Put-Call Parity

Interactive dashboard illustrating how put-call parity maintains equilibrium and the arbitrage strategies when parity is violated.

Put-call parity is a fundamental relationship between European call and put options with the same strike price and expiration date. The parity states that a portfolio of a call option plus cash equal to the present value of the strike price has the same value as a portfolio of a put option plus the underlying stock, adjusted for dividends.

\[c + D + Ke^{-rT} = p + S_0\]

where \(D\) is the present value of dividends paid during the life of the option. This formula can also be seen as a rearrangement of the more direct formulation \(c + Ke^{-rT} = p + (S_0 - D)\), where the stock price is adjusted for the present value of dividends. When this relationship is violated, arbitrageurs can lock in risk-free profits by constructing opposing portfolios.

Market Dashboard

Use the sliders to set market parameters and option prices. The theoretical prices based on put-call parity are computed for reference. When mispricing exists, the “Correct the Imbalance!” button becomes active and glows.

Note

Put-call parity for European options states: \(c + D + Ke^{-rT} = p + S_0\)

where \(D\) is the present value of dividends paid during the option’s life.

  • If \(c + D + Ke^{-rT} > p + S_0\): The call side is expensive. Arbitrage: Sell the call, buy the put, and buy the stock. Finance the stock with a loan for \(S_0\). Invest the net proceeds from the options and the PV of future dividends, \(c - p + D\), at the risk-free rate. This creates a zero-cost portfolio with a guaranteed profit at expiration.
  • If \(c + D + Ke^{-rT} < p + S_0\): The put side is expensive. Arbitrage: Buy the call, sell the put, and short the stock. Invest the proceeds from the short sale, \(S_0\). Invest (or borrow) the net proceeds from the options less the PV of dividend payments, \(p - c - D\). This creates a zero-cost portfolio with a guaranteed profit at expiration.

Payoff Summary

What’s Going On?

  • Call side overpriced (\(c + D + Ke^{-rT} > p + S_0\)):
    • Strategy: Sell the call, buy the put, and buy the stock.
    • Financing: The stock purchase is financed by borrowing \(S_0\). The net proceeds from options (\(c-p\)) plus the present value of dividends to be received (\(D\)) are invested at rate \(r\). This makes the initial cost zero.
    • Maturity: The options/stock position is settled for a cash amount of \(K\). The loan is repaid (\(-S_0e^{rT}\)) and the investment matures (\(+(c-p+D)e^{rT}\)).
    • Profit (PV): The present value of the final cash position is exactly the initial imbalance: \((c + D + Ke^{-rT}) - (p + S_0)\).
  • Put side overpriced (\(p + S_0 > c + D + Ke^{-rT}\)):
    • Strategy: Buy the call, sell the put, and short the stock.
    • Financing: The proceeds from the short sale (\(S_0\)) are invested at rate \(r\). The net proceeds from options (\(p-c\)) less the present value of the dividend liability (\(D\)) are also invested (or borrowed if negative). The initial cost is zero.
    • Maturity: The options/stock position is settled by paying \(K\) to acquire a share and close the short. The investments mature \(+S_0e^{rT}\) and \(+(p-c-D)e^{rT}\).
    • Profit (PV): The present value of the final cash position is exactly the initial imbalance: \((p + S_0) - (c + D + Ke^{-rT})\).
Tip

Key Insight: Put-call parity creates two synthetic ways to replicate a position:

  • Synthetic stock: \(c - p + D + Ke^{-rT} = S_0\) (a long call plus a short put plus dividends plus cash equals a long stock)
  • Synthetic call: \(c = p + S_0 - D - Ke^{-rT}\) (a call equals a put plus stock minus dividends minus the PV of the strike)

When these relationships break down, arbitrageurs trade the expensive synthetic against the cheap one to lock in risk-free profit. Dividends favor the stock holder (long position) and disadvantage the short seller.