OXY Covered Call: Strike Selection, Premium & Risk
How to sell covered calls on Occidental Petroleum — optimal strikes, expected premium, and the risks that actually matter for a large-cap energy name.
Is OXY a good covered call candidate?
OXY (Occidental Petroleum) is a large-cap energy name with a low share price and excellent options liquidity. Implied volatility is high enough to pay meaningful premium without being wild, which is why this ticker shows up frequently in wheel-strategy watchlists. It also pays a dividend, which adds a second income stream on top of the premium you collect.
Strike selection for a OXY covered call
For OXY covered calls, target strikes 8-12% out of the money at deltas around 0.15-0.25. Use 21-35 DTE to capture IV without excess gamma risk. On a high-volatility name like OXY, going closer to the money chases premium at the cost of a much higher assignment probability — the risk of being called away becomes meaningful below 8-12% OTM.
Expected premium and income on OXY
Typical monthly premium collected on OXY runs around 2.0-3.5% of capital, which annualizes to roughly 24-42% if you sell new contracts every cycle. Capital required to run a single contract wheel on OXY is under $5,000 — the share price and the 100-share lot size set the minimum, not the strategy.
Reference Trade
Example Covered Call on OXY
- Strike: $65 (10% OTM)
- Expiration: 30 days
- Premium: $2.00 per share
- Return if flat: 3.4% ($200)
- Return if called: 13.4% ($790)
- Probability keep shares: 68% keep shares
Risk management for OXY covered call trades
The core risk on a covered call is opportunity cost: if the stock rips through your strike, your upside is capped. You still profit, just less than someone who held the shares outright. OXY's high-volatility profile means 3-6% daily moves are normal during earnings or macro catalysts. Energy names track crude and natural gas prices closely — OPEC headlines and inventory prints drive intraday moves far more than company fundamentals most weeks.
OXY Covered Call FAQ
What is the best strike price for a OXY covered call?
On OXY, target 8-12% out of the money at 0.15-0.25 delta. On a 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 OXY?
Typical monthly premium on OXY is 2.0-3.5% of position value, annualizing to 24-42% when you roll every cycle. Earnings months can pay 2-3x the normal rate because of elevated IV.
What expiration should I use for OXY covered call trades?
Use 21-35 DTE to capture IV without excess gamma risk as a default for OXY. This window captures the steepest part of the theta curve without excess gamma risk.
Is OXY suitable for beginners selling options?
Yes — it's a well-known, liquid name with established options markets, which is what beginners need.
Related OXY strategies
Price a OXY covered call right now
Use the free OptionsPilot calculator with live quotes to find the best covered call strike on OXY.
Open the Strike Finder →