Stock Options: Everything You Need to Know

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Stock Options: Everything You Need to Know

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Investing in the stock market can seem like a daunting task, filled with complex jargon and financial intricacies. But fear not! In this beginner’s guide, we will demystify a powerful investment concept called stock options. Think of stock options as your secret weapon in the financial world, giving you the ability to unlock new opportunities and increase your wealth.

So why should you care about stock options? Well, imagine this: You have the chance to invest in a promising company like never before. You believe that its stock price will soar in the future, but you don’t have all the capital to buy a significant amount of shares. This is where stock options come into play. They offer you a way to participate in the potential upside of a stock without needing to fully commit to purchasing it outright. That’s just one use-case.

By understanding stock options, you can tap into the world of call options and put options. Now, don’t worry if these terms sound unfamiliar – we’ll break them down in simple terms. Just think of call options as a way to place a bet on a stock’s price going up, and put options as a means to protect yourself in case the stock’s price goes down.

Here’s the exciting part: Learning about stock options empowers you to make informed decisions and take charge of your financial future. No longer will you feel like investing is a mysterious black box or that you need to rely solely on others to manage your money. By acquiring knowledge about stock options, you become the driver of your investment journey, gaining greater control and the potential for higher returns.

Now, we know you might be worried about the risks involved in investing. It’s natural to have concerns about losing money. However, understanding stock options provides you with tools for risk management and can even help minimize potential losses. It’s all about making informed choices based on your financial goals and risk tolerance.

At Investor Academy, our mission is to educate as many people as possible about investing. We want to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to build a solid investment portfolio, make passive income, and work towards retiring early. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn and prosper in the world of finance.

So, let’s embark on this journey together and discover the power of stock options. In the following sections, we’ll delve deeper into the intricacies of call options, put options, and even explore an in-depth example of how to trade ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) using options. Get ready to unlock new possibilities and take your investing game to the next level!

Remember, it’s all about learning, growing, and gaining control of your financial future. Let’s dive in and explore the world of stock options together.

What are Stock Options?

Let’s start by demystifying the concept of stock options. Think of stock options as a special type of financial contract that gives you the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specific stock at a predetermined price within a specified time frame. They are like the keys to a hidden treasure chest, granting you the potential to profit from the movements of a stock’s price without actually owning the shares.

treasure

So, how do stock options work? Imagine you come across a friend who offers you the opportunity to purchase a ticket to a concert at a fixed price. This ticket grants you the option to attend the concert if you choose to do so. Similarly, call options and put options are like these tickets, but for stocks.

A call option provides you with the right to buy a specific stock at a predetermined price, known as the strike price, within a specified period. It’s like having the option to purchase a coveted item at a discounted price before its value potentially rises.

On the other hand, a put option grants you the right to sell a specific stock at the strike price within a specified period. It acts as a form of insurance, allowing you to protect yourself against potential losses or profit from a decline in a stock’s price.

Here’s another analogy: Put options work similarly to a warranty on a car. That warranty gives you certain rights in case the car’s engine breaks at 50,000 KM. Your warranty gives you the right to go back to the car’s manufacturer and replace, recall or repair the engine. The same thing with a put option. It’s a contract that gives you rights to do something (like the warranty) with the underlying stock (like the car).

Why Should I Care About Stock Options?

Now, you might wonder, “Why should I care about stock options?” Well, stock options offer several advantages that can enhance your investment strategy:

  • Firstly, they provide an opportunity for leverage, allowing you to control a larger number of shares with a smaller upfront investment. This leverage can amplify your potential returns.
  • Secondly, stock options can be used for various purposes. You can utilize them to generate income, hedge against market volatility, or even enter into more complex investment strategies. The versatility of stock options gives you the flexibility to tailor your approach based on your goals and risk tolerance.
  • Understanding stock options is particularly valuable in the context of portfolio diversification and risk management. By incorporating options into your investment strategy, you can potentially reduce the overall risk of your portfolio while increasing the potential for returns. This risk-reward balance is a key aspect of successful investing.

