Options Skew Analytics

USO options analytics

USO · ETF

Data as of 23 September 2026 (end of day)

USO options are pricing a 30-day at-the-money volatility of 49.9%, a move of about ±14.3% over the next month. That is higher than 93% of the 216 sessions in its trailing year.

Its 25-delta puts carry 1.03 volatility points more than the calls, around the middle of its own range for the past year.

The term structure is inverted: 90-day volatility is 5% below 30-day, which happens when the market prices something dated into the nearer expirations.

Current readings

30-day ATM implied volatilityⓘ
49.88%

Prices a move of about ±14.3% over 30 days, or ±3.1% on a typical day.

Higher than 93% of the past year.

25-delta risk reversalⓘ
+1.03

Puts carry 1.03 volatility points more than calls the same distance from the money.

Higher than 43% of the past year.

25-delta butterflyⓘ
+1.15

The wings carry 1.15 volatility points more than at-the-money.

Term structure slopeⓘ
0.953

90-day volatility is 5% below 30-day.

Higher than 19% of the past year.

Where 30-day implied volatility sits

Against 216 prior sessions (one-year window)

49.9% — 93th percentile
23.8%69.1%
IV percentile, 1 year
93%
IV rank, 1 year
58%
IV percentile, 2 years
93%
IV rank, 2 years
58%

Rank is the position between the lowest and highest readings in the window, so a single past extreme pins everything after it near one end. Percentile is the share of sessions below the current reading and is unaffected by how far that extreme reached. Both are withheld when the window holds fewer than 180 sessions.

Session detail

Underlying close
$148.83
30-day implied forward
$149.35
60-day ATM IV
49.21%
90-day ATM IV
47.53%
180-day ATM IV
45.88%
Expirations used
15
Total open interest
1,243,352
Put / call open interest
1.52

The forward is derived from put-call parity on the strikes nearest the money, not taken from the underlying close. It is what every moneyness and delta on this page is measured against.

