KSS Options Trading — Covered Calls, Puts & the Wheel
A complete guide to selling options on Kohl's Corporation. Expected premiums, strike selection, real example trades, and the four strategies that actually work for KSS.
Why trade options on KSS?
KSS (Kohl's Corporation) is a small-cap consumer discretionary name with a low share price and excellent options liquidity. Implied volatility on this ticker is elevated, so option premiums are rich — but the same volatility cuts both ways and can move the stock hard in either direction. It also pays a dividend, which adds a second income stream on top of the premium you collect.
Typical monthly premium collected on KSS runs around 3.5-6.0% of capital, which annualizes to roughly 42-72% if you sell new contracts every cycle. Capital required to run a single contract wheel on KSS is under $5,000 — the share price and the 100-share lot size set the minimum, not the strategy.
Four strategies that work on KSS
KSS Covered Call
Sell upside calls against 100 shares you already own to collect premium every month while capping your upside.
Read the KSS Covered Call guide →KSS 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 KSS Cash-Secured Put guide →KSS Wheel
Alternate between cash-secured puts and covered calls on the same ticker to generate continuous premium income.
Read the KSS Wheel guide →KSS 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 KSS Poor Man's Covered Call guide →KSS options FAQ
What is the best strike price for a KSS covered call?
On KSS, target 12-18% out of the money at 0.10-0.20 delta. On a very high-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 KSS?
Typical monthly premium on KSS is 3.5-6.0% of position value, annualizing to 42-72% 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 KSS cash-secured put?
A delta of 0.10-0.20 on KSS balances premium income with assignment probability. Lower delta is warranted here because a single gap down can drop the stock 10%+
How much cash do I need to sell a put on KSS?
Cash required is 100 × strike price. For KSS, 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 KSS a good stock for the wheel strategy?
KSS is excellent for the wheel because of its penny-wide spreads and elevated IV (high premium, higher assignment risk). It also pays a dividend, which you continue collecting while holding the shares between wheel legs.
Can you run a poor man's covered call on KSS?
Yes. Buy a 0.80+ delta LEAPS on KSS dated 12-18 months out as your synthetic long, then sell short-dated calls 12-18% above the stock at 0.10-0.20 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 KSS options strategy trades?
Use 14-28 DTE so you can react to sharp IV crushes and moves as a default for KSS. Shorter expirations let you react to IV resets and price gaps.
Is KSS suitable for beginners selling options?
Not ideal for beginners. Smaller-cap names can have wider spreads and sharper moves. Start with large caps or major ETFs first.
Run the numbers on KSS yourself
Use the free OptionsPilot calculator to price covered calls and cash-secured puts on KSS with live quotes.
Open the KSS Strike Finder →