How legit is options selling?

Discussion in 'Options' started by nooby_mcnoob, Jan 14, 2019.

Is option selling legit

Poll closed Jan 21, 2019.
  1. optionsellers.com

    31.6%
  2. Yes

    63.2%
  3. No

    10.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. ironchef

    ironchef

    And you are not too bad yourself. :thumbsup:

    Yes, I am taking a course in computer programming.

    As a side note, I am buying more longer dated CELG calls, seemed cheap compared to terminal valuation and compared to BMY? Do you have any opinions?
     
    #131     Jan 21, 2019
  2. TheBigShort

    TheBigShort

    LOL thanks, but alot of my knowledge is thanks to the guys mentioned.
    I am not a merger specialist, you might want to get @newwurldmn opinion on that (I think he has done a fair bit of these). I am out of my position. It does seem cheap but don't forget it's tied to BMY price so you have alot of market risk.
     
    #132     Jan 21, 2019
  3. ironchef

    ironchef

    Another view on CELG/BMY by none other than John Paulson:

    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apos...150253867.html?_fsig=DxZOCgPH._Zl66NYAMkROQ--
     
    #133     Jan 22, 2019
  4. Cisco34

    Cisco34

    Thanks for that link. I was wondering what was causing this big arbitrage. I already own a large position in CELG and was thinking of collaring by shorting BMY, while also selling CELG puts in my IRA to get the bonus 20% added to that when it converted. BMY has a 3.5% dividend too, so don't want that on the margin side. Don't forget, there's also a $9 bonus if one of its calves passes it's cowhood test so potentially $59 +BMY.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2019
    #134     Jan 23, 2019
  5. ironchef

    ironchef

    You can help me out here:

    I am not as sophisticated as you and TheBigShort, so I am just looking at individual valuations of CELG and BMY. I have a long term holding on BMY (dividend play) and took positions in CELG underlying and calls after reading TheBigShort's analysis.

    I am really puzzled by how/what the market valued CELG and CELG options. Does that mean they doubt the merger's chances?

    I did some fundamental analysis of CELG when TheBidShort posted his analysis and thought CELG was way undervalued @ $60+ (discounted cashflow accounting for patent cliff of Revlimid and comparing to peers' PE). Even at the current price of $87+-, I think it is still undervalued? What do the professionals know that I don't??? :banghead:
     
    #135     Jan 24, 2019
  6. Cisco34

    Cisco34

    Don't sell yourself short because I think you summarized it perfectly. Some guy on CNBC said to take the money and run for CELG at 87 because he thinks another big pharm will bid on BMY to invalidate BMY's bid on CELG. That makes little sense to me. If big pharms want to block the acquisition, that means they think CELG is undervalued and wants to add their cash flow and pipeline. And, if someone really will bid on BMY to block their acquisition, that will only increase BMY's value too. Both have "value" based PE ratios, especially CELG. My proposal to sell BMY was only to hedge (since I own CELG) with a collar. The collar is a perfect play right now because upside is somewhat capped beyond the arbitrage value.
     
    #136     Jan 29, 2019
    ironchef likes this.
  7. ironchef

    ironchef

    Thank you for your comment.

    Instead of a collar, I just keep adding to my CELG positions. My reasoning:

    1. If the deal goes through, CELG will be worth ~$110, if not it will still be worth more than the ~$65 of my positions and perhaps ~$100, in a couple of years?

    I am thinking maybe BMY is also undervalued at the current price, whether the deal goes through or not?
     
    #137     Feb 1, 2019
  8. Option selling is very risky but it can be profitable if you know how to do it well. I'd advice you to consider trading spreads, you can try writing a covered call, which involves a long position in stock and a short position in option. The long position on stock will covers the payoff on the short call that might arise during a sharp rise in stock price.
     
    #138     Feb 1, 2019