Worst Case Scenario in Covered Call trading

Discussion in 'Options' started by Quanto, Nov 25, 2023.

  1. Quanto

    Quanto

    When trading a Covered Call (ie. LongStock + ShortCall) then the risk is known in advance as it's
    "Risk = InitialStockPrice - InitialCallPremium" that one can lose maximally.
    It's also the net invested value, ie. the net debit.
    And also the term "covered" indicates this fact.

    I just wonder whether this holds always, even if the company goes bankrupt or so?
    Are there any situations thinkable where one could lose more than the above pre-computed risk?

    The rationale for this question is this:
    if there is not any additional hidden risk involved then one can invest more, and the risk would stay relatively the same, on a percentual base. By this, one could concentrate just on this one ticker only instead of looking for multiple tickers for diversification (which takes much time & work, btw).

    What's the absolute worst case scenario imaginable for such Covered Call trading?
     
  2. Robert Morse

    Robert Morse Sponsor

    I like to keep this simple. The "worst case scenario" for a Covered Call is the stock going to $0.00. Call premiums do not offset most downward slides in stocks. I have posted this before. I'm not a fan of Buy-Writes in general of single stock names. You take the time and effort to pick a winner, (A symbol you expect will outperform the market and other stocks), but you cap your gains by selling a call that does not really protect your downside. It only offers a small offset toward losses if you are wrong.

     
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  3. Quanto

    Quanto

    Thanks, but adding some cheap LongPuts to the CC turns the whole into a very interessting construct, IMO.
    Ie. by turning the CC into a "Collar" and more.

    I just wonder if one can replicate (continue) the trade when an early exercise by the counterparty happens, as this closes the CC early. I think this is the worst-case scenario.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2023
  4. 2rosy

    2rosy

    You do a covered call and the underlying company gets bought out for 100000...X.
     
  5. destriero

    destriero


    CC = synthetic short put
    Synthetic short put + put = synthetic bull vertical

    There is nothing interesting about it. It's a bull spread. If you're worried about assignment they you're already fcked.
     
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  6. newwurldmn

    newwurldmn

    some men, you just can’t reach. So you have what we had here today.
     
    jys78 likes this.
  7. Cabin111

    Cabin111

  8. BKR88

    BKR88

    A call spread will have the same R:R and lower margins than buying the equity, put & selling the call.

    Example:
    Buy 100 shares @ 30, buy 25P & sell 35C is the same as buying the 25/35 call spread.
     
  9. Quanto

    Quanto

    An exemplary PnL diagram of an "Extended Collar" (CC + xLP): S=10, SC.K=7.5, LP.K=5, DTE=45
    Watch the R:R :D
    ExtCollar.png
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2023
    jys78 likes this.
  10. destriero

    destriero

    fcking LOL.
     
    #10     Nov 25, 2023
    jys78 likes this.