EXEL Options Trading — Covered Calls, Puts & the Wheel
A complete guide to selling options on Exelixis Inc.. Expected premiums, strike selection, real example trades, and the four strategies that actually work for EXEL.
Why trade options on EXEL?
EXEL (Exelixis Inc.) is a mid-cap healthcare name with a low share price and fair options liquidity. Implied volatility is moderate — enough premium to make selling options worthwhile, without the heart-stopping price swings you get on speculative names. It pays no dividend, so every dollar of income must come from the options you sell.
Typical monthly premium collected on EXEL runs around 1.0-2.0% of capital, which annualizes to roughly 12-24% if you sell new contracts every cycle. Capital required to run a single contract wheel on EXEL is under $5,000 — the share price and the 100-share lot size set the minimum, not the strategy.
Four strategies that work on EXEL
EXEL Covered Call
Sell upside calls against 100 shares you already own to collect premium every month while capping your upside.
Read the EXEL Covered Call guide →EXEL Cash-Secured Put
Sell a put backed by cash so you either get paid to wait or acquire the stock at a discount to today's price.
Read the EXEL Cash-Secured Put guide →EXEL Wheel
Alternate between cash-secured puts and covered calls on the same ticker to generate continuous premium income.
Read the EXEL Wheel guide →EXEL Poor Man's Covered Call
Replace the 100 shares with a long-dated deep-ITM LEAPS call and sell short-dated calls against it to reduce capital.
Read the EXEL Poor Man's Covered Call guide →EXEL options FAQ
What is the best strike price for a EXEL covered call?
On EXEL, target 5-8% out of the money at 0.20-0.30 delta. On a moderate-volatility stock like this, closer-to-the-money strikes chase premium but spike assignment probability to uncomfortable levels.
How much premium can I collect selling calls on EXEL?
Typical monthly premium on EXEL is 1.0-2.0% of position value, annualizing to 12-24% when you roll every cycle. Earnings months can pay 2-3x the normal rate because of elevated IV.
What is the best delta for a EXEL cash-secured put?
A delta of 0.20-0.30 on EXEL balances premium income with assignment probability. Many traders anchor to 0.20 delta as a starting point and adjust based on their willingness to own shares.
How much cash do I need to sell a put on EXEL?
Cash required is 100 × strike price. For EXEL, that's roughly under $5,000 per contract at a typical strike. Most brokers let you use margin, but for a true cash-secured put you set aside the full amount.
Is EXEL a good stock for the wheel strategy?
EXEL is workable for the wheel because of its reasonable spreads and moderate IV (good premium/risk balance). No dividend means all your return comes from premiums and price appreciation.
Can you run a poor man's covered call on EXEL?
Yes. Buy a 0.80+ delta LEAPS on EXEL dated 12-18 months out as your synthetic long, then sell short-dated calls 5-8% above the stock at 0.20-0.30 delta. Capital tied up drops from under $5,000 to roughly 30-50% of that — a meaningful improvement when the share price is a low share price.
What expiration should I use for EXEL options strategy trades?
Use 30-45 DTE as a default for EXEL. This is the classic theta sweet spot and works well on a stable ticker like this.
Is EXEL suitable for beginners selling options?
Mostly yes, though beginners should use small size and confirm liquidity on each expiration they trade. Always check the bid/ask spread before entering — anything wider than 5% of the mid price is a warning sign.
Run the numbers on EXEL yourself
Use the free OptionsPilot calculator to price covered calls and cash-secured puts on EXEL with live quotes.
Open the EXEL Strike Finder →