Chapter 4

Option Combinations and Spreads

2002 South-Western Publishing

Rolling Trading Strategies

Rolling down/out/up - possible action as part of re-evaluating ones option position

Rolling down - closing your position and reestablishing a new one with a lower strike price e.g. Long call position - re-establish new one at a lower strike Rolling out - closing your existing position and re-establishing a new one with a longer expiration e.g. Similar to above situation Rolling up - closing out your existing position and re-establishing a new one with a higher strike price

Rolling Trading Strategies

Rolling up and out Rolling down and out

Should be viewed as a new investment position with a new stock price and time outlook as opposed to a continuation of the initial position

Chapter 4 Outline

Spreads Nonstandard spreads Combined call writing Evaluating spreads Combinations Margin considerations

Introduction

Previous chapters focused on

Speculating Income generation Hedging

Other strategies are available that seek a trading profit rather than being motivated by a hedging or income generation objective

Trading Considerations

What is your outlook for the stock and over what time frame? Are you interested in ultimately acquiring the stock? Do you own the stock now - are there dividend considerations? Where do you expect the profit to come from - stock movement or a net credit position from the sale of options? Option Pricing - implied volatility

Spreads

Option spreads are strategies in which the player is simultaneously long and short options of the same type, but with different

Striking prices or Expiration dates

the spreader establishes a known maximum profit or loss potential between either the two strike prices or the two expiration datesor combination thereof Spreads are also known as collars

Spreads

Price or Vertical spreads Vertical spreads with calls Vertical spreads with puts Calendar spreads Diagonal spreads Butterfly spreads

Price Spreads (also known as Vertical Spreads & Money Spreads )

In a price/vertical spread, options are selected vertically from the financial pages i.e. Different strike prices
The options have the same expiration date The spreader will long one option and short the other ..risk reduction strategy relative to a pure call or put option

Price Spreads With Calls

Bullspread Bearspread

10

Bullspread or Bull Call Spread

Assume a person believes MSFT stock will appreciate soon A possible strategy is to construct a vertical call bullspread and:

Buy an OCT 85 MSFT call Write an OCT 90 MSFT call

The spreader trades part of the profit potential for a reduced cost of the position.

11

Bullspread (contd)

With all spreads the maximum gain and loss occur at the striking prices

It is not necessary to consider prices outside this range With an 85/90 spread, you only need to look at the stock prices from $85 to $90

12

Bullspread (contd)

Construct a profit and loss worksheet to form the bullspread:

Stock Price at Option Expiration 0 85 86 88 90 100

Long $85 call @ $5

Short $90 call @ $3.38 Net

-5
3.38 -1.62

-5
3.38 -1.62

-4
3.38 -.62

-2
3.38 1.38

0
3.38 3.38

10
-6.62 3.38

13

Bullspread (contd)

Bullspread
3.38
85 0 90 1.62 86.62 Stock price at option expiration

14

Bearspread or Bear Call Spread

A bearspread is the reverse of a bullspread

The maximum profit occurs with falling prices The investor buys the option with the higher striking price and writes the option with the lower striking price Profit from the sale of the call w/o risk of a sharp run up in the price of the stock

15

Price Spreads With Puts: Bullspread or Bull Put Spread

Involves using puts instead of calls

Buy the option with the lower striking price and write the option with the higher one Profit stems from the spread of the two options .but profit still only is generated if the stock moves up (bull put spread)
16

Bullspread (contd)

The put spread results in a credit to the spreaders account (credit spread) The call spread results in a debit to the spreaders account (debit spread)

17

Bullspread (contd)

A general characteristic of the call and put bullspreads is that the profit and loss payoffs for the two spreads are approximately the same

The maximum profit occurs at all stock prices above the higher striking price The maximum loss occurs at stock prices below the lower striking price

18

Calendar (or Time) Spreads

In a calendar spread, options are chosen horizontally from a given row in the financial pages

They have the same striking price The spreader will long one option and short the other

The trading objective is to take advantage of the time decay factor.

