Covered call writers must factor in dividends into our investment strategies. More specifically, ex-dividend dates for these are the dates shareholders must own the shares to benefit from the dividend distribution. Call buyers must exercise the option prior to the ex-date to capture the forthcoming dividend. This makes our shares subject to early exercise (exercise […]
Executing Exit Strategies in a Timely Manner
After executing our covered call writing trades, we immediately prepare for position management opportunities…exit strategies. One of these strategies in our arsenal is the Mid Contract Unwind exit strategy. This is used when share value appreciates dramatically resulting in a time value cost-to-close of near zero. In other words, the option originally sold will be […]
Cost To Close Our Short Option Positions: Calls and Puts
After entering our covered call writing or put-selling positions, we immediately prepare for possible exit strategy opportunities. All exit strategies begin by buying back the option, call or put. These position management techniques are used to mitigate losses, turn losses into gains and enhance winning positions to even higher levels. This is the reason we need […]
Exercise Of Options From The Call Buyer’s Perspective
Since we are selling call and put options we know there are traders or market makers who are buying them. In this article we will explore why only about 10% of all call options are actually exercised by the option holders even when the holders want to own the underlying shares. Why are call […]
Using Delta to Determine the Amount of Risk in Our Option-Selling Positions
Covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts are low-risk option-selling strategies used to generate monthly cash flow. Low-risk does not mean no risk so how can we measure the degree of risk we are undertaking? Let’s first all agree that any strategy that aspires to generate higher than a risk-free return (Treasuries, for example) will incur […]
The Relationship Between Delta and the Time Value of our Options
Covered call writers and put-sellers are always looking for an edge. Some may wonder which option Delta would make the best option-selling candidate. Intuitively or from experience we know that at-the-money strikes (Deltas near 0.50) generate the highest initial returns. I’ve stated that over-and-over again in my books and DVDs. Can this be demonstrated mathematically […]
Why We Should Avoid ATM and ITM Put Strikes in Bear Markets + A Discussion of Brexit
“Selling cash-secured puts is the exact same strategy as covered call writing”. We hear that over and over…except that it’s not. These two strategies have the same risk/reward profiles and that is why the claim is made so frequently. On page 214 of my book, Selling Cash-Secured Puts, I highlight a comparison chart showing similarities […]
Naked Call Sellers VS. Covered Call Writers: Different Perspectives
Covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts are considered conservative, low-risk option strategies. Naked option trading is acknowledged to be a more speculative approach to trading options. In the case of covered call writing especially, this is confirmed by the fact that brokerages require a higher level of trading approval for naked option trading than […]
Gamma: The Delta of Delta Impacting Exit Strategy Opportunities
Option Greeks are mathematical means of measuring the risk of stock options. One of the least discussed of these factors is Gamma. In this article, we will explore the significance of this Greek and relate it to covered call writing. Gamma defined and explained- Second order price sensitivity Gamma is an estimate of how […]
Delta Defined from Three Perspectives
Delta, one of the major Greeks, correlates the relationship between stock price and option value. Option traders use the Greeks to evaluate the risk inherent in our positions and Delta is a critical tool used to measure that liability. As we study the option literature, many of us have come across three related, but different, definitions […]
Podcast
- 96. Protecting Our Covered Call Trades: Protective Puts and In-the-Money Strikes
- 95. Covered Call Writing to Generate Premium and Dividend Income
- 94. Covered Call Writing Net Debit Limit Orders
- 93. WHEN CALL STRIKES MOVE DEEP ITM EARLY IN A CONTRACT
- 92. Selling Deep OTM Cash-Secured Puts to Create High-Probability Returns
- 91. Portfolio Overwriting Analyzed
- 90. Entering a Collar Trade
- 89. Am I Losing Money When I Buy Back My Deep ITM Covered Call Options?
- 88. Creating a Portfolio of Weekly Cash-Secured Puts
- 87. Bear Market Concerns and Our Option Selling Portfolios
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