At Investor Academy, we recognize that many individuals are unfamiliar with the world of investing. We believe in simplifying complex concepts and making them accessible to everyone. Learning about stock options is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a more knowledgeable and confident investor.

By gaining a clear understanding of stock options, you break through the barriers that once made investing seem intimidating. You take control of your financial future, no longer solely relying on others to manage your wealth. With stock options, you have the potential to enhance your returns, manage risks effectively, and truly seize opportunities in the market.

In the next section, we will expand on the above and explore why stock options matter and how they can contribute to your financial success. So, let’s continue our journey and uncover the incredible potential that stock options hold!

Why Stock Options Matter

You might be wondering why stock options are such a valuable tool in the world of investing. Well, let’s dive into the reasons why stock options matter and how they can significantly impact your financial journey.

1. Leverage Your Investments

Stock options provide you with the ability to leverage your investments. With a relatively small amount of capital, you can control a larger number of shares. This leverage amplifies your potential returns. By carefully selecting the right options contracts, you have the opportunity to multiply your gains when the underlying stock moves in your favor. This can be done by buying call options.

Imagine you have been closely following the stock of a promising technology company that you believe will experience significant growth in the coming months. However, buying a large number of shares outright might strain your available capital. This is where call options come into play. By purchasing call options on the stock, you can control a larger number of shares for a fraction of the cost.

Let’s say the stock is currently trading at $100 per share, and you buy 10 call options for $5 per share with a strike price of $110 and an expiration date three months from now. This options contract gives you the right to buy 1,000 shares of the stock at $110 in the next three months. The reason it’s 1,000 shares is because each contract is for 100 shares. Since the option cost was $5 per share, you need to pay a premium of 100 x 10 x $5 = $5,000 for the 10 option contracts. This is significantly less than the $100,000 you would need to pay to buy 1,000 shares upfront.

Consider this: if the stock price rises to $130 by the expiration date, your call options give you the right to buy 1,000 shares at $110 each, even though the current market price is $130. This means your return would be $130 price – $110 strike price – $5 premium = $15 per share, for a total of $15 x 1,000 shares = $15,000. This leverage allows you to participate in the potential upside of the stock with a significantly smaller investment, amplifying your potential returns.

2. Manage Risk Effectively

Effective risk management is crucial in investing, and stock options offer valuable tools for mitigating risk. By using options, you can protect your portfolio from potential losses or limit your downside risk. Put options, in particular, act as insurance policies, allowing you to sell a stock at a predetermined price, even if its value declines. This protection helps safeguard your investments during market downturns.

person holding a balance scale

Let’s say you own shares of a manufacturing company, and you are concerned about a potential downturn in the industry. To safeguard your investment, you can purchase put options on the stock. If the stock price indeed declines, the value of the put options will increase, offsetting the losses in your stock holdings. This allows you to limit your downside risk and protect your portfolio in volatile or uncertain market conditions.

3. Generate Income

Stock options can also serve as a source of income. By engaging in strategies like covered call writing, you can earn premiums by selling call options on stocks you already own. These premiums can provide a steady stream of income, enhancing your overall investment returns. This income-generation potential adds another dimension to your portfolio and can help you achieve your financial goals faster.

A_person_collecting_money

For example, if you own shares of a stable dividend-paying stock, such as Walmart (NYSE: WMT), you can further increase your passive income by employing a covered call strategy. By selling call options on your stock holdings, you collect premiums from buyers who are betting on the stock’s price increase. If the stock price remains below the strike price of the call options until expiration, you keep the premium as income while retaining ownership of the shares. This income-generating strategy can provide a regular stream of additional income from your existing stock holdings.

4. Flexibility and Versatility

Stock options offer flexibility and versatility in your investment approach. They can be employed in various strategies, such as hedging against market volatility, speculating on price movements, or even creating complex positions to meet specific investment objectives. This versatility allows you to tailor your options strategies to align with your goals, risk tolerance, and market outlook.

