Construct implied PDF of returns from implied volatilities?

Alright nerds, help out a finance noob.

I have a feeling that it should be possible to reconstruct an implied PDF (or at least N moments) of returns for an asset given it's implied volatilities. I have some ideas about how one could do this, but it would be awesome if someone smarter than me has already put some though into this.

6 Comments
 
Best Response

It's easier to do it directly from prices than from implied vols.

Given a range of (say) call prices C(K,T) at various strikes K, the implied pdf is simply the second derivative of call price with respect to strike divided by the price of the zero coupon bond B(0,T)

(the only modeling assumption here is that the underlier price is independent of interest rates)

Because there are only finitely many option prices available and because there is a bid-ask spread you cannot imply all pdfs exactly; instead you must make some kind of numerical approximation/interpolation...

 
BB QuantIt's easier to do it directly from prices than from implied vols.

Given a range of (say) call prices C(K,T) at various strikes K, the implied pdf is simply the second derivative of call price with respect to strike divided by the price of the zero coupon bond B(0,T)

Because there are only finitely many option prices available and because there is a bid-ask spread you cannot imply all pdfs exactly; instead you must make some kind of numerical approximation/interpolation...

this.

 

Look up the following paper:

"Recovering Probability Distributions from Option Prices" by Jackwerth and Rubinstein

There's a decent example in the paper you can reconstruct. You could also just email Rubinstein directly at Berkeley and see if he'll give you an ad hoc homework assignment.

 

Tenetur et fuga accusamus harum vitae. Eos ut est voluptatem non. Quo cumque saepe et. Sit officiis labore est ea.

Et fugit magni illo dignissimos. Maiores ab distinctio quis culpa adipisci ea. Consequatur consequatur deserunt nemo. Officia ex nobis perspiciatis ea rerum. Corporis debitis aperiam ab iusto consectetur occaecati odio tempora.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”