Best Stocks To Sell Put Options Today

Every month, the stocks worth selling puts on change. It's not because the strategy changes—it's because IV, valuations, and macro conditions rotate.

Today (February 2026), here's where the best opportunities are sitting.

Today's Market Setup

Macro context:

• Fed holding rates steady at 4.25–4.50%
• Market volatility (VIX): ~16–18 range
• IV Rank across indices: 45–55% (moderate—neither too hot nor too cold)
• Earnings season is wrapping up; fewer catalysts near-term

What this means for put sellers:

• Good news: Moderate IV means reasonable premiums without spikes
• Better news: Lower volatility = less chance of surprise gap moves
• Watch out: Don't expect "rich" premiums—we're in a normal volatility environment

Best Put-Selling Opportunities Right Now

Tier 1: Ultra-Liquid Index / ETF Plays (Safest)

SPY (S&P 500 ETF)

• Current price: $615
• IV Rank: 48%
• 45 DTE put (sell $605 strike): Premium estimate $2.00 (0.32% of strike)
• Delta (0.20): ~20% probability of assignment
• Why now: Broad market stability, tight bid-ask spreads ($0.01), you'd own SPY anyway
• Best trade: Sell $605 put, collect $2.00, wait 45 days, and either let expire or close at 50% profit (~$1.00 remaining)

QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF)

• Current price: $510
• IV Rank: 52% (tech sector has slightly elevated IV)
• 45 DTE put ($495 strike): Premium estimate $2.50 (0.50% of strike)
• Delta (0.22): ~22% probability of assignment
• Why now: Tech strength but modest valuations post-earnings; if assigned, you own quality tech growth
• Best trade: Sell $495 put, collect $2.50, likely expires worthless, 2.5% return in 45 days

Tier 2: Dividend Aristocrats (Yield + Premium)

JPMorgan (JPM)

• Current price: $218
• IV Rank: 38% (financials are in low volatility period)
• 45 DTE put ($210 strike): Premium $1.30 (0.62% of strike)
• Dividend yield: 2.8% (you collect this if assigned)
• Delta (0.25): ~25% probability of assignment
• Why now: Banking sector stable; earnings just passed; dividend support at lower levels
• Best trade: Sell $210 put, collect $1.30 premium. If assigned, you own dividend-paying JP Morgan at a discount. If not, repeat next month.

Coca-Cola (KO)

• Current price: $67
• IV Rank: 32% (consumer staples suppress volatility)
• 45 DTE put ($64 strike): Premium $0.75 (1.1% of strike)
• Dividend yield: 3.1%
• Delta (0.23): ~23% probability of assignment
• Why now: Staple sector is stable, inflation pressures easing, valuations reasonable
• Best trade: Sell $64 put, collect $0.75. If assigned at $64, you own an assets protected by 3.1% dividend. Repeat every 45 days.

Tier 3: Growth Plays (Higher Premium, Moderate Risk)

Microsoft (MSFT)

• Current price: $445
• IV Rank: 42%
• 45 DTE put ($425 strike): Premium $2.80 (0.66% of strike)
• Delta (0.20): ~20% probability of assignment
• Why now: AI hype has stabilized, company cash-rich and profitable, post-earnings pullback creates entry
• Best trade: Sell $425 put, collect $2.80 (2.8% return in 45 days). MSFT likely stays above $425; you collect premium. If assigned, you own quality cloud/AI exposure.

Apple (AAPL)

• Current price: $250
• IV Rank: 40%
• 45 DTE put ($235 strike): Premium $1.95 (0.83% of strike)
• Delta (0.22): ~22% probability of assignment
• Why now: Post-iPhone cycle, valuation pulled back, options liquidity remains exceptional
• Best trade: Sell $235 put, collect $1.95. High likelihood it expires worthless and you repeat the trade next month.

Tier 4: Sector-Specific Opportunities (Watch Macro)

Energy Play: Exxon Mobil (XOM)

• Current price: $112
• IV Rank: 55% (energy volatility slightly elevated)
• 45 DTE put ($105 strike): Premium $2.10 (2.0% of strike)
• Delta (0.28): ~28% probability of assignment
• Why now: Oil supply news keeping IV elevated; if assigned, dividend support ($3.60 yield) protects downside
• Best trade: Sell $105 put, collect $2.10. Wait 45 days. If oil weakness hits and you're assigned, you own a dividend aristocrat at $105 with 3.2% yield.