19

Options are worth more the longer they have until expiration

Calendar Spreads (contd)

Calendar spreads are either bullspreads or bearspreads

In a bullspread, the spreader will buy a call with a distant expiration and write a call that is near expiration In a bearspread, the spreader will buy a call that is near expiration and write a call with a distant expiration..taking advantage of the greater time value

20

Diagonal Spreads

A diagonal spread involves options from different expiration months and with different striking prices

They are chosen diagonally from the option listing in the financial pages

Diagonal spreads can be bullish or bearish

21

Butterfly Spreads

A butterfly spread can be constructed for very little cost beyond commissions A butterfly spread can be constructed using puts and calls A butterfly spread does not technically meet the definition of a spread in that it can involve both puts and calls (combination) Volatility of the stock price is the main driver of the profit/loss potential with this option strategy

22

Butterfly Spreads(contd)

Example of a butterfly spread

4

75
76 -1 80 84

85

Stock price at option expiration

23

Nonstandard Spreads: Ratio Spreads

A ratio spread is a variation on bullspreads and bearspreads

Instead of long one, short one, ratio spreads involve an unequal number of long and short options E.g., a call bullspread is a call ratio spread if it involves writing more than one call at a higher striking price

24

Ratio Backspreads

A ratio backspread is constructed the opposite of ratio spreads

Call bearspreads are transformed into call ratio backspreads by adding to the long call position Put bullspreads are transformed into put ratio backspreads by adding more long puts

25

Nonstandard Spreads: Hedge Wrapper (collar)

A hedge wrapper involves writing a covered call and buying a put

Useful if a stock you own has appreciated and is expected to appreciate further with a temporary decline An alternative to selling the stock or creating a protective put

The maximum profit occurs once the stock price rises to the striking price of the call The lowest return occurs if the stock falls to the striking price of the put or below

26

Hedge Wrapper (contd)

The profitable stock position is transformed into a certain winner- locking in a defined gain The potential for further gain is reduced

27

Nonstandard Spreads: Combined Call Writing

In combined call writing, the investor writes calls using more than one striking price An alternative to other covered call strategies The combined write is a compromise between income and potential for further price appreciation

28

Evaluating Spreads

Spreads and combinations are

Bullish, Bearish, or Neutral

You must decide on your outlook for the market before deciding on a strategy

29

Evaluating Spreads: The Debit/Credit Issue

An outlay requires a debit An inflow generates a credit There are several strategies that may serve a particular end, and some will involve a debit and others a credit 3 considerations:

Risk/reward ratio Movement to loss Limit price

30

Evaluating Spreads: The Reward/Risk Ratio

Examine the maximum gain relative to the maximum loss E.g., if a call bullspread has a maximum gain of $337.50 and a maximum loss of $162.50, the reward/risk ratio is 2.08

31

Evaluating Spreads: The Movement to Loss Issue

The magnitude of stock price movement necessary for a position to become unprofitable can be used to evaluate spreads

32

Evaluating Spreads: Specify A Limit Price

In spreads:

You want to obtain a high price for the options you sell You want to pay a low price for the options you buy

Specify a dollar amount for the debit or credit at which you are willing to trade

33

Combinations

Straddles Strangles Condors A combination is defined as a strategy in which you are simultaneously long or short options of different types

34

Straddles

A straddle is the best-known option combination You are long a straddle if you own both a put and a call with the same

Striking price Expiration date Underlying security

35

Straddles

You are short a straddle if you are short both a put and a call with the same

Striking price Expiration date Underlying security

36

Buying a Straddle

A long call is bullish A long put is bearish Why buy a long straddle?

Whenever a situation exists when it is likely that a stock will move sharply one way or the other

Very Speculative - typically a situation where a company is involved in a lawsuit or takeover - unclear how the situation will be resolved.

37

Buying a Straddle (contd)

Suppose a speculator

Buys an OCT 80 call on MSFT @ $7 Buys an OCT 80 put on MSFT @ $5.88

38

Buying a Straddle (contd)

Construct a profit and loss worksheet to form the long straddle:

Stock Price at Option Expiration 0 50 -7 -.88 -7.88 75 -7 -5.31 -12.31 80 -7 -5.88 -12.88 90 3 -5 88 -2.88 100 13 -5.88 7.12

Buy $80 call @ $7 Buy $80 put @ $5.88 Net

-7 74.12 67.12

39

Buying a Straddle (contd)

Long straddle
Two breakeven points

67.12
80 0

67.12
12.88

92.88

Stock price at option expiration

40

Buying a Straddle (contd)

The worst outcome for the straddle buyer is when both options expire worthless

Occurs when the stock price is at-the-money

The straddle buyer will lose money if MSFT closes near the striking price

The stock must rise or fall to recover the cost of the initial position

41

Buying a Straddle (contd)

If the stock rises, the put expires worthless, but the call is valuable If the stock falls, the put is valuable, but the call expires worthless

