What Happens If My Covered Call Is Assigned Early?

If your covered call is assigned early, you’ll be required to sell your 100 shares at the strike price — even before expiration.

Early assignment typically occurs:

  • Near ex-dividend dates

  • When the option is deep in-the-money

  • When there’s little time value left in the premium

It’s not always bad — you still keep the premium and likely sell at a profit.


📊 Example Trade

TSLA @ $368
Strike: $380
Premium: $12.10
DTE: 30

👉 Run this in the calculator → https://bit.ly/tsla-call


🙋‍♀️ FAQ

Q: Do I lose money if I’m assigned early?
A: No — in most cases, you still profit, just less than if the option had expired worthless.

Q: Can I avoid early assignment?
A: You can roll the option early, or avoid selling calls just before dividends or earnings.

Q: What happens after assignment?
A: You no longer own the stock, but can re-enter with a new trade or cash-secured put.