Selling itm (covered) calls the same as shorting the stock?

Discussion in 'Options' started by wxytrader, Sep 6, 2024.

  1. If you are holding shares, and sell a covered call itm, would it be equivalent to shorting the stock but without the unlimited risk?

    example

    ABC trading at $100

    Short it and price goes to $105 = $5 loss.
    Short it and price goes to $95 = $5 gain.

    Sell a 95 call for $5 and price goes to $105 = $5 loss.
    Sell a 95 call for $5 and price goes to $95 = $5 gain.
     
  2. Robert Morse

    Robert Morse Sponsor

    No. It is equivalent to shorting the Put on the same strike as the Call for risk and reward purpose except you get to keep any dividends. In essence, the same as a cash secured put.
     
    HawaiianIceberg likes this.
  3. So the same functionality as a short position with the same risk as a csp?
     
  4. cesfx

    cesfx

    I wonder how you process stuff sometime lol

    Robert said it's the equivalent, the same.

    Why don't you just look at the payoff before coming out like this...
     
    BlueWaterSailor and AKJ like this.
  5. jamesbp

    jamesbp

    cc v csp equivalence is dependant on earning the risk-free-rate on the "cash" used to secure the put ...
     
  6. BKR88

    BKR88

    Short the stock at 100:
    Max profit = 100
    Max loss = unlimited

    Short a 95C for 6:
    Max profit =6
    Max loss =unlimited (loss will be 1 less than shorting the stock)

    EDIT:
    Covered Call: Long stock at 100 and short 95C at 6

    Stock drops to 90 .... loss of 4
    Stock rises to 110 ... profit of 1
    Stock drops to 50 ... loss of 44
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2024
  7. But it's not the same lol
     
  8. poopy

    poopy

    Long the stock, short the 95C = short 95P.
     
    nbbo likes this.
  9. cesfx

    cesfx

    prove it with a payoff chart, not with primary school arithmetic

    You have been a year here and probably you even read one or two books on options.
    It's delusional at this point, hopeless.

    It's time to sell your Lambo and trade options with all you've got!
     

  10. Yes (and confirmed :)

    I guess what I was trying to demonstrate is that if you are already long the stock, then selling a covered call itm is the same as shorting the stock atm but with limited upside risk and capping downside profits.


    upload_2024-9-6_9-6-14.png


    This is selling a naked call option. You can see the box matches when shorting a stock...and the upside would be protected by the long stock. The box is the only part that interests me as that is my profit window.
    upload_2024-9-6_9-7-18.png

    I think that because my TA is so advanced I am finding new ways to exploit option positions. :)
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2024
    #10     Sep 6, 2024