Let’s say you hold shares of a technology company that you expect to experience significant volatility due to an upcoming product launch. To capitalize on the anticipated price swings, you can employ options strategies such as straddles or strangles. A straddle involves buying both a call option and a put option with the same strike price and expiration date. If the stock experiences a significant price movement in either direction, you can potentially profit from one of the options while limiting losses on the other. This flexibility allows you to take advantage of market volatility and tailor your strategies to changing circumstances.

5. Unlock Opportunities in Any Market Condition

person opening a door and discovering

Regardless of market conditions, stock options can present unique opportunities. Whether the market is trending upwards, moving sideways, or experiencing volatility, options allow you to adapt your strategies accordingly. This adaptability empowers you to seize opportunities and navigate through different market cycles with confidence.

Getting Started with Stock Options

Now that you understand the importance of stock options, let’s delve into how you can get started with this powerful investment tool. By following these steps, you’ll be on your way to harnessing the potential of stock options and embarking on a rewarding investment journey.

Educate Yourself

Person Reading a book

The first step in getting started with stock options is to educate yourself. Take the time to learn about the fundamentals of options trading, including the terminology, strategies, and risks involved. Familiarize yourself with concepts such as call options, put options, strike price, expiration date, and option premiums. Investor Academy offers educational resources, including this article and many others, to help you build a solid foundation of knowledge.

Define Your Investment Goals

person thinking about a goal

Before diving into options trading, it’s important to define your investment goals. What do you hope to achieve? Are you looking to generate additional income, protect your portfolio, or enhance your returns? By clarifying your objectives, you can tailor your options strategies accordingly and stay focused on your desired outcomes.

Open an Options Trading Account

Person signing papers

To start trading stock options, you’ll need to open an options trading account with a reputable brokerage firm. Choose a platform that offers comprehensive options trading capabilities, user-friendly interfaces, and competitive pricing. Do thorough research and compare different brokers to find one that aligns with your needs and provides a seamless trading experience.

Practice with Virtual Trading

If you’re new to options trading or want to gain more experience before risking real money, consider using virtual trading platforms. These platforms allow you to simulate real market conditions and test your strategies without any financial risk. Virtual trading provides an excellent opportunity to refine your skills, build confidence, and familiarize yourself with the dynamics of options trading.

Understand Call Options

Call options give you the right, but not the obligation, to buy a specific stock at a predetermined price (strike price) within a specified time period (expiration date). They are commonly used when you expect the price of the underlying stock to rise. Call options offer the potential for significant gains if the stock price increases beyond the strike price. However, it’s important to carefully assess the risks and consider your investment strategy before trading call options.

Explore Put Options

Put options provide you with the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specific stock at a predetermined price (strike price) within a specified time period (expiration date). They are often used to hedge against potential price declines in the underlying stock or as a means of generating income. Put options can help protect your portfolio during market downturns and limit potential losses. Understanding the mechanics and strategies of put options is essential for successful options trading.

Start with Basic Options Strategies

When you’re ready to trade options with real money, it’s advisable to start with basic options strategies. Begin by exploring strategies such as buying call options, buying put options, or writing covered calls. These strategies are relatively straightforward and can help you get accustomed to the mechanics of options trading while managing risk effectively.

Continue Learning and Refining Your Strategies

Options trading is a dynamic and ever-evolving field. It’s crucial to stay updated with market trends, news, and new strategies. Continuously educate yourself, attend webinars, read books, and follow reputable financial resources to enhance your understanding and refine your options trading strategies. Remember, learning is a lifelong journey, and the more knowledge you acquire, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed investment decisions.

Person looking through magnifying glass

By following these steps and building your expertise gradually, you’ll be well on your way to effectively utilizing stock options as part of your investment portfolio. Remember to start small, manage risks wisely, and always stay true to your investment goals. With dedication, patience, and ongoing learning, you can navigate the world of stock options and seize opportunities for financial growth and success.

