A primer on Exchange Listed Options
Exchange-listed Options
Options are financial derivatives that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price on or before a specified date. Exchange-listed options in the United States are standardized option contracts that trade on regulated exchanges like the Cboe Global Markets ("Chicago Board Options Exchange" or CBOE).
I write this since there are so many BAD descriptions of options and strategies, that make even simple strategies sound horrible complex.
The main parameters of exchange-listed options are:
There are two main types of options:
Options are also categorized based on when they can be exercised:
Call Option Strategies
The most basic call strategy is simply buying a call option to speculate on an upside move in the underlying asset. This limits risk to the premium paid while providing upside exposure. More conservative call strategies include:
More exotic call strategies include:
Covered Calls
A covered call is an options strategy where an investor holds a long position in an asset, such as shares of a stock, and sells call options on that same asset. The investor receives a premium for selling the calls, which potentially generates income. The call options give the buyer the right to purchase the underlying shares from the investor at the strike price on or before the expiration date.
Reasons for using a covered call strategy include:
Example:
An investor buys 100 shares of ABC stock at $50 per share, for a total cost of $5,000. The investor then sells a one-month call option with a strike price of $55 and collects a premium of $1 per share, or $100 total ($1 x 100 shares).
There are then two main scenarios:
The main risk is missing additional upside if ABC rose significantly above $55. The defined maximum return is the $55 strike price plus the $1 call premium initially collected.
Put Option Strategies
The most basic put strategy is buying puts to speculate on a downside move or for downside protection. Limits risk to premium paid. More conservative put strategies:
More exotic put strategies:
As we move from basic to more exotic strategies, they require more complex combinations of options and greater risks but allow for defined risk-reward profiles.
Using Protective Puts
A protective put is a risk management strategy used when an investor has a long stock position and purchases put options on that same stock to protect against potential downside. This limits the maximum loss an investor can incur if the stock price declines.
Reasons for using protective puts include:
Example:
An investor buys 100 shares of XYZ stock at $50, for a total cost of $5,000. To protect this investment, the investor also buys one put option contract with a strike price of $45 expiring in one month for a premium of $200 ($2 per share).
Here are the potential outcomes before option expiration:
The main risk is that the stock doesn't decline enough for the puts to pay off, resulting in losing the premium cost. The benefit is retaining upside exposure and dividends while defining maximum loss on the downside.
Summary
Exchange-listed options provide a wide range of strategic opportunities for investors and traders. These flexible instruments can be used conservatively to generate income or reduce risk, or more aggressively for speculative leverage.
Used prudently, options can provide income, protection, and strategic opportunities beyond merely owning the underlying assets outright.
Education Resources
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) provides free, unbiased information about the benefits and risks of exchange-listed options through the Options Industry Council (OIC). OIC offers a premium digital learning experience at OptionsEducation.org which is tailored towards many different learning styles and investing skill levels. The OCC Learning website is a self-guided eLearning destination that provides practical options education for a variety of learning styles and experience levels. You can learn at your own pace with self-guided courses that include basic concepts and terminology, getting to know the Greeks, options volatility, option strategies and more. The website also offers education from industry professionals, podcasts & videos, knowledge checks and course quizzes, polls & surveys and the ability to track your progress.
[1] Over-The-Counter stocks normally do not have options, except for employee stock options which are not traded.
[2] Even though the styles reference locales (American vs. European), both are employed throughout the world.
About Robert C. Rhodes
Robert C. Rhodes is an experienced sales and business development professional with a background in finance, operations, and?#strategicplanning. His proven track record of success in driving sales, leading teams, and managing customer relationships is visible as a former CEO of publicly traded companies with a history of successful?#fundraising,?#mergersandacquisitions, and revenue growth. He is skilled in managing financial and operational challenges in high-tech and?#cybersecurity?industries.
DISCLOSURE - I made frequent usage of Claude from Anthropic and 微软 Bing's chat functionality to write this.
Interim Chief Financial Officer
1 年Here is a great class on options straight from the source at OCC - https://learn.theocc.com/#/online-courses/0ab076e0-d0b1-43fa-9337-712f4c02e718
Interim Chief Financial Officer
1 年Ken Stephenson, MBA, FHIAS, HCAFA, Patrick Anderson, James Rhodes - here an article on what I've been studying. Robert (Tony) Boulanger BPM, Ops, MCP, BM, BA - here's the article I promised you.