Market Microstructure
Volume Profile & Value Area: POC, VAH & VAL Explained
How Volume Profile maps fair value distribution, Points of Control (POC), and high vs. low volume nodes.
Author: CMD Wire Institutional Research
Updated: August 2026 • 6 min read
1. Volume Profile vs. Traditional Time Charts
While traditional volume bars plot the amount of volume traded over a specific time interval (horizontal x-axis), Volume Profile plots total volume traded at specific price levels (vertical y-axis), revealing where market participants found fair value.
2. Core Volume Profile Structures
- Point of Control (POC): The exact single price level with the highest traded volume during the session. Acts as a powerful magnet and institutional benchmark.
- Value Area (VA): The price range encompassing 70% of the total volume traded during the session.
- Value Area High (VAH) & Value Area Low (VAL): The upper and lower boundaries of the value area, serving as dynamic institutional support and resistance.
- High Volume Nodes (HVN): Price zones representing fair value acceptance and consolidation.
- Low Volume Nodes (LVN): Price zones representing unfair value, where prices move rapidly through thin liquidity.