Unusual Options Activity Seen in United States Oil Fund

The fund saw a 75% increase in call option trading volume compared to its daily average.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

United States Oil Fund LP (NYSEARCA:USO), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the price of light, sweet crude oil, saw a significant increase in call option trading volume on Wednesday. Investors purchased 101,801 call options on the fund, representing a 75% increase over its average daily volume of 58,108 call options.

Why it matters

The unusually high options activity in USO could indicate that investors are anticipating a rise in the price of crude oil, which could have implications for energy markets and the broader economy. As a major oil-tracking fund, USO's performance is closely watched by investors and analysts.

The details

USO stock traded up $3.87 during the trading session, hitting $79.60 per share. The fund saw a trading volume of 8,987,688 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,547,509. USO has a 1-year low of $60.67 and a 1-year high of $83.57, with a market capitalization of $1.05 billion.

  • The unusual options activity was observed on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

United States Oil Fund LP

An exchange-traded fund that tracks the price of light, sweet crude oil delivered to Cushing, Oklahoma.

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The takeaway

The surge in call option trading volume for USO suggests that some investors are betting on a rise in crude oil prices, which could have broader implications for the energy sector and the overall economy. However, it's important to note that options trading activity can be influenced by a variety of factors, and this data alone does not necessarily indicate a definitive market trend.