Best Options Strategy for MUR
Looking for the best options strategy for Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR)? There is no single answer — the right play depends on your outlook, your risk tolerance and current implied volatility. Below, our free engine shows the highest-scoring defined-risk strategy on the live MUR option chain right now, and a simple map from your view on MUR to the strategy that fits it. Model any of them in the calculator before you trade.
About MUR
Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) is a major company in Oil & Gas E&P. Options traders on MUR tend to watch , since these can drive large moves in the share price.
About Murphy Oil Corporation
# About Murphy Oil Corporation
Murphy Oil Corporation explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids across operations in the United States, Canada, and other international locations. The company carries out the full range of upstream oil and gas activities, from identifying promising geological prospects through drilling and extraction. Established in 1950 and renamed Murphy Oil Corporation in 1964, the firm maintains its headquarters in Houston, Texas, positioning it within the energy sector's traditional center of operations.
The company generates revenue by selling the oil, natural gas, and associated liquids it extracts from its exploration and production operations. Murphy Oil serves energy markets across multiple geographic regions, balancing its portfolio between onshore and offshore assets in North America alongside international prospects. This geographic diversification and product mix across both oil and gas allow the company to capture value across different commodity price environments and customer demand cycles.
Today's top-scoring strategy for MUR
Our engine ranks defined-risk strategies on the live MUR chain by probability of profit and risk/reward, then surfaces the best-scoring one. It is an educational illustration, not advice.
| Action | Qty | Type | Strike | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy | 1× | CALL | $95 | $6.83 |
| Sell | 2× | CALL | $100 | $3.82 |
| Buy | 1× | CALL | $105 | $1.87 |
Simulation
Forward simulation of 6,000 lognormal price paths to expiration — not a historical backtest.
Strategy analysis
Greeks vs price
Price × volatility (today)
| −30% | −15% | IV | +15% | +30% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $125 | −$105 | −$103 | −$99 | −$94 | −$89 |
| $120 | −$102 | −$96 | −$88 | −$82 | −$77 |
| $115 | −$88 | −$77 | −$69 | −$64 | −$61 |
| $110 | −$50 | −$42 | −$40 | −$41 | −$43 |
| $105 | $10 | −$1 | −$11 | −$20 | −$28 |
| $100 | $42 | $18 | $0 | −$13 | −$23 |
| $95 | $3 | −$7 | −$16 | −$25 | −$32 |
| $90 | −$64 | −$55 | −$52 | −$51 | −$52 |
| $85 | −$98 | −$91 | −$84 | −$78 | −$75 |
| $80 | −$105 | −$103 | −$100 | −$96 | −$92 |
| $75 | −$106 | −$106 | −$105 | −$104 | −$101 |
Illustrative example at MUR's latest available price, computed with the same engine as the tool. Live option fills and the real IV skew refresh during US market hours.
Implied volatility
MUR typically trades with moderate implied volatility, broadly in line with other large-cap stocks. Implied volatility drives option prices, so it is worth checking the live chain before you trade.
Earnings & IV crush
MUR's next earnings report is due around November 4, 2026. Options that expire after it price in a binary move, so their implied volatility is elevated and usually collapses right after the announcement — an "IV crush". If your expiration falls before this date, the trade sidesteps the event.
Dividend and assignment risk
MUR pays a dividend of about 3.8% a year, so short or covered calls on it carry early-assignment risk around each ex-dividend date — in-the-money calls are most exposed just before the stock goes ex-dividend.
Key figures
- Market cap
- $5.2B
- Beta (vs market)
- 0.49
- 52-week range
- $24.80–$43.34
- Short interest
- 10.7% of float · 6.4 days to cover
With 10.7% of MUR's float sold short, squeeze and gap risk are elevated — one reason its options can stay expensive.
How to choose an options strategy for MUR
Start with your outlook on MUR, then match it to a defined-risk structure. Here are the most common choices and when each makes sense:
Bullish
Buy a call for leverage with capped risk, or a bull call spread to lower the cost and breakeven when you have a target price.
Long Call → Bull Call Spread →Bearish
Buy a put to profit from a decline with defined risk, or a bear put spread to cheapen the trade when you expect a measured move down.
Long Put → Bear Put Spread →Neutral
Sell an iron condor to collect premium while MUR stays between two strikes, or write a covered call against shares you already own.
Iron Condor → Covered Call →⧉ Embed this free calculator on your site →
How we pick the best strategy
For each ticker we pull the live option chain, build every supported strategy around the at-the-money strikes, and score them on probability of profit, risk/reward and capital efficiency — favouring defined-risk structures where the maximum loss is known up front. Methodology →
Open MUR in the free calculator →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best options strategy for MUR?
It depends on your outlook. Bullish traders often use a long call or bull call spread on MUR; bearish traders a long put or bear put spread; neutral traders an iron condor or covered call. Our live scan above shows the current highest-scoring defined-risk play.
Are MUR options liquid enough to trade?
Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) is among the most actively-traded US options, which usually means tight bid/ask spreads and plenty of strikes and expirations — though you should always check the open interest and spread on the exact contract.
How much money do I need to trade MUR options?
Buying a single MUR call or put can cost as little as the premium (often one to a few hundred dollars), while income strategies like a cash-secured put need enough capital to buy 100 shares if assigned.
Is this financial advice?
No. Everything here is educational and uses delayed, third-party data. It is not a recommendation to trade MUR or any security. Do your own research.
What does Murphy Oil Corporation do?
Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) operates in the Oil & Gas E&P industry. The "About Murphy Oil Corporation" section above gives a fuller picture of what the company does and how it earns money.
Does Murphy Oil Corporation pay a dividend?
Yes — Murphy Oil Corporation currently pays a dividend yielding about 3.8%. If you hold the shares (for example to write a covered call), the ex-dividend date can trigger early assignment, so check it beforehand.
When does Murphy Oil Corporation next report earnings?
Murphy Oil Corporation's next earnings are expected around November 4, 2026. Implied volatility usually climbs into the report and drops sharply afterwards (IV crush) — important for any options position held over the date.
Price trend
Tickers related to MUR
Comparing MUR with similar names can help you choose the best options strategy:
Company information
- Headquarters
- 9805 Katy Freeway, Suite G-200, Houston, TX, 77024, United States
- Industry
- Oil & Gas E&P
- Employees
- 813
- CEO
- Mr. Eric M. Hambly
- Phone
- 281 675 9000
- Website
- www.murphyoilcorp.com
- Investor relations
- www.murphyoilcorp.com/ir/default.aspx
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