SF2004 said:
After hours discussion:
I have done a lot of learning the last two months (credit to $30K, FJ, Irish, and OA1).
Which is better long term when I identify a stock that is "oversold" and I think could make a run over a time period?
Buy a lot of shares or a call?
I have been fond of looking for oversold stocks on the 14 day RSI and then watching the daily, weekly, and monthly charts. Once the stock looks to be at a low I enter a 45 DTE call and let it ride. Then over the course the next days/weeks I look for a pop and a quick 50-100% possible profit.
I am not sure if it would be better to just buy the shares?
This really depends on your objective. If your objective is to invest in a stock that you think has major future upside for years and years, you would enter shares on dips. If your objective is to trade, you would make a decision on what vehicle will provide results for you at a risk level you can tolerate. One weekly contract of TSLA is probably $1,500 ATM, but to have the equivalent buying power with shares, you have to pony up $60K. A 3% drop in TSLA puts you -$1800, but you still own the shares. Options tend to be solid plays for high beta stocks. What is nice about options is that your risk is defined.
Taking another example, $CWH, it doesn't always move much intra-day, but if you started accumulating shares in the mid 20s with this board, you're really happy now with your investment. If you tried to play long calls on it, it was pretty tough, but if you held through the ups and down, it has worked out for you + you've gotten dividends.
You don’t trade for money, you trade for freedom.