itm_calls,\n       countIf(g.option_close - (g.underlying_close - g.strike_price) < d.dividend) AS exercise_optimal\nFROM global_markets.options_greeks g\nINNER JOIN divs d ON g.underlying_symbol = d.ticker\nWHERE g.date = toDate('2026-06-29') AND g.option_type = 'C'\n  AND g.underlying_close - g.strike_price > 0\n  AND g.expiration_date > toDate('2026-06-30')\n  AND g.implied_volatility > 0.02 AND g.iv_converged\nGROUP BY g.underlying_symbol\nHAVING exercise_optimal > 0\nORDER BY exercise_optimal DESC\nLIMIT 10","computed_at":"2026-07-17T08:19:39.571139+00:00","elapsed":0.058299953}