Collar Strategy Risks

Discussion in 'Options' started by Bear Claw, May 24, 2025 at 11:07 PM.

  1. Bear Claw

    Bear Claw

    Hello Everyone,

    I recently started using a little bit of leverage on my investments and I want to use a little more if I can safely insure it with puts.

    The plan is to buy about 100,000 dollars worth of shares in a company that pays a 20% dividend. I know that’s a lot and might not last forever, but I have evaluated the company and they can cover the dividend for now.

    Then I’m going to margin 50 percent, turning the 100,000 in to 200,000, and put a collar on it.

    I have looked at the option prices, and I should be able to use the premium from selling calls with a strike price of 10% above the current market price, to cover the cost of puts with a strike price of 20% below the current market price.

    By the way, the goal here is to collect the dividend and protect myself from a margin call. Nothing else.

    According to my calculations, the most I can lose is 40% of the initial 100,000 dollars. That means there would still be 60,000 dollars, and I shouldn’t get a margin call for a 30% margin req stock, because 60,000 is a third of 200,000.

    Am I right about how all this works? And is there any other risks here that I am missing?
     
  2. newwurldmn

    newwurldmn

    for the most part you are right, but margin reqs can change.
     
  3. So you're risking 40% to make 20%....sounds like a breakeven, at best, strategy. The future rarely goes exactly as you plan for it to go. If it was completely free money, risk free money, everyone would be doing it
    Claw of Bear
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM