State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) Covered Calls
The SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the Bloomberg 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. It provides exposure to the shortest-duration U.S. Treasury obligations, offering a highly liquid, low-risk vehicle for investors seeking to park cash or minimize portfolio volatility.
You can sell covered calls on State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF to lower risk and earn monthly income. Born To Sell's covered call screener gives you customized search capabilities across all possible covered calls but here are a couple of examples for BIL (prices last updated Thu 11:25 AM ET):
| State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) Stock Quote | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last | Change | Bid | Ask | Volume | P/E | Market Cap |
| 91.43 | +0.03 | 91.42 | 91.43 | 3.9M | - | 1.1 |
| Covered Calls For State Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expiration | Strike | Call Bid | Net Debit | Return If Flat |
Annualized Return If Flat |
|
| Apr 17 | 91 | 0.20 | 91.23 | -0.3% | -6.8% | |
| May 15 | 91 | 0.00 | 91.43 | -0.5% | -4.1% | |
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Core Business and Products
The SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) is designed to serve as a cash equivalent. By holding U.S. Treasury bills with maturities between one and three months, the fund effectively captures the prevailing short-term interest rates set by the Federal Reserve. It offers a "risk-free" return profile, as T-bills are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, making it an ideal destination for capital preservation.
The fund is structured as a passive, index-based ETF. Its primary objective is to maintain a stable net asset value (NAV) while providing income that fluctuates based on current market interest rates. Because the underlying bills are extremely short-term, the fund is largely immune to interest-rate risk—meaning it does not experience significant price drops when interest rates rise, unlike longer-dated bond funds.
Competitive Landscape
BIL competes in the "cash-plus" and ultra-short bond space against other T-bill ETFs, such as the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV). While these funds are functionally identical in their objective of preserving capital and tracking short-term yields, BIL is one of the most established and liquid instruments available, making it a favorite for institutional liquidity management.
Because BIL is highly liquid and optionable, it is used by both retail and institutional investors as a tactical parking spot for cash. While options on BIL are rarely used for directional speculation due to the fund’s inherent lack of volatility, they are sometimes utilized by sophisticated traders for managing cash-flow timing or specific arbitrage strategies.
Strategic Outlook and Innovation
The strategic outlook for BIL is dictated entirely by Federal Reserve monetary policy. In high-interest-rate environments, BIL provides attractive yields for a cash-equivalent product; in low-rate environments, it acts purely as a defensive shelter. It remains an evergreen tool for investors who need to maintain liquidity while avoiding the risks associated with volatile equity or longer-duration fixed-income markets.
Innovation in this segment focuses on minimizing the expense ratio, as yield spreads on short-term Treasuries are typically very thin. BIL continues to provide a transparent, efficient, and cost-effective way for market participants to access the risk-free rate, serving as the "safe harbor" foundation of a modern, diversified portfolio.
| Top 10 Open Interest For Apr 17 Expiration | Top 5 High Yield | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | SLV covered calls | 6. | SPY covered calls | 1. | REPL covered calls | |
| 2. | EEM covered calls | 7. | TLT covered calls | 2. | CMPX covered calls | |
| 3. | NVDA covered calls | 8. | HYG covered calls | 3. | CRWV covered calls | |
| 4. | KWEB covered calls | 9. | EWZ covered calls | 4. | HUT covered calls | |
| 5. | QQQ covered calls | 10. | SOFI covered calls | 5. | IREN covered calls | |
Want more examples? BIIB Covered Calls | BILI Covered Calls
Risk Disclosure: Trading options involves significant risk and is not suitable for all investors. The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing contained on this site is an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any securities or financial instruments.
Covered Call Strategy Risks: While covered call writing is often considered a conservative options strategy, it is not without risk. By selling a covered call, you are limiting your potential upside profit from the underlying stock. You remain exposed to the full downside risk of owning the underlying stock. In the event of a significant decline in the stock price, the premium received may not be sufficient to offset your losses.
No Guarantee of Performance: Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any examples, calculations, or hypothetical scenarios presented on this site are for illustrative purposes only and do not guarantee future returns or outcomes. Market conditions, liquidity, and trading system failures can affect your ability to execute trades at desired prices.
You should consult with a qualified professional advisor and conduct your own due diligence before making any investment decisions. By using this website, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own investment decisions and agree to release this site and its affiliates from any liability relating to your use of this information. See the OCC's Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options for more info.
