This is stupid. USO was meant for speculators who couldn't afford to trade multiple oil contracts to be able to trade the yield curve of oil with reasonable tracking. It wasn't invented for professionals you absolute dunce. Professionals will trade the curve with a portfolio of actual CL contracts. Go ahead, I dare you to find one O&G hedge desk using USO.
If an ETF liquidates the shares are paid out at their value at liquidation. You're typically notified a few weeks to a month in advance and can dump/request your shares be sold and a market maker will take them from you. ETF liquidation is a strict process. You're just causing panic for no reason.
I hold 3 USO LEAPs at the moment dated Jan 2021. I had figured after it kept drawing I'd spend a few hundred on lottery tickets to catch a moon rocket. I will probably dump my LEAPs soon and eat my loss. The governors do not want the United States to open, there's so much oil we are literally running out of places to put it, and the travel season (usually a big season for consumption) is basically canceled.
USO will probably be dead. If it gets liquidated I can't lose more than what I put into the options anyways. Stop panicking noobs.
You are correct in this part. It may be more like airlines or trucking companies will use it for a hedge. It is also an LLP. I'll repeat that, so it can sink in...It is also an LLP!!
Does the government treat LLPs different than other ETFs? Yes!! If a LLP is liquidated, does it send a red flag to the IRS? Yes!! I have been audited 3 times...All with my wife. We had our ducks lined up in a row with my CPA before we went in. IRS auditors are not very bright. They want to find unpaid taxes quickly then move on. You could be there an hour explaining an unwound LLP (and not knowing what you're talking about). The auditor may reject your answers and say you had full knowledge of the LLP and may owe more in taxes. Or may ask for a revision of your taxes. Both cost money. You may need to hire a tax professional. I said may...LLPs CAN be tricky. When I had USO and showed my CPA the end of year statement, he suggested I get out of it and never return to that company. Yeah, so tell it to my CPA...He must be an idiot!! Yes, you are correct on the first part...But down the road, headaches could be ahead. If I remember...If the LLP does get unwound and it creates over $1,000. to your account, you need to file an extra 4 pages of documents to the IRS. Turbo Tax or H & R Block may not know what they are doing.
Edited 5 minutes later. I went to Fidelity to buy 1 share of USO (just to see what would happen), no, I didn't buy. Below is the response...They are covering their ass.
Error:(DI2002) You are placing an order for a security that requires you to execute Fidelity's Designated Investments Agreement for this account.
Review and execute the Designated Investments Agreement, and review important information about this investment. If you do not agree to the terms of the agreement and review the important information, you may not purchase this security.
For important information on these securities and their risks, see
Master Limited Partnerships .