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Best Options Strategy for RARE

By Dennis Bosmans · Updated 2026-08-14 · 2 min read · Risk disclaimer

Looking for the best options strategy for Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE)? There is no single answer — the right play depends on your outlook, your risk tolerance and current implied volatility. Below, our free engine shows the highest-scoring defined-risk strategy on the live RARE option chain right now, and a simple map from your view on RARE to the strategy that fits it. Model any of them in the calculator before you trade.

About RARE

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) is a major company in Biotechnology. Options traders on RARE tend to watch , since these can drive large moves in the share price.

About Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.

# About Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing treatments for rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. The company operates across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. Its marketed products include Crysvita, a monoclonal antibody used for X-linked hypophosphatemia and tumor-induced osteomalacia; Mepsevii, an enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis VII; Dojolvi for long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders; and Evkeeza for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Beyond these approved therapies, Ultragenyx maintains a pipeline of candidates in advanced development, including several gene therapy programs in Phase 3 trials targeting conditions like osteogenesis imperfecta, Sanfilippo syndrome, glycogen storage disease, and ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, plus an antisense therapy for Angelman syndrome.

The company generates revenue from its approved product sales while advancing its pipeline toward commercialization. Its business model relies on partnerships and licensing agreements with organizations including Kyowa Kirin,…

Today's top-scoring strategy for RARE

Our engine ranks defined-risk strategies on the live RARE chain by probability of profit and risk/reward, then surfaces the best-scoring one. It is an educational illustration, not advice.

Bull Put Credit Spread bullish
Price: $26.14Implied volatility: 32%Expiration: 2026-09-18 (34d)
ActionQtyTypeStrikePremium
BuyPUT$22$0.05
SellPUT$24$0.27
P/L at expiry vs today At expiry Today ±1σ
$19$24$29
Max Profit
$22
Max Loss
−$178
Net Credit (received)
$22
Breakeven(s)
$23.78
Position Greeks
Δ
14.34
Γ
−7.155
Θ
0.69
ν
−1.47
Time decay (price held)
Implied-volatility skew

Simulation

Forward simulation of 6,000 lognormal price paths to expiration — not a historical backtest.

Win rate
82%
Mean P/L
$1
Median
$22
Exp. move (1σ)
10%
5th pct
−$154
25th pct
$22
75th pct
$22
95th pct
$22

Strategy analysis

Simulated price paths (time × price)
now $26BE $24$22$26$310d17d34d
$-176$-78$20

Greeks vs price

Δ — $ P/L per $1 move in the underlying (share-equivalent exposure).
Θ — $ P/L per day from time decay.
ν — $ P/L per +1% in implied volatility.
Γ — how fast delta changes per $1 move.

Price × volatility (today)

−30%−15%IV+15%+30%
$33$22$22$22$22$21
$31$22$22$22$21$20
$30$22$22$21$20$17
$29$22$21$19$16$12
$27$20$17$13$8$3
$26$14$7−$0−$7−$14
$25−$9−$18−$26−$32−$38
$24−$56−$60−$64−$67−$69
$22−$116−$111−$108−$105−$104
$21−$160−$152−$146−$140−$135
$20−$175−$172−$168−$163−$158
Analyze RARE in the calculator → Share this pick ↗

Illustrative example at RARE's latest available price, computed with the same engine as the tool. Live option fills and the real IV skew refresh during US market hours.

Implied volatility

RARE is currently trading with moderate implied volatility, broadly in line with other large-cap stocks. On the options we scanned that was around 32% implied volatility, and higher implied volatility means richer premiums and wider expected moves.

Options on RARE currently price in about 32% implied volatility, versus roughly 46% the stock has actually realised over the past month. That makes options relatively cheap — an edge for strategies that buy premium, such as long calls, long puts and debit spreads.

RARE's IV Rank is 0/100: implied volatility sits 0% of the way between its 20-day low (32%) and high (141%), and is above 0% of recorded days. Premium is historically cheap, which favours net-debit strategies like long options and debit spreads.

Off that volatility, the options market is pricing a move of about ±$2.56 (±10%) in RARE by 2026-09-18 — a range of roughly $23.58 to $28.7. Strikes inside that band hold most of the premium and see most of the action.

Across strikes, downside puts on RARE trade at a higher implied volatility than upside calls — the market is paying up for crash protection. That skew favours selling put spreads or buying calls over symmetric trades.

