Best Options Strategy for PBF
Looking for the best options strategy for PBF Energy Inc. (PBF)? 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 PBF option chain right now, and a simple map from your view on PBF to the strategy that fits it. Model any of them in the calculator before you trade.
About PBF
PBF Energy Inc. (PBF) is a major company in Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing. Options traders on PBF tend to watch , since these can drive large moves in the share price.
About PBF Energy Inc.
PBF Energy operates oil refineries and handles the distribution of refined petroleum products across North America and beyond. The company produces a range of fuels including gasoline, diesel, and heating oil, along with jet fuel, lubricants, asphalt, and various petrochemical derivatives used as feedstocks and blending components. Through its refining operations, it transforms crude oil into these finished and intermediate products for wholesale and industrial use.
The company generates revenue by selling refined fuels and petroleum products to customers in the Northeast, Midwest, Gulf Coast, and West Coast regions of the United States, as well as to buyers in Canada, Mexico, and other international markets. Beyond refining, PBF operates a logistics segment that provides transportation and storage infrastructure, including rail and truck terminals, marine facilities, and pipeline services. These logistics operations support both its own refined products and third-party petroleum shipments, creating an additional revenue stream from service fees. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in New Jersey, the company operates at scale across multiple U.S. regions and internationally.
Today's top-scoring strategy for PBF
Our engine ranks defined-risk strategies on the live PBF 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× | PUT | $65 | $0.13 |
| Sell | 1× | PUT | $70 | $0.55 |
| Sell | 1× | CALL | $85 | $0.85 |
| Buy | 1× | CALL | $92.5 | $0.10 |
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% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $98 | −$555 | −$522 | −$492 | −$466 | −$444 |
| $94 | −$453 | −$422 | −$398 | −$379 | −$365 |
| $90 | −$297 | −$287 | −$280 | −$276 | −$275 |
| $86 | −$122 | −$141 | −$156 | −$171 | −$186 |
| $82 | $13 | −$21 | −$53 | −$84 | −$112 |
| $78 | $76 | $40 | $2 | −$35 | −$69 |
| $74 | $60 | $29 | −$5 | −$38 | −$69 |
| $70 | −$34 | −$54 | −$72 | −$91 | −$109 |
| $66 | −$184 | −$179 | −$176 | −$177 | −$179 |
| $62 | −$314 | −$294 | −$278 | −$266 | −$257 |
| $59 | −$371 | −$359 | −$346 | −$332 | −$320 |
Illustrative example at PBF'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
PBF is currently trading with moderate implied volatility, broadly in line with other large-cap stocks. On the options we scanned that was around 32% implied volatility, and higher implied volatility means richer premiums and wider expected moves.
Options on PBF currently price in about 32% implied volatility, versus roughly 73% the stock has actually realised over the past month. That makes options relatively cheap — an edge for strategies that buy premium, such as long calls, long puts and debit spreads.
Off that volatility, the options market is pricing a move of about ±$7.77 (±10%) in PBF by 2026-10-16 — a range of roughly $70.32 to $85.86. Strikes inside that band hold most of the premium and see most of the action.
Across strikes, downside puts on PBF trade at a higher implied volatility than upside calls — the market is paying up for crash protection. That skew favours selling put spreads or buying calls over symmetric trades.
PBF insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
Open-market insider transactions at PBF over roughly the last six months, from SEC Form 4 filings. Open-market buys are the rarer, more telling signal — routine selling under pre-arranged plans is common, so read a net-selling figure with that in mind.
| Insider | Action | Shares | Value | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canty Trecia M | Sell | 946 | $67K | 2026-08-12 |
| Canty Trecia M | Sell | 139,374 | $9.9M | 2026-08-12 |
| Davis Paul T | Sell | 63,295 | $4.5M | 2026-08-12 |
| Control Empresarial de Capitales S.A. de C.V. | Sell | 150,000 | $10.5M | 2026-08-12 |
| Nimbley Thomas J. | Sell | 260,063 | $17.6M | 2026-08-11 |
| Marino Joseph Daniel | Sell | 4,033 | $279K | 2026-08-11 |
Source: SEC Form 4 filings via Finnhub. Open-market purchases (P) and sales (S) only — grants, option exercises, gifts and tax withholding are excluded. Informational context, not investment advice.
Earnings & IV crush
PBF's next earnings report is due around October 29, 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
PBF pays a dividend of about 1.5% 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
- $9.1B
- Beta (vs market)
- 0.08
- 52-week range
- $25.62–$77.94 (100% up the range)
- Short interest
- 12.3% of float · 3.3 days to cover
With 12.3% of PBF's float sold short, squeeze and gap risk are elevated — one reason its options can stay expensive.
How to choose an options strategy for PBF
Start with your outlook on PBF, 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 PBF 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 PBF in the free calculator →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best options strategy for PBF?
It depends on your outlook. Bullish traders often use a long call or bull call spread on PBF; 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 PBF options liquid enough to trade?
PBF Energy Inc. (PBF) 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 PBF options?
Buying a single PBF 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 PBF or any security. Do your own research.
What does PBF Energy Inc. do?
PBF Energy Inc. (PBF) operates in the Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing industry. The "About PBF Energy Inc." section above gives a fuller picture of what the company does and how it earns money.
Does PBF Energy Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes — PBF Energy Inc. currently pays a dividend yielding about 1.5%. 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 PBF Energy Inc. next report earnings?
PBF Energy Inc.'s next earnings are expected around October 29, 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 PBF
Comparing PBF with similar names can help you choose the best options strategy:
Company information
- Headquarters
- One Sylvan Way, Second Floor, Parsippany, NJ, 07054, United States
- Industry
- Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
- Employees
- 3,678
- CEO
- Mr. Matthew C. Lucey
- Phone
- 973 455 7500
- Website
- www.pbfenergy.com
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