30-day at-the-money implied volatility

Last 220 sessions

20%40%60%80%6 Sep25 Nov18 Feb8 May23 Sep
Show the underlying numbers (most recent 120)
Session30-day ATM IV25-delta RRTerm slopeClose
2026-09-2349.88%+1.030.953$148.83
2026-09-2250.16%+1.790.957$144.08
2026-09-2146.65%-3.801.001$148.16
2026-09-1846.74%-1.891.062$153.82
2026-09-1749.41%-3.241.058$155.31
2026-09-1653.35%-4.271.007$156.17
2026-09-1557.57%-5.910.958$161.86
2026-09-1454.25%-5.780.975$156.66
2026-09-1155.42%-9.150.925$154.90
2026-09-1060.79%-13.350.869$158.38
2026-09-0945.24%-0.971.053$149.97
2026-09-0844.97%-2.161.024$146.03
2026-09-0440.39%-4.521.087$141.96
2026-09-0343.52%-5.611.035$142.09
2026-09-0245.18%-4.751.026$141.15
2026-09-0144.25%-2.751.042$141.00
2026-08-3142.26%-4.751.038$133.70
2026-08-2840.29%-4.891.082$129.70
2026-08-2741.72%-1.181.082$130.01
2025-06-3032.95%-0.461.043$73.11
2025-06-2734.05%+0.521.040$73.28
2025-06-2634.13%-0.801.029$73.59
2025-06-2536.23%-2.450.972$73.31
2025-06-2439.69%-1.080.938$73.00
2025-06-2346.65%-6.410.897$76.41
2025-06-2060.52%-18.580.842$83.12
2025-06-1862.65%-22.740.828$82.27
2025-06-1769.11%-24.360.728$82.30
2025-06-1651.80%-16.170.893$78.59
2025-06-1353.51%-20.450.852$80.22
2025-06-1242.36%-7.860.874$75.05
2025-06-1136.61%-7.040.950$74.82
2025-06-1029.46%-0.571.095$71.60
2025-06-0930.23%-0.811.053$72.05
2025-06-0629.47%+1.221.056$71.38
2025-06-0530.37%+1.821.032$69.93
2025-06-0431.77%+1.951.039$69.34
2025-06-0332.38%+2.691.042$69.89
2025-06-0233.33%+3.841.004$69.55
2025-05-3035.78%+5.170.974$67.15
2025-05-2934.50%+3.220.980$67.19
2025-05-2835.45%+4.450.962$67.89
2025-05-2736.11%+4.090.969$67.28
2025-05-2336.16%+4.530.987$67.99
2025-05-2235.50%+4.590.985$67.14
2025-05-2133.27%+4.701.010$67.59
2025-05-2031.49%+4.921.025$68.66
2025-05-1933.82%+5.820.984$68.51
2025-05-1634.00%+5.560.997$68.10
2025-05-1534.57%+6.950.989$67.59
2025-05-1433.49%+4.530.973$68.73
2025-05-1333.52%+5.130.967$69.59
2025-05-1234.22%+6.270.969$67.60
2025-05-0936.21%+5.280.959$66.61
2025-05-0836.30%+5.430.979$65.60
2025-05-0739.13%+7.080.930$63.51
2025-05-0638.78%+5.420.956$64.60
2025-05-0538.31%+6.950.985$62.37
2025-05-0246.79%+10.670.865$64.01
2025-05-0147.26%+12.710.871$64.52
2025-04-3049.35%+13.490.861$63.56
2025-04-2943.34%+11.280.908$65.85
2025-04-2838.72%+7.460.950$67.76
2025-04-2537.62%+6.960.965$69.03
2025-04-2437.90%+6.640.965$68.46
2025-04-2338.22%+7.870.972$68.05
2025-04-2237.33%+4.910.958$69.37
2025-04-2137.62%+5.190.968$68.62
2025-04-1735.98%+1.580.972$69.48
2025-04-1637.06%+3.680.960$67.75
2025-04-1535.97%+8.140.972$66.48
2025-04-1438.37%+9.160.988$66.66
2025-04-1144.77%+10.160.871$66.46
2025-04-1045.05%+10.980.859$65.32
2025-04-09———$67.58
2025-04-0851.65%+16.970.850$63.34
2025-04-0746.90%+11.270.839$65.98
2025-04-04———$67.92
2025-04-0330.03%+3.371.077$72.25
2025-04-0226.23%+0.390.996$77.74
2025-04-0126.71%+1.071.059$77.08
2025-03-3126.92%+1.311.050$77.33
2025-03-2825.11%+2.561.119$74.77
2025-03-2725.41%+1.691.097$75.48
2025-03-2630.67%-1.330.914$75.42
2025-03-2525.46%+1.821.102$74.82
2025-03-2426.31%+1.071.074$74.88
2025-03-2125.38%+2.751.121$73.79
2025-03-2026.56%+3.671.108$73.73
2025-03-1927.98%+2.531.089$72.42
2025-03-1829.29%+0.131.003$72.21
2025-03-1727.55%+1.981.059$72.71
2025-03-1427.19%+1.321.078$72.28
2025-03-1327.77%+3.101.006$71.62
2025-03-1226.94%+2.311.104$72.80
2025-03-1128.96%+3.141.058$71.45
2025-03-1031.18%+5.941.000$70.89
2025-03-0727.67%+3.901.042$72.09
2025-03-0630.48%+2.061.000$71.13
2025-03-0528.45%+4.671.032$71.42
2025-03-0428.68%+2.611.006$73.31
2025-03-0329.84%+5.641.053$73.32
2025-02-2827.03%+1.87—$75.22
2025-02-2726.38%+4.471.065$75.28
2025-02-2628.68%+3.270.989$73.85
2025-02-2526.83%+4.051.014$74.13
2025-02-2427.05%+5.371.011$75.97
2025-02-2126.90%+4.891.019$75.35
2025-02-2025.11%+3.061.026$77.76
2025-02-1924.56%+6.611.112$77.45
2025-02-1824.70%+2.211.083$76.96
2025-02-1425.03%+0.921.072$75.82
2025-02-1326.49%+1.711.052$76.39
2025-02-1226.43%+1.401.041$76.32
2025-02-1126.39%+2.501.046$78.27
2025-02-1027.65%+3.141.031$77.40
2025-02-0725.27%+2.251.112$75.86
2025-02-0627.41%+3.121.038$75.45
2025-02-0529.26%+2.191.004$76.09
2025-02-0428.30%+4.630.999$77.51

The chart covers every session in the archive, 220 in total. The table lists the most recent 120.

25-delta risk reversal

Last 220 sessions

-40.0-20.00.020.040.06 Sep25 Nov18 Feb8 May23 Sep

The dashed line marks zero, where the 25-delta put and call carry the same implied volatility.

Skew curve

Implied volatility by delta, front expirations

Implied volatility by delta

2d (2026-09-25) · 7d (2026-09-30) · 9d (2026-10-02)

