Top US Monthly Covered Calls – December 2025
Top 9 Monthly US Covered Calls — December 2025 (Expires Fri, Dec 19)
For the December 19, 2025 expiry (the 3rd Friday of December), we screened US-listed optionable stocks for monthly covered call income ideas using Optrader’s Scouter Score, news sentiment, ROO %, Δ (delta), options liquidity, and historical seasonality to this same expiry. This month’s shortlist highlights nine tickers: NEE, BIIB, HSY, CINF, CNP, AMGN, HCA, PBR, and MFC.
What the Metrics Mean
- ROO % (Return on Option): premium yield for this expiry window (not annualized).
- Δ (Delta): proxy for assignment odds and price sensitivity (−1 to +1).
- OI (Open Interest): contract count at the chosen strike — higher = easier fills and exits.
- Scouter Score (1–10): composite rank blending fundamentals, technicals, liquidity, and stability.
- News Sentiment (−1 to +1): recent media tone around the stock.
- Seasonality: win rate and average return to the same 3rd-Friday expiry based on historical data.
9 December 2025 US Covered Call Ideas (Ranked by Win Rate)
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#1NEE – NextEra Energy, Inc.
Snapshot: Price $84.30 · ROO 2.66% · Strike 85 · Δ 0.48 · OI 6,729 · Scouter 7 · Sentiment 0.40
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 75.9% · Avg Return 2.91% · Samples 29
Positive: Regulated + renewables mix gives a defensive profile with steady options liquidity.
Negative: Rate sensitivity and project execution risk can still move the stock faster than one month of premium. -
#2BIIB – Biogen Inc.
Snapshot: Price $168.18 · ROO 3.03% · Strike 180 · Δ 0.24 · OI 561 · Scouter 6 · Sentiment 0.28
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 69.0% · Avg Return 3.15% · Samples 29
Positive: Reasonable ROO with a relatively lower delta setup for a biotech; premiums benefit from pipeline optionality.
Negative: Trial and regulatory headlines can create gaps that overwhelm collected premium. -
#3HSY – The Hershey Company
Snapshot: Price $182.66 · ROO 2.70% · Strike 185 · Δ 0.46 · OI 222 · Scouter 9 · Sentiment 0.50
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 62.1% · Avg Return 1.36% · Samples 29
Positive: Defensive confectionery name with a strong Scouter Score and healthy sentiment going into holiday seasonality.
Negative: Input-cost inflation and consumer-spend shifts can compress margins and premiums. -
#4CINF – Cincinnati Financial Corporation
Snapshot: Price $163.66 · ROO 2.58% · Strike 165 · Δ 0.47 · OI 316 · Scouter 10 · Sentiment 0.69
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 62.1% · Avg Return 3.13% · Samples 29
Positive: Strong win rate, high Scouter Score, and solid sentiment make it interesting for systematic monthly calls.
Negative: Insurance results are sensitive to catastrophe losses and rate cycles. -
#5CNP – CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
Snapshot: Price $39.59 · ROO 2.06% · Strike 40 · Δ 0.43 · OI 8,194 · Scouter 7 · Sentiment 0.80
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 62.1% · Avg Return 1.70% · Samples 29
Positive: Regulated electric utility with very deep OI; good candidate for scaling covered call size.
Negative: Regulatory outcomes and rate changes can impact valuations more than the monthly premium suggests. -
#6AMGN – Amgen Inc.
Snapshot: Price $336.07 · ROO 2.25% · Strike 340 · Δ 0.46 · OI 674 · Scouter 8 · Sentiment 0.30
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 62.1% · Avg Return 1.37% · Samples 29
Positive: Large-cap pharma with diversified revenue streams and solid Scouter Score; options chain is liquid enough for active rolling.
Negative: Patent cycles, drug pricing headlines, and pipeline readouts can cause outsized moves. -
#7HCA – HCA Healthcare, Inc.
Snapshot: Price $476.28 · ROO 2.96% · Strike 480 · Δ 0.48 · OI 297 · Scouter 5 · Sentiment 0.52
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 57.1% · Avg Return 2.35% · Samples 14
Positive: Hospital operator with strong ROO and constructive sentiment; offers decent income for traders comfortable with healthcare policy risk.
Negative: Labour costs, reimbursement changes, and macro shocks can all move results quickly. -
#8PBR – Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras
Snapshot: Price $12.78 · ROO 2.35% · Strike 13 · Δ 0.44 · OI 11,717 · Scouter 8 · Sentiment 0.29
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 56.0% · Avg Return 3.46% · Samples 25
Positive: Very deep liquidity and attractive historical December performance; strong candidate for traders focused on premium flow.
Negative: Emerging-market and political risk are elevated; moves around headlines can be sharp. -
#9MFC – Manulife Financial Corporation
Snapshot: Price $33.86 · ROO 2.13% · Strike 34 · Δ 0.50 · OI 549 · Scouter 8 · Sentiment 0.39
Seasonality (Dec): Win Rate 50.0% · Avg Return 1.65% · Samples 26
Positive: Life insurer with solid Scouter Score, stable options liquidity, and decent historical December behaviour.
Negative: Rate path, credit conditions, and equity markets all feed into earnings and valuation.
How to Use This Shortlist
- Use Δ (delta) to tune assignment risk: 0.2–0.35 for more conservative, 0.4–0.5 for more aggressive income.
- Use OI to avoid illiquid strikes where spreads widen and exits are harder.
- Layer in your own rules for earnings, macro events, and sector exposure (e.g., limit energy or EM exposure).
What to Do Now
- Open the US screener: us.optrader.ca.
- Set Option Type = Calls and Expiry = Fri, Dec 19, 2025 (3rd Friday).
- Start with filters like: ROO 2–4%, Δ 0.20–0.40, OI ≥ 100, and exclude earnings within 30 days.
- Sort by Scouter Score, then review sentiment and December seasonality for your final shortlist.
Reminder: Numbers here are a snapshot. Always refresh in the US screener before acting.
FAQ
How were these December 2025 US covered call ideas selected?
We ranked candidates by December win rate to this 3rd-Friday expiry, then cross-checked
ROO %, Δ, OI, Scouter Score, sentiment, and strike suitability
for the Dec 19, 2025 contract.
What does Δ (delta) add here?
Delta helps approximate assignment odds and price sensitivity. Lower Δ typically reduces assignment risk
but also premium; higher Δ boosts both risk and income.
Can I rebuild or tweak this list?
Yes — use the free US options screener at
us.optrader.ca to adjust filters by
ROO %, Δ, OI, earnings timing, and more.
⚠️ Informational only; not investment advice. Options involve risk. This list is a point-in-time snapshot; metrics and even picks may be outdated.
Always refresh in the screener before acting.
📘 Before making any investment decisions, consider speaking with a licensed financial planner or advisor who understands your personal objectives, experience, and risk tolerance.