Charles Schwab relaunches single stock futures on 50 U.S. equities, offering leveraged exposure with reduced upfront cash requirements.
Charles Schwab Futures & Forex introduced single stock futures contracts on August 12, 2026, covering over 50 U.S. equities in the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and Russell 1000. The product allows traders to gain leveraged exposure without owning shares outright, with standard contracts representing 100 shares and micro contracts for 10 shares.
The contracts, trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, carry a $2.25 commission per contract per side, plus fees. Schwab highlights lower margin requirements and no borrow fees for short positions as key advantages over traditional stock or options trading. The product previously existed in U.S. markets but was discontinued in September 2020 due to low demand.
Eligibility is limited to futures-approved accounts, and the offering targets traders seeking a simpler, cheaper alternative to options for high-profile stocks like Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla.