Trading strategies with options

This interactive tool demonstrates various option trading strategies using European-style options. All strategies are evaluated at maturity using the Black-Scholes model for option pricing.

Common Parameters

Adjust these parameters to see how they affect all strategies:

Principal-Protected Notes (PPNs)

Principal-Protected Notes are structured products that combine a zero-coupon bond with a European option. The bond guarantees the return of the initial principal at maturity, while the option provides potential upside.

Investor Expectation

A PPN is for risk-averse investors who want capital protection while speculating on market direction.
  • A Call-based PPN is for investors who are bullish and expect the market to rise. It provides participation in market upside.
  • A Put-based PPN is for investors who are bearish and expect the market to fall. It provides participation in market downside.

The principal protection is subject to the credit risk of the issuing institution.

Covered Call

A covered call involves holding a long position in the underlying stock and selling (shorting) a call option.

Investor Expectation

Neutral to slightly bullish. The investor expects the stock price to remain relatively stable or increase modestly. This strategy generates income from the option premium but caps the upside potential. By put-call parity, a covered call (long stock + short call) is equivalent to a short put position (short put + cash equal to strike price discounted at risk-free rate).

Protective Put

A protective put involves holding a long position in the underlying stock and buying a put option.

Investor Expectation

Bullish with downside protection. The investor expects the stock price to rise but wants insurance against a significant decline. By put-call parity, a protective put (long stock + long put) is equivalent to a long call position (long call + cash equal to strike price discounted at risk-free rate).

Bull Spread

A bull spread can be created using calls or puts. With calls: buy a call at lower strike K₁, sell a call at higher strike K₂.

Investor Expectation

Moderately bullish. The investor expects the stock price to rise but wants to reduce the cost by capping the maximum profit.

Bear Spread

A bear spread can be created using puts or calls. With puts: buy a put at higher strike K₂, sell a put at lower strike K₁.

Investor Expectation

Moderately bearish. The investor expects the stock price to decline but wants to reduce the cost by capping the maximum profit.

Butterfly Spread

A butterfly spread involves three strike prices: buy one option at K₁, sell two options at K₂, and buy one option at K₃.

Investor Expectation

Neutral or low volatility. The investor expects the stock price to remain near the middle strike price K₂. Profits from stability, loses from large price movements.

Box Spread

A box spread combines a bull call spread and a bear put spread with the same strikes. It creates a risk-free position whose payoff should equal the present value of K₂ - K₁.

Investor Expectation

Risk-free arbitrage. No directional view needed. The value should equal the present value of the payoff (K₂ - K₁) discounted at the risk-free rate. Deviations from this value represent arbitrage opportunities.

Calendar Spread

A calendar (or time) spread involves buying and selling options with the same strike but different expiration dates. Typically, sell near-term and buy longer-term.

Investor Expectation

Neutral with expectations of increasing volatility. Profits from time decay differences between short-term and long-term options, especially when the stock price remains near the strike.

Diagonal Spread

A diagonal spread combines different strikes and different expiration dates. Typically involves selling a near-term option at one strike and buying a longer-term option at a different strike.

Investor Expectation

Directional bias with time decay advantage. Combines elements of vertical spreads and calendar spreads. The specific view depends on which strikes are chosen.

Straddle

A straddle involves buying (or selling) both a call and a put with the same strike price and expiration date.

Investor Expectation

Long Straddle: Expects high volatility and a large price movement in either direction.
Short Straddle: Expects low volatility with the price remaining near the strike.

Strangle

A strangle involves buying (or selling) a call and a put with different strike prices but the same expiration date.

Investor Expectation

Long Strangle: Expects high volatility and a large price movement. Cheaper than a straddle but requires a larger move to profit.
Short Strangle: Expects low volatility with the price remaining between the two strikes.

Strip

A strip consists of one call and two puts with the same strike price. It profits from large moves but has a downward bias.

Investor Expectation

Long Strip: Expects high volatility with a higher probability of a large downward move.
Short Strip: Expects low volatility with the price remaining near the strike.

Strap

A strap consists of two calls and one put with the same strike price. It profits from large moves but has an upward bias.

Investor Expectation

Long Strap: Expects high volatility with a higher probability of a large upward move.
Short Strap: Expects low volatility with the price remaining near the strike.