Top US Covered Calls – October 2025 (Expires October 17, 2025)
Top US Covered Call Candidates – October 2025
For the October 17, 2025 expiry, we screened U.S. stocks for high-quality covered call opportunities using Optrader’s Scouter Score, sentiment data, ROO metrics, and strike prices. Each pick lists a quick positive and one key negative so you can tailor strike selection, sizing, and risk management.
What the Metrics Mean
- ROO % (Return on Option): Estimated yield from the covered call premium for this expiry window (not annualized). Use alongside delta and ITM/OTM choice to balance income vs. assignment risk.
- Scouter Score (1–10): Optrader’s composite quality rank combining fundamentals, technicals, options liquidity/open interest, and recent behavior; higher is better.
- News Sentiment (−1 to +1): Aggregated short-term news tone (negative to positive) from recent articles/feeds to flag potential narrative tailwinds or risks.
🔟 The October 2025 US Top Picks
- APH – Amphenol
Price: 119.24 USD | ROO: 3.58% | Strike: 120.00 | Scouter: 8 | Sentiment: 0.50
Positive: Diversified electronics maker with strong institutional demand.
Negative: Dependent on cyclical capex spending. - KEY – KeyCorp
Price: 18.84 USD | ROO: 3.26% | Strike: 19.00 | Scouter: 5 | Sentiment: 0.60
Positive: Regional bank with consistent liquidity in its options chain.
Negative: Rising funding costs could weigh on earnings. - PFGC – Performance Food Group
Price: 104.05 USD | ROO: 3.12% | Strike: 105.00 | Scouter: 5 | Sentiment: 0.51
Positive: Strong distribution model; defensive in consumer staples.
Negative: Margins sensitive to fuel and logistics costs. - MMS – Maximus
Price: 87.97 USD | ROO: 2.97% | Strike: 90.00 | Scouter: 6 | Sentiment: 0.50
Positive: Government services contractor with stable cash flow.
Negative: Contract concentration creates renewal risks. - CRH – CRH Plc
Price: 113.24 USD | ROO: 2.96% | Strike: 115.00 | Scouter: 6 | Sentiment: 0.70
Positive: Leading materials supplier with solid premium yields.
Negative: Highly cyclical with construction demand. - MGA – Magna International
Price: 46.87 USD | ROO: 2.74% | Strike: 47.50 | Scouter: 6 | Sentiment: 0.70
Positive: Auto parts giant; decent ROO and global exposure.
Negative: Sensitive to auto production cycles. - ALV – Autoliv
Price: 126.52 USD | ROO: 2.67% | Strike: 130.00 | Scouter: 5 | Sentiment: 0.54
Positive: Safety equipment maker with steady demand.
Negative: Currency exposure and OEM price pressure. - JAZZ – Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Price: 125.22 USD | ROO: 2.62% | Strike: 130.00 | Scouter: 5 | Sentiment: 0.60
Positive: Strong specialty pharma pipeline.
Negative: Patent cliffs and R&D risks. - CHKP – Check Point Software
Price: 198.00 USD | ROO: 2.58% | Strike: 200.00 | Scouter: 10 | Sentiment: 0.82
Positive: Cybersecurity leader; high Scouter score.
Negative: Growth rate slower than peers. - VLY – Valley National Bancorp
Price: 10.65 USD | ROO: 2.50% | Strike: 11.00 | Scouter: 5 | Sentiment: 0.78
Positive: Attractive premiums relative to low stock price.
Negative: Regional bank with CRE loan exposure.
Top 2 Alternatives
- WMG – Warner Music Group
Price: 33.52 USD | ROO: 2.35% | Strike: 34.00 | Scouter: 6 | Sentiment: 0.58
Why consider: Consistent options liquidity and stable monthly premium profile.
Watch out: Streaming pricing/revenue-share shifts can pressure margins. - SPG – Simon Property Group
Price: 183.76 USD | ROO: 2.19% | Strike: 185.00 | Scouter: 7 | Sentiment: 0.51
Why consider: Blue-chip REIT with deep options markets; tradable across deltas.
Watch out: Retail traffic/macro slowdowns can weigh on occupancy and rents.
Using This Shortlist of US Covered Calls
- Use as a starting point, then refine by delta, open interest, and earnings timing.
- Adjust ITM/OTM relative to your assignment risk and target ROO.
- Learn how our quality score works: How to Use the Scouter Score to Rank Covered Calls.
⚠️ Informational only; not investment advice. Options involve risk. Use at your own discretion.