RARE insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)

Open-market insider transactions at RARE over roughly the last six months, from SEC Form 4 filings. Open-market buys are the rarer, more telling signal — routine selling under pre-arranged plans is common, so read a net-selling figure with that in mind.

Open-market buys
0 · —
Open-market sells
21 · $3.4M
Net (buy − sell)
−$3.4M
InsiderActionSharesValueDate
Parschauer Karah HerdmanSell1,900$47K2026-08-03
Horn HowardSell4,696$117K2026-08-03
Horn HowardSell4,698$156K2026-07-01
Sanders Corazon (Corsee) D.Sell2,000$50K2026-06-15
Parschauer Karah HerdmanSell1,899$47K2026-06-15
Horn HowardSell4,653$111K2026-06-01

Source: SEC Form 4 filings via Finnhub. Open-market purchases (P) and sales (S) only — grants, option exercises, gifts and tax withholding are excluded. Informational context, not investment advice.

Earnings & IV crush

RARE's next earnings report is due around November 3, 2026. Options that expire after it price in a binary move, so their implied volatility is elevated and usually collapses right after the announcement — an "IV crush". If your expiration falls before this date, the trade sidesteps the event.

Key figures

Market cap
$2.5B
52-week range
$18.29–$39.89 (36% up the range)
Short interest
14.1% of float · 4.2 days to cover

With 14.1% of RARE's float sold short, squeeze and gap risk are elevated — one reason its options can stay expensive.

How to choose an options strategy for RARE

Start with your outlook on RARE, then match it to a defined-risk structure. Here are the most common choices and when each makes sense:

Bullish

You expect RARE to rise

Buy a call for leverage with capped risk, or a bull call spread to lower the cost and breakeven when you have a target price.

Long Call → Bull Call Spread →

Bearish

You expect RARE to fall

Buy a put to profit from a decline with defined risk, or a bear put spread to cheapen the trade when you expect a measured move down.

Long Put → Bear Put Spread →

Neutral

You expect RARE to trade in a range

Sell an iron condor to collect premium while RARE stays between two strikes, or write a covered call against shares you already own.

Iron Condor → Covered Call →

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How we pick the best strategy

For each ticker we pull the live option chain, build every supported strategy around the at-the-money strikes, and score them on probability of profit, risk/reward and capital efficiency — favouring defined-risk structures where the maximum loss is known up front. Methodology →

Open RARE in the free calculator →

Frequently asked questions

What is the best options strategy for RARE?

It depends on your outlook. Bullish traders often use a long call or bull call spread on RARE; bearish traders a long put or bear put spread; neutral traders an iron condor or covered call. Our live scan above shows the current highest-scoring defined-risk play.

Are RARE options liquid enough to trade?

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) is among the most actively-traded US options, which usually means tight bid/ask spreads and plenty of strikes and expirations — though you should always check the open interest and spread on the exact contract.

How much money do I need to trade RARE options?

Buying a single RARE call or put can cost as little as the premium (often one to a few hundred dollars), while income strategies like a cash-secured put need enough capital to buy 100 shares if assigned.

Is this financial advice?

No. Everything here is educational and uses delayed, third-party data. It is not a recommendation to trade RARE or any security. Do your own research.

What does Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. do?

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) operates in the Biotechnology industry. The "About Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc." section above gives a fuller picture of what the company does and how it earns money.

Does Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. pay a dividend?

We don't show a confirmed dividend yield for Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. here, so treat it as uncertain: before writing calls, check its current dividend and ex-dividend date with your broker — an approaching ex-dividend date can trigger early assignment on in-the-money short calls.

When does Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. next report earnings?

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.'s next earnings are expected around November 3, 2026. Implied volatility usually climbs into the report and drops sharply afterwards (IV crush) — important for any options position held over the date.

Price trend

Short term · 1M
▼ -16.5%
Mid term · 3M
■ +0.1%
Long term · 1Y
▼ -10.8%

Tickers related to RARE

Comparing RARE with similar names can help you choose the best options strategy:

AGIOAgios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.DNLIDenali Therapeutics Inc.RGNXREGENXBIO Inc.QUREuniQure N.V.

Company information

Headquarters
60 Leveroni Court, Novato, CA, 94949, United States
Industry
Biotechnology
Employees
1,371
CEO
Dr. Emil D. Kakkis M.D., Ph.D.
Phone
415 483 8800
Website
www.ultragenyx.com

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