Conservative Options Trades

Discussion in 'Journals' started by danshirley, Aug 21, 2011.

  1. WM:

    http://www.cnbc.com/id/100680314?__...wms-earnings-miss-estimates-1q-164001779.html

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=WM+Key+Statistics

    http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/financial-statements?symbol=WM

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=5y&s=WM&l=off&z=l&q=l&c=&ql=1

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=WM&t=2y&l=off&z=l&q=l&c=

    TRADE:

    Jan '14 33/28 Bull put spread for a net credit of $25
    Yield = 25/475 = 5.3% in 265 days or 7.2% annualized
    Prob = 95%
    Expectation = .95(25) - .01(475) - .04(237) = 23.75 - 4.75 - 9.48 = 9.52
     
    #481     Apr 27, 2013
  2. HUM:

    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/humana-reports-strong-1q-earnings-155502614.html

    http://news.investors.com/business/...t-quarter-earnings-beat.htm?ven=yahoocp,yahoo

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=HUM+Key+Statistics

    http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/financial-statements?symbol=hum

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=HUM&t=2y&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=

    http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=HUM


    Trade:

    NOV 62.50/57.50 bull put spread for a net credit of $60
    Yield = 60/440 = 13.6% in 196 days or 25.4% annualized
    Prob = 84%
    Expectation = .84(60) - .07(440) - .09(220) = 50.4 - 30.8 - 19.8 = 0

    (to get a positive expectation back the spread off either in time or price to get a lower % yield)
     
    #482     May 3, 2013
  3. HUM:
    Ctd.

    Humana is down for a second day today:

    http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=hum

    after earnings reported on Wednesday.

    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/humana-reports-strong-1q-earnings-155502614.html

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=HUM&t=2y&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=

    With the decline put options are increasing in price, and while HUM may indeed continue to decline I decided to make the plunge, albeit at a lower price and lower risk:

    Trade (as filled):

    Nov 57.5/55 bull put spread for $25.
    Yield = 25/225 = 11.1% in 195 days or 21% annualized
    Prob = 91%
    Expectation = .91(25) - .05(225) - .04(112) = 22.75 - 11.25 - 4.48 = 7.02
    Oh good.... by backing off I got a higher expectation as I said I would above.
    :)
     
    #483     May 3, 2013
  4. fpga

    fpga

    Hi, oldnemesis
    Would you please help elaborate how do you get the 0.04 below? I read earlier post, it is for half way down between 57.5 and 55. And the delta or probability is around 7-8%.
    Appreciate your help!

    -fpga

    Expectation = .91(25) - .05(225) - .04(112) = 22.75 - 11.25 - 4.48 = 7.02
    Oh good.... by backing off I got a higher expectation as I said I would above.
    :)
     
    #484     May 3, 2013
  5. fpga

    fpga

    Hi, oldnemesis
    I guess you are using the probability between 57.5 and 55? If so, that will make sense.

    Thanks!
    -fpga

    Expectation = .91(25) - .05(225) - .04(112) = 22.75 - 11.25 - 4.48 = 7.02
    Oh good.... by backing off I got a higher expectation as I said I would above.
    :)
     
    #485     May 3, 2013
  6. TSRX:

    http://www.cnbc.com/id/100707074?__source=yahoo|finance|headline|headline|story&par=yahoo&doc=100707074|Cramer%27s+Home+Work:+A+New

    http://seekingalpha.com/article/139...-trius-creates-an-entrance-point?source=yahoo

    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/zacks-recommends-trius-therapeutics-153500769.html

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=TSRX&t=2y&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=

    Trade:
    with TSRX at 6.50
    buy the Dec 5/7.50 bull call spread for a net debit of $135

    Price...................P/L
    5.00..................(135)
    6.50.....................15
    7.00.....................64
    7.50....................115
    9.00....................115
    10.00..................115


    fpga: yes... you have figured out how I do the expectation estimate. congrats.
     
    #486     May 4, 2013
  7. AAPL:
    With AAPL at $450
    http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424052748703591404578453031263334260.html?mod=BOL_hpp_dc

    http://online.barrons.com/article/SB126091970802092803.html

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AAPL&t=5d&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AAPL&t=2y&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=

    Trade:
    Sell the Jan '14 325 put and buy the Jan '14 320 put for a net credit of $40.
    Yield = 40/460 = 8.7% in 257 days or 12.3% annualized
    Prob = 93.7%
    Expectation = .937(40) - .054(460) - .01(230) = 37.48 - 24.84 - 2.30 = 10.34

    note: If you are doing spreads on slim resources you need to allow for the possibility that AAPL suffers a disaster and that you are put the stock at $325. A hundred shares will require $32,500 to buy at that price. Be sure what will happen to your account in such an eventuality.
     
    #487     May 5, 2013
  8. fpga

    fpga

    Hi,oldnemesis,
    Thanks for the confirmation! :)

    The question I have is when do you decide to enter the trade? I can find positive expectancy spread using something like SPY now using the formula. But I do not think you will just based on expectancy, right?

    Thanks for your answer! :)

    -fpga
     
    #488     May 5, 2013
  9. Low Implied Volatility:

    Looking for trades for the week and coming up empty.
    (Except for the stupid AAPL trade above)

    e.g.

    In 2012 I sold the 17.50 CWT put three times, each time with 4 months worth of theta on it, for $80, $60 and $100.

    http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=5y&s=CWT&l=off&z=l&q=l&c=&ql=1

    Today the 133 day CWT put (Dec) will net me $20.

    Not worth the risk. This is proving true all across my low risk stocks. Can't construct a decent positive expectation trade.

    What we need is a good disaster to kick the market into gear.

    Or maybe it's just time to 'go away in may'.

    I could sell snow cones at the pool...

    :)

    fpga: No I do not enter a trade based on expectation. The expectation calculation is simply a last minute check to see that the trade is not idiotic.
     
    #489     May 6, 2013
  10. [note: If you are doing spreads on slim resources you need to allow for the possibility that AAPL suffers a disaster and that you are put the stock at $325. A hundred shares will require $32,500 to buy at that price. Be sure what will happen to your account in such an eventuality. [/B][/QUOTE]

    Hi Dan

    I was always under the impression
    that the long leg of the spread would potect against this type of assignment, during any period befoe experation.
    I understand the long would be worthless on the last day but wouldn't it have value (long) if it occured befor the last day.
    (i recall this topic ,somewhat , -with you and putmaster ??)

    cheers john
     
    #490     May 6, 2013