This really happened. From March to August 2020, many of the large cap technology stocks were on fire. Thor shared with me a covered call trade he executed with Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) where the strike moved $1000.00 in-the-money (ITM) as share price headed to the moon. As you read this article, see if you […]
Establishing Our Cost-Basis for Long-Term Holdings
When we initiate a covered call trade by first buying a stock and then selling a call option, our cost-basis, in the BCI methodology, is the lower of the stock price or strike price. If we sell an in-the-money (ITM) strike, we deduct the intrinsic-value component of the option premium from the share price bringing […]
How to Select the Best Strike Prices for Collar Trades: Real-Life Example with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD)
Covered call writing is associated with 2 legs: we are long the stock and short the call option. If we add a protective put, we have converted the covered call trade to a collar trade which has both a floor (put strike) and a ceiling (call strike). The traditional collar trades uses out-of-the-money strikes for […]
Poor Man’s Covered Call: Selecting the Best LEAPS Strike
The Poor Man’s Covered Call (PMCC) is a covered call writing-like strategy where deep in-the-money LEAPS options are used in lieu of long stock positions. Short-term out-of-the-money call options are sold against the long position. The technical term is a long call diagonal debit spread. When setting up the initial trade, decisions must be made […]
Establishing Our Cost-Basis When Rolling Out-And-Up on 2 Different Days
One of our covered call writing exit strategies is rolling-out-and-up. We use this position management technique when our short call is in-the-money (ITM) as expiration approaches and we decide to retain the shares for the next contract month (or week). For example, had we bought a stock for $38.00 and sold the $40.00 call and […]
Spinoffs and Stock Splits: How Multiple Corporate Events Can Impact Share Price
Our covered call writing and put-selling positions can be radically impacted by corporate events. In July 2020, Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTCH) showed extreme price volatility due to 2 corporate events, a spinoff and a stock split. Price dropped from $105.00 to $95.00. They also resulted in option contract adjustments. The loss was severe but […]
Establishing Our Cost-Basis in a Multi-Step Managed Trade
Covered call writing calculations are meaningful only when the correct stats are entered into our formulas (calculators). The cost-basis of a managed trade can be confusing as stock and option values are changing with each step of the trade series. In July 2020, Steve shared with me a series of trades he executed with KraneShares […]
Delta and Strike Price Selection
Strike price selection is the 2nd of our 3-required skills for covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts. I am frequently asked which Delta to use as a guide to a specific strike price. In this article, we will review the factors that guide us to the most appropriate strike price and the role Delta […]
Exit Strategies are Important but Must Be Timed Properly + Free Webinar Link
Exit strategy execution for covered call writing and put-selling is the 3rd required skill needed to achieve the highest returns (stock and option selection are the other two). Knowing how and when to implement these position management trades will have a major impact on our ultimate success. In July 2020, Clark sent me a series […]
Rolling-Down On a Sharp Market Decline at the End of a Contract
Exit strategy opportunities may be created when there is a substantial 1-day market decline and we must be prepared to take advantage of these occasions. In June 2020, there was an 1800 point decline in the Dow 30 due to coronavirus concerns and national unrest related to police shootings. Many members of the BCI community […]
Podcast
- 60. Combining ITM Call Strikes & Stock Dividends to Protect in Bear Markets
- 59. ANALYZING 2 Month and 4-Day Covered Call Trades
- 58. Is This Trade a Winner or a Loser?
- 57. Evaluation Stock Purchase Price and Breakeven When Rolling Options
- 56: Selling Deep In-The-Money Calls to Exit Stock Positions
- 55. Expiration Dates Versus Expiration Times Clarifications
- 54. Selecting the Best Strike Prices for Our Collar Trades
- 53: ITM Cash-Secured Puts: Allow Exercise or Roll the Option?
- 52. Making Money Selling Options with Technology Stocks
- 51. Timing Our Covered Call Trades
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