McInnis 03 said:
0708aggie said:
I feel like I need someone to hold my hand if I make that trade.
So your saying sell to open ("put) ETSY 8/7 $145. Currently at 3.45.
Whats the exit strategy?
If ETSY is at 140 opening tomorrow, I sell my calls way in the money, and sell my puts in the money as well?
If ETSY is at 150 opening tomorrow, I sell my calls way in the money, sell puts to slow the bleed?
If ETSY is at 100 opening tomorrow, I sell my calls or let expire worthless, sell puts way in the money?
No no no.
Firstly, if you're this confused, DO NOT EXECUTE. I prefer people fully understand before executing actions involving their money.
This is how I'd execute though just so you can learn.
I own qty 3 130c's.
I sell to open 3 140c's.
his creates a qty 3 +130/-140c spread. Max profit = $1000 per spread if stock > 140 at expy.
If the stock rockets to 145 after earnings. I look at selling the -140c/+150C spread on the opposite side 3 times to take in more premium (say $5.00 per contract?) and I'm then protected from $130 all the way to $150. I then decide how to end it on Friday, possibly closing one side of the spread near end of day or selling the entire thing.
investopedia has good explanations of all these scenarios. Think this is a bull call spread? Diagonal? Something like that...
I like to think about what each part of the trade means and what happens to each in all potential scenarios and that helps me understand.
you have the right to purchase shares at 130. You can sell someone the right to purchase shares from you at 140 (sell 140c same exp). This also gives you an obligation to sell those shares if they get exercised.
If you hit expiration between 130 and 140, the 140 call you sold expires worthless, you keep the premium you received when you sold it. The 130 is ITM and you can exercise and buy the shares, or sell the call before expiration (and buy back your 140 immediately!!! The 130c protects you if the 140 gets exercised)
If you hit expiration above 140, the 140c gets exercised, your broker exercises the 130s for you, and you get paid the $10/shr...max profit (this is how TD does it). Selling the upper call limits your upside
If the stock tanks and expires below 130 both options expire worthless but you still keep the premium from selling the 140.
Worst case is expiration between 130 and 140, the 140 expires worthless and your broker settles by assigning you the shares. Never happened to me, I've been told you have a couple days to work it out if that happens. Worst worst case you get assigned the shares at 130 and the stock tanks monday and you have to sell them for less than 130.
Anyway, it's a pretty low risk proposition. I wouldn't be scared if I were you. Also good work on that trade so far!