42

Writing a Straddle

Popular with speculators The straddle writer wants little movement in the stock price Losses are potentially unlimited on the upside because the short call is uncovered

43

Writing a Straddle (contd)

Short straddle
12.88
80 0

67.12
67.12

92.88

Stock price at option expiration

44

Strangles: Introduction

A strangle is similar to a straddle, except the puts and calls have different striking prices Strangles are more popular due to the smaller capital investment and the max. gain occurs over a wider trading range

45

Buying a Strangle

The speculator long a strangle expects a sharp price movement either up or down in the underlying security Suppose a speculator:

Buys a MSFT OCT 75 put @ $3.62 Buys a MSFT OCT 85 call @ $5

46

Buying a Strangle (contd)

Long strangle
66.38
75 0 66.38 8.62 93.62 85 Stock price at option expiration

47

Writing a Strangle

The maximum gains for the strangle writer occurs if both option expire worthless

Occurs in the price range between the two exercise prices similar to writing a straddle some movement in the stock price results in the max. Profit maximum profit is somewhat reduced from the straddle

48

Writing a Strangle (contd)

Short strangle
8.62
75 0 85 Stock price at option expiration

66.38
66.38

93.62

49

Condors: Introduction

A condor is a less risky version of the strangle, with four different striking prices It is somewhat of a hybrid between a combination and a spread

spread like because of the defined window of profit or loss combination like because it involves both puts and calls

50

Buying a Condor

There are various ways to construct a long condor The condor buyer hopes that stock prices remain in the range between the middle two striking prices the outside strike prices protect against stock movements - either up or down

51

Buying a Condor (contd)

Suppose a speculator:

Buys MSFT 75 calls @ $10 Writes MSFT 80 calls @ $7 Writes MSFT 85 puts @ $8.50 Buys MSFT 90 puts @ $12.12

52

Buying a Condor (contd)

Construct a profit and loss worksheet to form the long condor:

Stock Price at Option Expiration

0
Buy $75 call @ $10 Write $80 call @ $7 Write $85 put @ $8.50 Buy $90 put @ $12.12 -10 7 -76.50 77.88 -1.62

75
-10 7 -1.50 2.88 -1.62

80
-5 7 3.50 -2.12 3.38

85
0 2 8.50 -7.12 3.38

90
5 -3 8.50 -12.12 -1.62

95
10 -8 8.50 -12.12 -1.62

53

Net

Buying a Condor (contd)

Long condor
3.38
75 80 76.62 85 88.38 90

Stock price at option expiration

1.62

54

Writing a Condor

The condor writer makes money when prices move sharply in either direction The maximum gain is limited to the premium

55

Writing a Condor (contd)

Short condor
1.62
80 85 90 88.38

0
75

Stock price at option expiration

3.38

76.62

56

Margin Considerations

Introduction Margin requirements on long puts or calls Margin requirements on short puts or calls Margin requirements on spreads Margin requirements on covered calls

57

Margin Considerations: Introduction

Necessity to post margin is an important consideration in spreading

The speculator in short options must have sufficient equity in his or her brokerage account before the option positions can be assumed

58

Margin Requirements on Long Puts or Calls

There is no requirement to advance any sum of money - other than the option premium and the commission required - to long calls or puts Can borrow up to 25% of the cost of the option position from a brokerage firm if the option has at least nine months until expiration

59

Margin Requirements on Short Puts or Calls

For uncovered calls on common stock, the initial margin requirement is the greater of
Premium + 0.20(Stock Price) (Out-of-Money Amount) or Premium + 0.10(Stock Price)

60

Margin Requirements on Short Puts or Calls (contd)

For uncovered puts on common stock, the initial margin requirement is 10% of the exercise price

61

Margin Requirements on Spreads

All spreads must be done in a margin account More lenient than those for uncovered options You must pay for the long side in full

62

Margin Requirements on Spreads (contd)

You must deposit the amount by which the long put (or short call) exercise price is below the short put (or long call) exercise price A general spread margin rule:

For a debit spread, deposit the net cost of the spread For a credit spread, deposit the different between the option striking prices

63

Margin Requirements on Covered Calls (contd)

There is no margin requirement when writing covered calls Brokerage firms may restrict clients ability to sell shares of the underlying stock

64

Determining the Appropriate Strategy macro level thoughts

Basic steps in any decision making process apply here:

Learn the fundamentals Gather information Evaluate alternatives Make a decision based on analysis

..and then constantly monitor your position to determine best course of action

65