How do you read options flow as a beginner?

Start with one alert rather than the whole feed. Read it in four parts: the contract (ticker, strike, expiry), the size (premium paid and volume against open interest), the execution (whether it hit the ask, the bid, or crossed as a block), and the context (earnings, the chart, dealer gamma). Only when several of those agree is the print worth acting on.

What is unusual options activity?

Unusual options activity is an options trade that is large or aggressive relative to that contract's own history: heavy premium, volume well above existing open interest, and an execution that suggests urgency. TraderMatrix scores every trade on volume-to-open-interest, premium size, bid-ask execution and days to expiration, and flags those scoring 85 or above.

What is the difference between a sweep and a block trade?

A sweep is one order split across several exchanges at once to fill immediately, which signals urgency. A block is a single large trade negotiated off the public order book, which signals size and planning. A golden sweep is a sweep that is also large enough to qualify as a block.

How long does it take to learn to read the tape?

The mechanics take about an afternoon: the four parts of an alert, what volume against open interest means, and which prints are ordinary hedging. Recognising the patterns quickly enough to use them takes weeks of watching. Watch the feed without trading first.

Do I need a subscription to learn on TraderMatrix?

No. The learning hub, the trading glossary and the tool guides are open to everyone without an account. A subscription unlocks the live scanners and screeners themselves, and it starts with a seven-day free trial.

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Glossary

Dividend safety

A rating of how reliably a company can sustain its dividend through downturns.

What it is

Dividend safety measures how likely a company is to maintain its dividend without cutting it. It factors in payout ratio, free cash flow coverage, debt levels, and earnings stability.

Why it matters

An ex-dividend date looks attractive for income trades — but only if the dividend is safe. A company with a high yield but a dangerous payout ratio is a dividend trap: the yield is high because the market already suspects a cut. A cut collapses the stock price and eliminates the income you were counting on.

In the platform

The Long Term tool includes dividend safety in its Quality Score calculation. The Dividend Calendar shows ex-dates and pay-dates across the market so you can time income trades — but always cross-check the dividend safety rating before entering a covered call or CSP strategy on a high-yield name.

Where you will see it

Long TermThe investing lens for names you hold, not trade: fundamentals, valuation, and trend context so you know a position is still worth keeping.
Dividend CalendarEx-dates, pay-dates, and yields in one view: time your income and dividend-capture trades without landing on the wrong side of an ex-date.