40%50%60%70%80%2026-09-25 (2d) — 5Δ C — IV 59.85%2026-09-25 (2d) — 10Δ C — IV 56.71%2026-09-25 (2d) — 15Δ C — IV 55.00%2026-09-25 (2d) — 20Δ C — IV 55.01%2026-09-25 (2d) — 25Δ C — IV 55.08%2026-09-25 (2d) — 30Δ C — IV 55.01%2026-09-25 (2d) — 35Δ C — IV 55.39%2026-09-25 (2d) — 40Δ C — IV 55.71%2026-09-25 (2d) — 45Δ C — IV 55.64%2026-09-25 (2d) — ATM — IV 55.97%2026-09-25 (2d) — 45Δ P — IV 56.62%2026-09-25 (2d) — 40Δ P — IV 57.11%2026-09-25 (2d) — 35Δ P — IV 58.00%2026-09-25 (2d) — 30Δ P — IV 59.16%2026-09-25 (2d) — 25Δ P — IV 59.75%2026-09-25 (2d) — 20Δ P — IV 61.54%2026-09-25 (2d) — 15Δ P — IV 63.85%2026-09-25 (2d) — 10Δ P — IV 65.78%2026-09-25 (2d) — 5Δ P — IV 70.29%2d2026-09-30 (7d) — 5Δ C — IV 57.46%2026-09-30 (7d) — 10Δ C — IV 53.38%2026-09-30 (7d) — 15Δ C — IV 52.05%2026-09-30 (7d) — 20Δ C — IV 51.84%2026-09-30 (7d) — 25Δ C — IV 51.96%2026-09-30 (7d) — 30Δ C — IV 51.11%2026-09-30 (7d) — 35Δ C — IV 56.98%2026-09-30 (7d) — 40Δ C — IV 50.94%2026-09-30 (7d) — 45Δ C — IV 51.02%2026-09-30 (7d) — ATM — IV 50.22%2026-09-30 (7d) — 45Δ P — IV 47.96%2026-09-30 (7d) — 40Δ P — IV 55.28%2026-09-30 (7d) — 35Δ P — IV 52.22%2026-09-30 (7d) — 30Δ P — IV 54.83%2026-09-30 (7d) — 25Δ P — IV 53.35%2026-09-30 (7d) — 20Δ P — IV 55.31%2026-09-30 (7d) — 15Δ P — IV 57.61%2026-09-30 (7d) — 10Δ P — IV 56.70%2026-09-30 (7d) — 5Δ P — IV 59.45%7d2026-10-02 (9d) — 5Δ C — IV 61.37%2026-10-02 (9d) — 10Δ C — IV 57.08%2026-10-02 (9d) — 15Δ C — IV 56.75%2026-10-02 (9d) — 20Δ C — IV 52.98%2026-10-02 (9d) — 25Δ C — IV 56.68%2026-10-02 (9d) — 30Δ C — IV 53.40%2026-10-02 (9d) — 35Δ C — IV 50.52%2026-10-02 (9d) — 40Δ C — IV 58.02%2026-10-02 (9d) — 45Δ C — IV 53.09%2026-10-02 (9d) — ATM — IV 52.74%2026-10-02 (9d) — 45Δ P — IV 52.60%2026-10-02 (9d) — 40Δ P — IV 52.96%2026-10-02 (9d) — 35Δ P — IV 53.61%2026-10-02 (9d) — 30Δ P — IV 53.96%2026-10-02 (9d) — 25Δ P — IV 54.15%2026-10-02 (9d) — 20Δ P — IV 54.69%2026-10-02 (9d) — 15Δ P — IV 54.03%2026-10-02 (9d) — 10Δ P — IV 56.84%2026-10-02 (9d) — 5Δ P — IV 59.20%9d10Δ C25Δ CATM25Δ P10Δ Pout-of-the-money calls ← delta → out-of-the-money puts

The axis is call delta. Readings to the right of the dashed centre line are taken from the out-of-the-money put at that strike, which is the contract whose quote the volatility was solved from. Points are only plotted where surviving quotes bracket the delta on both sides; nothing is extrapolated past the last traded strike.

Show the underlying numbers
Delta2d7d9d
5Δ call59.85%57.46%61.37%
10Δ call56.71%53.38%57.08%
15Δ call55.00%52.05%56.75%
20Δ call55.01%51.84%52.98%
25Δ call55.08%51.96%56.68%
30Δ call55.01%51.11%53.40%
35Δ call55.39%56.98%50.52%
40Δ call55.71%50.94%58.02%
45Δ call55.64%51.02%53.09%
ATM55.97%50.22%52.74%
45Δ put56.62%47.96%52.60%
40Δ put57.11%55.28%52.96%
35Δ put58.00%52.22%53.61%
30Δ put59.16%54.83%53.96%
25Δ put59.75%53.35%54.15%
20Δ put61.54%55.31%54.69%
15Δ put63.85%57.61%54.03%
10Δ put65.78%56.70%56.84%
5Δ put70.29%59.45%59.20%

