When we write a covered call, there is a trader or market-maker buying that call on the other side of the trade. We know that as expiration approaches, the time value of options tends to approach zero (Theta effect). With that in mind I received an email from Marcos in early May 2017 astutely asking […]
Writing Covered Call Options to Compensate for Share Depreciation
Covered call writing generates monthly (or weekly) cash flow but it also reduces our cost basis. The latter result is the reason why covered call writing increases our chances of a successful trade more so than simply owning the stock. Historical data tells us that in the long haul the stock market increases in value. […]
Covered Calls and Dividends: A Proposed Strategy
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 […]
Over-Trading Our Option Positions: Good for Brokers, Not Good For Us
Exit strategies for covered call writing are essential for achieving the highest levels of success. In the BCI methodology, we have a series of guidelines that assist us in determining which position management techniques should be instituted and when we should consider them. Not taking appropriate action when responses to changes in our stock and option positions […]
Rolling Down with CALM: Turning Losses into Gains
Exit strategies for both covered call writing and selling cash-secured puts is one of the three required skills for maximizing investment returns. Whether we are mitigating losses, turning losses into gains or enhancing winning positions to even higher levels, we must have the capability to take advantage of all position management opportunities. In this week’s […]
Ex-Dividend Dates: Rules for Standard and Special Dividends
Dividends impact option premiums. When a dividend is distributed the cash holdings of a corporation is decreased and therefore the company and its stock are worth less. The eligibility to receive the dividend depends on several factors including the size of the dividend. First, let’s define some terms: Types of dividends Standard dividends: A distribution […]
Why do Call Buyers Exercise Early Prior to the Ex-Dividend Date?
Covered call writers know that early exercise is extremely rare. Call buyers are generally better off selling the option rather than exercising early. In this article we will evaluate why a call buyer may choose to exercise an in-the-money call option prior to expiration by evaluating the choices available to these option holders. Value of […]
Covered Call Writing And Dividend Capture: Evaluating A Proposed Strategy
Capturing dividends using covered call writing has been a topic on great interest lately. I recently wrote an extensive white paper on this topic located in the “resources/downloads” section of your premium site. In this article I will evaluate an interesting approach to a strategy recently sent to me by one of our members who […]
How To Avoid Early Exercise When Dividends Are About To Be Distributed
Covered call writing is a low-risk strategy that allows us to generate monthly cash flow by selling stock options. Since we are obligated to sell our shares to the option buyer (holder), one of the understood possibilities is that we will “lose” our shares at the strike price or the price we have agreed to […]
Early Exercise: I Don’t Want To Sell My AAPL Shares
Covered call writing obligates us to sell our shares to the option buyer at any time up to 4PM ET on expiration Friday should the buyer choose to exercise those options. That is the definition of American Style options, the type we are dealing with when selling options against stocks and ETFs. The buyer is in […]
Podcast
- 50. Exit strategies Must Be Timed Properly
- 49. Analyzing a Multi Leg Covered Call Rolling Down Series of Trades
- 48. Rolling Deep OTM Cash Secured Puts
- 47. Rolling Up in the Same Contract Month
- 46. Should Delta Be the Sole Criteria for Covered Call Writing Strike Selection
- 45. Implied Volatility and Expected price Movement During the Life of Option Contracts
- 44. Can We Use ITM Strikes to Create a No Risk Covered Call Strategy?
- 43. Converting a Covered Call Trade to a Collar Trade
- 42. Why Was My OTM Put Exercised?
- 41. Collar Trades When Call Strikes Move Deep In The Money
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