Covered call writing can be crafted to meet a myriad of goals in a wide range of market conditions. In May of 2020, the 10-year Treasury Bond yield was 0.65%. Bank interest rates in several countries were negative. At the same time, dividend yield on Dow 30 and S&P 500 dividend-bearing stocks were triple that […]

Early Exercise Due to Dividend Capture: Theoretical and Practical Applications
When we write a covered call option we are obligated to sell our shares at any time from the option sale to contract expiration if the option buyer decides to take possession of our shares. This is because we are dealing with American Style options. European Style options (apply mainly to indexes, not stocks) can […]

Combining Dividend Capture with Covered Call Writing: Pros and Cons
Why not use covered call writing with only dividend-bearing stocks to generate three income streams; option premium, share appreciation to the (out-of-the-money) call strike plus the dividend itself? This article will explore the pros and cons of this approach to covered call writing. Strategy theory We screen for stocks that have ex-dividend dates (also […]

Should Ex-Dividend Dates Be Treated the Same as Earnings Report Dates?
Covered call writers and put-sellers must be aware of earnings report dates and ex-dividend dates but for different reasons. A golden rule in the BCI methodology is never to sell an option if there is and earnings report date prior to contract expiration. In July 2017, Terry sent me an email asking if ex-dividend dates […]
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