Wing readings by expiration

ExpirationDaysForwardATM IV25Δ put25Δ callRRButterflyQuotes
2026-09-252$148.9155.97%59.75%55.08%+4.67+1.4545
2026-09-307$149.0050.22%53.35%51.96%+1.39+2.4446
2026-10-029$148.9552.74%54.15%56.68%-2.53+2.6762
2026-10-0714$149.0350.84%52.74%53.10%-0.36+2.0820
2026-10-0916$148.8751.35%55.11%50.32%+4.80+1.3671
2026-10-1623$149.1051.08%50.62%52.22%-1.60+0.3490
2026-10-2330$149.3549.88%51.55%50.52%+1.03+1.1576
2026-10-3037$149.4049.67%50.21%52.63%-2.42+1.7555
2026-11-2058$149.5049.41%48.62%52.86%-4.24+1.3388
2026-12-1886$149.6747.42%48.61%51.86%-3.25+2.8284
2027-01-15114$149.6548.02%47.97%51.84%-3.87+1.8872
2027-03-19177$150.6245.94%48.03%49.58%-1.55+2.86115
2027-04-16205$150.5445.44%46.68%48.65%-1.97+2.2362
2027-06-17267$151.5644.56%44.52%46.24%-1.72+0.82131
2027-09-17359$152.6943.07%43.38%45.03%-1.64+1.14118

Each curve above is one expiration. The vertical position is implied volatility; the horizontal position is the delta of the contract it was read from. For US equities the curve normally slopes upward to the right, meaning out-of-the-money puts carry higher implied volatility than equidistant calls.

The 25-delta risk reversal summarises that slope as a single number: the 25-delta put volatility minus the 25-delta call volatility. The butterfly summarises the curvature: the average of the two wings minus the at-the-money reading.

Term structure

At-the-money implied volatility by expiration

At-the-money implied volatility by expiration

15 listed expirations produced a usable reading

40%45%50%55%60%2026-09-25 — 2 days — at-the-money IV 55.97%2026-09-30 — 7 days — at-the-money IV 50.22%2026-10-02 — 9 days — at-the-money IV 52.74%2026-10-07 — 14 days — at-the-money IV 50.84%2026-10-09 — 16 days — at-the-money IV 51.35%2026-10-16 — 23 days — at-the-money IV 51.08%2026-10-23 — 30 days — at-the-money IV 49.88%2026-10-30 — 37 days — at-the-money IV 49.67%2026-11-20 — 58 days — at-the-money IV 49.41%2026-12-18 — 86 days — at-the-money IV 47.42%2027-01-15 — 114 days — at-the-money IV 48.02%2027-03-19 — 177 days — at-the-money IV 45.94%2027-04-16 — 205 days — at-the-money IV 45.44%2027-06-17 — 267 days — at-the-money IV 44.56%2027-09-17 — 359 days — at-the-money IV 43.07%7306090180days to expiration

The horizontal axis is the square root of days to expiration, which is the scale volatility lives on. A curve that is flat in variance terms plots as a straight line here rather than bending sharply through the front week.

Show the underlying numbers
ExpirationDaysForwardATM IVATM strikeQuotes used
2026-09-252 days$148.9155.97%$149.0445
2026-09-307 days$149.0050.22%$149.3646
2026-10-029 days$148.9552.74%$149.4662
2026-10-0714 days$149.0350.84%$149.7720
2026-10-0916 days$148.8751.35%$149.7471
2026-10-1623 days$149.1051.08%$150.3390
2026-10-2330 days$149.3549.88%$150.8976
2026-10-3037 days$149.4049.67%$151.2855
2026-11-2058 days$149.5049.41%$152.4288
2026-12-1886 days$149.6747.42%$153.6984
2027-01-15114 days$149.6548.02%$155.1372
2027-03-19177 days$150.6245.94%$158.53115
2027-04-16205 days$150.5445.44%$159.5262
2027-06-17267 days$151.5644.56%$162.98131
2027-09-17359 days$152.6943.07%$167.27118

Constant maturities

Interpolated between the bracketing listed expirations, in total variance

30 days
49.88%
60 days
49.21%
90 days
47.53%
180 days
45.88%

Interpolation is linear in total variance, not in volatility. Interpolating volatility directly implies a forward variance that can be negative between two expirations. A tenor beyond the longest listed expiration is reported as unavailable rather than extrapolated.

Term structure slope

Last 220 sessions

0.600.801.001.201.406 Sep26 Nov18 Feb9 May23 Sep

The dashed line marks 1.00, where the 90-day and 30-day at-the-money volatilities are equal. Above it the longer tenor carries the higher volatility.

The term structure is the at-the-money implied volatility of each listed expiration, plotted against how far away that expiration is. Its usual shape for a calm underlying slopes gently upward, because a longer horizon admits more uncertainty.

It inverts when the market prices a dated event: an expiration that captures a scheduled announcement carries the variance of that event on top of ordinary trading, so a shorter contract can print a higher volatility than a longer one.

USO options implied volatility, skew and IV percentile | Options Skew Analytics