Healthcare Play: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

• Current price: $168
• IV Rank: 35%
• 45 DTE put ($160 strike): Premium $1.15 (0.72% of strike)
• Delta (0.20): ~20% probability of assignment
• Why now: Defensive play in mixed markets; dividend yield 2.9%; post-earnings valley
• Best trade: Sell $160 put, collect $1.15 premium. JNJ is unlikely to drop below $160 in 45 days; repeat monthly.

The Portfolio Approach: What I'd Actually Trade Today

If I had $50,000 capital to deploy and wanted to run 4 simultaneous wheels, I'd construct this:

Total capital deployed: ~$105,000 (using some margin) Total premium collected: ~$870 Return target: 0.85% per 45-day cycle → ~7% annualized if reinvested

What happens next:

• 45 DTE elapses
• Some expire worthless (profit locked)
• Some get assigned (you own shares, immediately sell calls against them)
• You collect more premium, wheel continues

The Action Plan: How to Execute Today

Step 1: Choose your vehicle (15 minutes)

• Start with SPY or QQQ if you're new (safest, most liquid)
• Add JPM or MSFT if you want higher returns and can tolerate higher delta

Step 2: Check your broker's option chain (10 minutes)

• Verify bid-ask spread is tight (<$0.05 ideally)
• Verify open interest > 500 contracts at your strike
• Verify expiration shows 45 ± 3 days

Step 3: Decide your delta (5 minutes)

• Conservative: sell at 0.15–0.20 delta (15–20% assignment probability)
• Moderate: sell at 0.20–0.30 delta (20–30% assignment probability)
• Aggressive: sell at 0.30–0.40 delta (30–40% assignment probability)

Most successful puts sellers choose 0.20–0.25 delta. You collect decent premium without extreme risk.

Step 4: Place your limit order (5 minutes)

• On your broker, select "Sell to Open"
• Choose your stock, expiration (45 DTE), strike (your chosen delta)
• Enter limit price: mid-market price, or 5–10 cents below if you want to be conservative
• Review and confirm

Example order:

• Action: Sell to Open
• SPY 45 DTE $605 Put
• Limit Price: $1.98 (slightly below mid $2.00)
• Quantity: 1 contract (100 shares of obligation)

Step 5: If filled, set a calendar reminder (1 minute)

• Mark your calendar for "7 DTE" (one week before expiration)
• Decide then: close for profit, roll, or let expire

Timing Context: Don't Miss Earnings

Before entering any position, check earnings dates:

• JPM: Just reported (safe)
• MSFT: Just reported (safe)
• AAPL: Just reported (safe)
• SPY/QQQ: Ongoing (always safe—no single catalysts)

If earnings are within your 45-day window, skip that stock or adjust strike lower (higher probability of surviving the move).

One Month Ahead: What to Watch

Macro data coming Feb–March 2026:

• PCE inflation report (Feb 28) — could shift Fed rate perception
• Jobs report (early March) — Fed watch indicator
• Earnings season ramp for small/mid-caps (mid-March)

Market implications:

• If inflation reaccelerates → IV spikes → better premiums next month
• If jobs weaken → defensive trades rally → KO, JNJ, KO improve
• If tech earnings disappoint → QQQ IV rises → your AAPL/MSFT may be safer

Keep an eye on macro calendars. It doesn't change your strategy, but it helps you pick when to enter.

Final Checklist Before You Trade

• Have I actually reviewed the stock (not just chasing premium)?
• Would I buy this stock at my chosen strike for long-term holding?
• Is my broker's bid-ask spread < $0.10?
• Is open interest > 500 contracts at my strike?
• Did I check earnings dates?
• Does my account have cash to cover assignment (or margin)?
• Did I set a calendar reminder for 7 DTE to decide my exit?
• Am I planning to wheel this (sell calls if assigned) or just collect and repeat?

If you can check all eight boxes, your trade is sound. Go execute.

The Boring Truth

The stocks worth selling puts on today are mostly the same ones worth selling puts on next month: big, stable, profitable, liquid companies where you wouldn't mind owning the shares.

There are no "secrets" to put selling—just patience, discipline, and repetition. The premiums you're seeing today (1–3% per 45 days) aren't flashy. But they compound.

Start with one trade today. See how it feels. By March, you'll be ready to add a second. By April, a third.

The best time to start selling puts was five years ago. The second-best time is today.