Options trading basics teaches us that the VIX or CBOE Volatility Index reflects the market’s expectation of the upcoming 30-day volatility. It measures market risk and is also known as the investor fear gauge. With this in mind, covered call writers are faced with a dilemma. Increased market volatility will translate into higher option premiums […]
Covered Puts Are NOT Cash-Secured Puts + Our Best-Ever Covered Call Writing Streaming DVD Program with $50 Discount Coupon
Selling cash-secured puts is one of the go-to strategies in the BCI methodology. There has been some confusion for some of our members who conflate this strategy with covered puts, a completely different strategy. This article will define and compare the two strategies. Selling cash-secured puts defined A put option (generally out-of-the-money) is sold […]
Structuring a Poor Man’s Covered Call Trade with The Coca-Cola Company
The Poor Man’s Covered Call (PMCC) is a covered call writing-like strategy where short calls are sold against LEAPS options. There are pros and cons to this trading approach but the main advantage is that these trades can be executed at a lower cost than traditional covered call writing. Options (LEAPS, in this case) are […]
Cash-Secured Call Options
One of our favorite option-selling strategies is selling cash-secured puts. This involves selling (usually out-of-the-money) put options and securing the possible future contract assignment with the appropriate amount of cash. What about cash-secured call options also referred to as cash covered call options? This latter strategy is quite different from traditional covered call writing in […]
Stock Repair Strategy: Breakeven Versus Loss-Reduction Objectives
Call options can be used to reduce losses on long stock positions. Depending on the degree our share value has declined, our target can be to lower our breakeven point or to lock-in but reduce losses. In December 2018, Sunny shared a stock repair trade he was considering involving FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX). At the […]
Portfolio Overwriting with Weekly Options
Portfolio overwriting is a covered call writing alternative strategy where out-of-the-money call options are sold against long-term buy-and-hold positions. Generally, these stocks are of a low cost-basis and generate dividend income. We want to avoid assignment to prevent the negative tax consequences of selling stocks that will result in significant capital gains. Basis of […]
Selling Cash-Secured Puts to Lower Cost basis
Selling cash-secured puts can be used to generate monthly cash flow and to buy a stock at a discount. It can also be used to lower the cost-basis of shares already owned. In November 2018, John shared with me a trade he was in with Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) using precisely this strategy. This article […]
Mean Analyst Ratings (MAR)
The screening process for option-selling watchlists includes fundamental analysis, technical analysis and common-sense screens. The BCI team recently added a new screen, the mean analyst rating (MAR), to replace the Scouter Rating (risk/reward) which we had been using for years. This will add an “institutional” component to our analysis. What is MAR? An investment […]
Combining Covered Call Writing and the Stock Repair Strategy
One of our covered call writing exit strategies is converting dead money to cash profits (CDMCP). When share price is declining and under-performing the overall market, we first close the short call and then sell the stock. The cash generated from the sale of the underlying is then used to enter a new position. Another […]
When Should We Execute Our Option-Selling Trades?
The 3-required skills for covered call writing and selling cash secured puts are stock selection, option selection and position management. We can also add timing of our trades as a secondary factor in enhancing our overall returns. These considerations are different for option-selling compared to traditional buy-and-sell portfolios. This article will highlight how and why […]
-
“Hitting a Double” with XBI: Earn $100 in Four Minutes + Last Week for $50 Discount
-
Using the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) for Our Strike Price Selection
-
Ask Alan 161 – The Importance of Delta in our Covered Call Writing Decisions
-
Covered Puts Are NOT Cash-Secured Puts + Our Best-Ever Covered Call Writing Streaming DVD Program with $50 Discount Coupon
-
Collar Trades When Call Strikes Move Deep In-The-Money: A Real-Life Example with TEAM
-
The New Stock Market- Algorithmic and High Speed Trading
-
Options That Expire Weekly and Conventional Expiration Cycles
-
Why the 3% Guideline Applies to Puts but Not to Call Options
-
Earnings Pre-Announcements Explained and Categorized
-
Tax Implications of Writing Covered Calls against Long-Term Holdings
-
Marsha Hamish, Thanks for your terrific assessment. Ma
-
Hamish Hi Marsha, Good point. I've had the same
-
-
Barry B Premium Members, This week’s Weekly Stock Scr
-
Alan Ellman Cedric, This is a perfect example why we should
