Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) Max Pain
The max pain price for Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL) options is $15, 2.3% below the last close of $15.36. Max pain is the strike where the combined payout to all MSDL option holders would be smallest at expiration — this page explains how it is computed, where it sits today, and how it has moved over the past year.
Data as of Jul 10, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · OPRA data 15 minutes delayed · For information only — not investment advice.
MSDL Max Pain vs. Share Price
MSDL daily max pain strike and closing price, past year.
| Max pain strike | $15 |
| Last close | $15.36 |
| Distance to spot | 2.3% below spot |
| Call wall (largest call OI) | $20 |
| Put wall (largest put OI) | $15 |
| Top volume strike | $16 |
$15 is the strike where the combined payout to all option holders would be smallest at expiration — 2.3% below the last close of $15.36. A gap between max pain and the share price is common; max pain describes positioning, not a forecast of where the stock will close. Max pain has fallen from $16 in Feb '26 to $15 today.
How it works: for every strike, sum what all open MSDL calls and puts would pay out if the stock closed exactly there at expiration. The strike with the smallest total payout is max pain. Because it is driven by open interest, it moves as positions are opened and closed — it is a map of positioning, not a price target.
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MSDL Options FAQ
What is the max pain price for MSDL options?
The max pain price for MSDL is $15 as of Jul 10, 2026. Max pain is the strike at which the total payout to option holders would be smallest if all contracts expired immediately.
How is MSDL max pain calculated?
For every strike, OptiView sums what all open MSDL call and put contracts would pay out if the stock closed exactly there at expiration. The strike with the smallest total payout is max pain — it is recomputed every trading day from open interest across all listed expirations.
Does MSDL stock really move toward max pain?
Max pain describes option positioning, not a forecast. MSDL's max pain of $15 currently sits 2.3% below the share price as of Jul 10, 2026. Prices sometimes drift toward heavy open-interest strikes near expiration as hedges unwind, but the effect is neither reliable nor tradable on its own.
Methodology. IV rank compares the current 30-day at-the-money implied volatility with its highest and lowest values over the past 52 weeks. Max pain is the strike that minimizes the total payout to option holders at expiration. The call and put walls are the strikes carrying the largest call and put open interest across all expirations. Net gamma exposure (GEX) is measured from the dealer perspective. All statistics are derived from delayed OPRA options data.
Options trading involves significant risk, and losses can exceed your initial investment. Always consult a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions. OptiView does not provide financial advice; all figures on this page are descriptive statistics, not recommendations.