MSFT Options Trading — Covered Calls, Puts & the Wheel
A complete guide to selling options on Microsoft Corporation. Expected premiums, strike selection, real example trades, and the four strategies that actually work for MSFT.
Why trade options on MSFT?
MSFT (Microsoft Corporation) is a mega-cap technology name with an elevated share price and excellent 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 also pays a dividend, which adds a second income stream on top of the premium you collect.
Typical monthly premium collected on MSFT 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 MSFT is $20,000+ — the share price and the 100-share lot size set the minimum, not the strategy.
Live Data Snapshot
See the full MSFT case study at /stocks/msft-covered-calls-cash-secured-puts for a sample trade and full strategy breakdown.
Four strategies that work on MSFT
MSFT Covered Call
Sell upside calls against 100 shares you already own to collect premium every month while capping your upside.
Read the MSFT Covered Call guide →MSFT 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 MSFT Cash-Secured Put guide →MSFT Wheel
Alternate between cash-secured puts and covered calls on the same ticker to generate continuous premium income.
Read the MSFT Wheel guide →MSFT 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 MSFT Poor Man's Covered Call guide →MSFT options FAQ
What is the best strike price for a MSFT covered call?
On MSFT, 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 MSFT?
Typical monthly premium on MSFT 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 MSFT cash-secured put?
A delta of 0.20-0.30 on MSFT 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 MSFT?
Cash required is 100 × strike price. For MSFT, that's roughly $20,000+ 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 MSFT a good stock for the wheel strategy?
MSFT is excellent for the wheel because of its penny-wide spreads and moderate IV (good premium/risk balance). 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 MSFT?
Yes. Buy a 0.80+ delta LEAPS on MSFT 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 $20,000+ to roughly 30-50% of that — a meaningful improvement when the share price is an elevated share price.
What expiration should I use for MSFT options strategy trades?
Use 30-45 DTE as a default for MSFT. This is the classic theta sweet spot and works well on a stable ticker like this.
Is MSFT suitable for beginners selling options?
Yes — it's a well-known, liquid name with established options markets, which is what beginners need.
Run the numbers on MSFT yourself
Use the free OptionsPilot calculator to price covered calls and cash-secured puts on MSFT with live quotes.
Open the MSFT Strike Finder →