Latest Insights in Stock Market Investing
The Mysteries of a Put Sale
On 8/19/2017, Ron sent me an email detailing a cash-secured put trade he initiated in a virtual account. I saved the email to use in an article because I felt it would be instructive on several fronts. Ron's trade with Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) ...
Technical Analysis Impacting Stock Eligibility for Option-Selling
Fundamental analysis, technical analysis and common sense principles comprise the 3-pronged approach used in the BCI methodology for screening for option-selling candidates. Technical analysis is the factor that changes most frequently and is the main reason a stock...
Rolling Out-And-Up: Explaining the “Bought-Up” Value of our Stocks
One of our covered call writing exit strategies is rolling out-and-up. This involves buying back (buy-to-close) the current in-the-money option and selling the later-date higher strike price. For example, we may buy back the October $50.00 call option and then sell...
In-The-Money Call Strikes: Intrinsic Value Protects Time Value
Strike price selection is one of the 3 required skills for covered call writing and put-selling. When we sell in-the-money call options we are protecting our positions to the downside while still generating the time value initial profits we have established in our...
The Covered Strangle: Selling Both Call and Put Options while Owning the Underlying Stock
Why not sell both covered calls and cash-secured puts on the same stock? I've been asked this question numerous times. There is actually a strategy that incorporates both BCI go-to strategies into one overall game plan. It is known as the covered strangle. ...
What Criteria Should We Use to Close our Covered Call Positions Early?
When we sell out-of-the-money call options, we are initiating bullish covered call writing positions. Our goals are to generate option premium as well as share appreciation from current market value up to the call strike price. When share value moves well above the...
Should We Close Our Deep-In-The-Money Strike or Allow Assignment?
When our covered call positions end up moving deep in-the-money, we are faced with the decision to close as our maximum profit has been realized or take no action and allow assignment. In October 2017, Andrew shared with me a trade he successfully executed and was...
Selecting Deep In-The-Money Strikes: A Real-Life Example
Option selection is the second required skill when selling call and put options. On 9/26/2017, George shared with me a trade he executed with Biogen, Inc. (BIIB). An in-the-money strike was sold and share price immediately accelerated. George was inquiring about how...
Writing Naked Calls on Poorly-Performing Stocks
Selling covered calls and cash-secured puts are the main strategies highlighted in our BCI community. Much of the information disseminated on the Blue Collar site, books and DVDs is based on member feedback, inquiries and comments. In September 2017, Marc sent me an...
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