Exit strategies for covered call writing includes closing a trade when share price rises above the original strike price sold. When formulating these decisions, we must factor in the cost-to-close as it relates to the opportunity to generate more profit. On November 8, 2017, Marion shared with me a trade with Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: […]
Position Management in the Final Week of a Contract: A Real-Life Example with FIVE
Exit strategy preparation and implementation is one of the 3 required skills for successful covered call writing and put-selling. Because of the time value erosion of our options (Theta), there are limitations regarding the exit strategy opportunities as our contracts near expiration. In January 2018, Duminda contacted me about a trade he executed with Five […]
Evaluating the Success of our Covered Call Trades
Whenever a covered call trade results in a maximum return, it is a successful trade…period…end of story. To most, this statement appears nonsensical and self-evident. But I’m here to tell you that there are a lot of covered call writers that question that success. In late December 2017, Paul shared with me a series of […]
Rolling Down Our Put Positions: When and Why?
Rolling Down Our Put Positions: When and Why? When selling cash-secured puts, our breakeven stock price is the (out-of-the-money) strike price less the put premium. Our exit strategy guideline as to when to close the short put (buy back the put) is when share value declines to more than 3% below the strike price. […]
Evaluating a Portfolio from a Numerical Perspective
When we formulate our covered call writing and put-selling portfolios, we are basing our decisions on non-emotional sound fundamental, technical and common sense principles. Similarly, we can analyze a portfolio and determine the investor’s stock and overall market assessments. On November 17, 2017, Carl sent me a list of his very first covered call writing […]
American Depository Receipts and Special 1-Time Cash Dividends/ Discount Coupons for New Book & Calculators
When viewing option chains while crafting our covered call writing portfolios, from time-to-time we will see unusual strike prices. These anomalies are usually associated with various corporate events that result in option contract adjustments. Such events include stock splits, mergers and acquisitions and the one highlighted in this article, special 1-time cash dividends. In July […]
Generating 2% – 4% in Bull Markets: How to Take Advantage of Out-Of-The-Money Strikes
The 3 required skills for covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts are stock selection, option selection and position management. This article will use real-life examples highlighting the first 2 of these skill sets in a bull market environment. Article assumptions and guidelines Portfolio is set up in a bull market environment Target goals […]
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 the November $55.00 call option. We would consider such action if the expiring strike […]
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 strategy goals. In return, we are relinquishing any opportunity to generate additional […]
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. Components of the covered strangle Buy stock Sell call option Sell […]
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Factors to Consider When Closing a Trade Early: A Real-Life Example with ATVI
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Position Management in the Final Week of a Contract: A Real-Life Example with FIVE
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Ask Alan 149 – How to Structure Portfolio Strikes
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Evaluating the Success of our Covered Call Trades
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Understanding the Impact Implied Volatility has on Delta
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The New Stock Market- Algorithmic and High Speed Trading
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Options That Expire Weekly and Conventional Expiration Cycles
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Why the 3% Guideline Applies to Puts but Not to Call Options
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Earnings Pre-Announcements Explained and Categorized
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Tax Implications of Writing Covered Calls against Long-Term Holdings
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Hoyt T Good evening Jay, I agree. This market has me f
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Barry B Premium Members, This week’s Weekly Stock Scr
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Alan Ellman Great crowd at my Denver presentation this morning
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Jay Good morning friends, Alan, I am with you, I wo
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Roni Joanna, most of the time I look at rolling out,
