Hi folks - I currently hold the AAPL MAR 20 2015 $115/$130 Bull Call Spread. I had bought it for $2.20 and the spread is worth about $11.20, a very good gain of $9. As we know, the max value at expiration can only be $130 - $115 or $15. My question is can the spread be worth more than $15 anytime prior to expiration? If the stock is $400 tomorrow, for argument sake, the value of the (way in the money) spread, tomorrow, would be extremely close to $15, OR could it be more than $15 due to volatility and time value? Thanks in advance.
Yes I think I've read max value has to be the difference in the strikes, but I'm trying to understand how and why it would be arbitrage...
In your example if the price can be greater than 15 due to volatility and time value then you can short it and at expiry it will be worth 15 or less.
Ah - I think I get it, I could be the seller of the spread (assuming it was going for say 16 now - which we're saying is not possible), then at exp I would buy it back because we know at exp it must be 15 if the stock is above both strikes. Eureka. Thanks As the spread is close to 13 now, and I have weeks to go, I'd like to get close as possible to 15, can someone help me determine what the stock would have to be this week to get very close to 15, like 14+? Alternatively I should take the profits and run... Lastly, I wouldn't mind a roll to a few months out, but with the runnup in AAPL, seems I'll be paying a premium to get the same level of leverage?
What's the delta on the call spread? Take the difference between the curr price and 14+, divide by the delta, et voila, there's your rough estimate...
0.9653 (115 strike delta) - 0.6448 (130 strike delta) = 0.3205 14.5 (target price to close spread) - 13 (current spread value) = 1.5 1.5/.3025 = 4.68 AAPL @ ~133 (today) + 4.68 = 137.68 Did I do that right?
Can anyone assist with a roll strategy? I'm bullish beyond AAPL at 130. I'm forced to close the March 115/130 to realize max or close to max gains shortly. I'd like to maintain similar exposure to the stock via a new spread.
If you want similar, why don't you just find whatever 15-wide call spread that's worth arnd $2.20 or thereabouts and buy that? Hard to tell whether you're getting a better or worse deal than before w/o the details, but I would think that's similar enough...