What Is the Risk of “Contango” When Rolling a Position?

Contango is the state where the longer-dated futures contract is more expensive than the expiring one. When rolling a long position in contango, the trader must sell the expiring contract at a lower price and buy the new contract at a higher price, resulting in a loss (a negative roll yield).

This loss, if persistent, can erode the overall profitability of the long-term strategy.

What Is the Concept of “Rolling the Hedge” and How Does It Relate to Basis Risk?
In a Backwardated Market, What Is the Risk for a Long-Term Investor Rolling Futures Contracts?
What Is the “Roll Yield” and How Does It Relate to Contango and Backwardation?
What Is a ‘Roll Yield’ and How Does It Relate to Backwardation?
What Is “Roll Risk” in the Context of Futures or Options Contracts?
Is Roll Risk Higher for Short-Dated or Long-Dated Contracts?
What Is the Risk of “Roll Yield” When Rolling a Futures Contract?
What Is the Impact of Market Volatility on Roll Risk?