USO Covered Call Strategy

Market Data

United States Oil Fund Key Data

Symbol

USO

Name

United States Oil Fund

Type

ETF

Sector

ETF

Industry

Commodity - Oil

Exchange

NASDAQ / NYSE

Live Price

Market Cap

—

52-Week High

—

52-Week Low

—

Strategy

Covered Calls

Access

Free Trial

About

About USO

USO tracks short-term crude oil futures prices. Popular for tactical energy bets but subject to futures roll costs affecting long-term performance.

Strategy

Covered calls on ETFs like USO are popular for consistent income generation. ETFs provide built-in diversification, which typically means lower implied volatility than single stocks. Monthly (30 DTE) covered calls on USO are a common strategy for income-focused investors seeking steady returns.

ETFs offer built-in diversification, making covered calls on USO a lower-risk income strategy compared to single-stock positions.

How It Works

How to Run a Covered Call on USO

Own 100 Shares

You must own at least 100 shares of USO to sell 1 covered call contract. Each options contract covers exactly 100 shares.

Choose Strike and Expiry

Select a call strike above the current USO price (OTM) and an expiry date. 30–45 DTE monthly cycles are most popular for income generation.

Sell the Call

Sell 1 call contract to collect the premium immediately into your account. This income is yours regardless of what USO does next.

Manage at Expiry

If USO stays below your strike, the option expires worthless and you keep the premium. If it rises above, shares get called away at the strike.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell covered calls on USO?

Yes, USO has listed options. You need to own 100 shares per contract. Use our screener to find the best strikes and expiries based on your goals.

What strike should I choose for USO covered calls?

Most income traders choose strikes 2–10% above the current USO price (OTM), balancing premium income with allowing some upside. The ideal strike depends on your income vs. upside tradeoff.

What is the best expiry for USO covered calls?

Monthly options (30–45 DTE) have the best time-decay characteristics for covered call sellers. Weekly options on USO offer more flexibility but require more active management.

How much premium can I collect on USO covered calls?

Premium depends on USO's implied volatility (IV), your chosen strike distance, and days to expiry. Higher IV means more premium. Use CoveredCalls.live to see real-time premiums and annualized returns for USO.

What happens if USO rises above my strike?

Your shares get called away at the strike price. You keep the premium collected plus any gain from your cost basis to the strike. You can then buy shares back and repeat the strategy.

Screen the Best USO Covered Calls Right Now

Our screener scans USO options every few minutes and ranks setups by annualized return, downside protection, and bid-ask spread quality.

Start Free Trial →