What Is the Commitment of Traders (COT) Report?
The Commitment of Traders (COT) report is a weekly publication by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that breaks down the open interest in futures markets by trader category. It reveals how commercial hedgers, large speculators (non-commercial traders), and small traders are positioned across commodities, currencies, interest rates, and equity index futures. Institutional investors, hedge funds, and retail traders use COT data as a leading sentiment indicator to anticipate potential trend reversals and confirm existing market trends.
How to Use This COT Report Tool
- 1
Search by Symbol
Enter a futures symbol like ES (S&P 500), GC (Gold), CL (Crude Oil), or OJ (Orange Juice) to view the COT positioning data for that contract.
- 2
Analyze Positioning
Review the breakdown of long and short positions held by commercial traders, non-commercial speculators, and non-reportable traders. Use the tabbed views to explore positions, weekly changes, percentage of open interest, trader counts, and concentration ratios.
- 3
Export and Analyze
Use the Refresh button to reload data or Export CSV to download the report for further analysis in Excel, Google Sheets, or Python.
Key Trader Categories in the COT Report
Commercial Traders
Entities that use futures to hedge their business operations. Commercials are often considered the "smart money" because they have direct knowledge of supply and demand fundamentals in their industry.
Non-Commercial (Large Speculators)
Hedge funds, commodity trading advisors, and other large speculators who trade futures for profit. Their positioning often reflects trend-following strategies and can signal momentum shifts.
Non-Reportable (Small Traders)
Traders whose positions fall below the CFTC reporting threshold. This category typically represents retail traders and smaller participants. Extreme positioning by this group can sometimes signal contrarian opportunities.
Why Use Our Free COT Report Tool?
Sentiment Analysis
Gauge market sentiment by tracking how commercial hedgers and large speculators are positioned. Extreme long or short positioning often precedes major price reversals.
Trend Confirmation
Confirm existing trends by monitoring whether large speculators are adding to or reducing their positions. Increasing open interest alongside rising prices suggests strong trend conviction.
Free CSV Export
Export COT data to CSV format for further analysis in Excel, Google Sheets, Python, R, or any data analysis tool. Build your own COT indicators and backtests.
No Registration Required
Access all COT report data instantly without creating an account. Completely free with no hidden paywalls or feature restrictions.