Covered call vs put option

Investors beginning to use options will frequently start with covered calls.

This options strategy provides the benefits of reduced portfolio volatility, monthly income and increased risk control, according to the latest options trading information. Depending on your options broker, this may be the only options strategy authorized for a new account.

The benefits of covered calls are significant, and over the long term can increase portfolio returns. However, it may surprise many investors that the same benefits can be had without increasing risk by selling short or naked puts. Investors will often avoid naked options trading because they believe that the strategy exposes them to unlimited risk, which is theoretically true with a short call, but is not the case with a short put.

Covered Calls Vs. Naked Puts? - MarketShadows

In fact, the maximum risk in a short put is equal to the price of the stock minus the premium received. That is the same risk you are exposed to in a covered call.

This may seem strange, but consider that when you sell a covered call you own the stock. It is surprising that these two strategies that seem so different could be so similar from a risk perspective.

Quite often what you are trying to do with a covered call is to increase your control over the downside potential of a stock that you own. If you are very concerned about the near term you may sell a call that is at or slightly in the money.

Conversely, if you are very optimistic in the near term, you may sell a call that is out of the money for a smaller premium but more upside potential. A short, or naked puts, can be used in the same way by selling in or out of the money depending on how bullish or bearish you feel. While many things are similar between the two strategies, one of the advantages of a short put is that the costs are lower.

A short put is only one transaction while a buy-write or covered call is two.

Covered Puts Versus Covered Calls | The Blue Collar Investor

Although both strategies are bullish, you would normally anticipate that a strategy with naked puts will outperform covered calls in a volatile or downtrending market. Which strategy is right for you depends on your trading objectives and market outlook.

Put Selling Is Superior To Covered Calls | uqyhadet.web.fc2.com

If you need maximum control over your risk, then a strategy using naked puts may be the best choice. If you want more upside potential and are willing to take on more risk, out-of-the-money covered calls are appropriate. This is a great illustration of one of the best things about being an options trader — you have many alternatives and a lot of flexibility to make the right choice for your portfolio.

Naked Put vs. Covered Call

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