ARKK Stock – How to Trade Ark Innovation With Options

ARK Innovation (NYSE: ARKK) is a popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on innovative and disruptive technology companies. It has gained significant attention from investors looking to capitalize on the potential growth of these cutting-edge industries. By understanding ARKK stock and how to trade ARK Innovation with options, you can leverage the benefits of options trading to enhance your investment strategy. Let’s explore the exciting possibilities that ARK Innovation and options present.

What is ARK Innovation?

ARK Innovation is an ETF managed by ARK Invest, an investment management firm known for its expertise in disruptive innovation. The fund comprises a carefully selected portfolio of 29 companies involved in areas such as genomics, artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain technology, and more. ARK Innovation aims to provide investors with exposure to high-growth potential companies that are at the forefront of technological advancements.

Futuristic city

Understanding Options Trading with ARK Innovation

Options trading with ARK Innovation allows you to take advantage of the ETF’s price movements and volatility. By utilizing options contracts, you can potentially generate income, protect your investments, or speculate on the future direction of ARK Innovation’s price.

Options Strategy 1: Generating Income with Covered Calls

One options strategy you can employ with ARK Innovation is writing (or selling) covered calls. This strategy involves selling call options on ARK Innovation shares that you already own. By doing so, you receive a premium from the buyer of the call option. If the price of ARK Innovation remains below the strike price of the call option until expiration, you keep the premium as income. This strategy can be an effective way to generate additional income from your ARK Innovation holdings.

As of this writing, the ARKK ETF is trading at $40.49. Let’s say you buy 1,000 shares for $40,490. Since the ETF does not pay dividends, the only way to profit would be through capital appreciation, meaning that you can only make money by selling the stock at a higher price than $40.49. Or is it the only way? Spoiler, no it’s not!

You can generate income by selling up to 10 call contracts. Remember, each call contract represents 100 shares. So 10 calls represent 10 x 100 = 1,000 shares. What this would do is give someone else the right to buy the ETF from you at the strike price on or before the expiry date.

There are a lot of call options to choose from though. Especially since ARKK has weekly expiring options, not just monthly, which expire on the third Friday of every month, like most options. Let’s break it down:

  • First, decide the timeframe. When do you want the option to expire? The longer the expiry date, the more expensive an option is, which means you’ll receive more premium when you sell it. Available expiry dates range from June 2, 2023, all the way to January 17, 2025. Let’s say you decide on the short-to-medium term, expiring a few months from now. So you opt for the September 15, 2023 expiry date.
ARKK expiry dates
The screenshot was taken from Yahoo. These are the available expiry dates.
  • Second, decide the strike price. Do you want a high likelihood of keeping the ETF by expiry or not? Let’s say you decide that you want to have a high likelihood of keeping the stock by the expiry date. In that case, you need to sell out-of-the-money (OTM) call options. For calls, this means that the strike price should be higher than the current price. Available strike prices range from $18 to $65. So you opt for $10 more than the current price, at $50. You think to yourself, even if the ETF reaches $50, you’ll be happy to sell it for that price. That’s a whopping 25% return in a few short months.
ARKK call options strike prices
The screenshot was taken from Yahoo. These are the available call option expiry dates. Not all of them are displayed because there are too many to show in one screenshot.
  • Third, sell 10 call options. The last price sold was $0.74 for a call option that expires on September 15, 2023, with a strike price of $50. If you manage to sell the 10 call options at that price, you’ll receive 10 x 100 x 0.74 = $740 in premium.

Possible Outcomes

  • Your break-even price is 40.49 – 0.74 = $39.75. This means that if the ETF price is above the break-even price on September 15, 2023, you make money. If it’s below, you lose money.
  • The maximum you can lose would be if the price decreases to $0. In that case, your loss would be (40.49 – 0) x 1,000 – 740 = $39,750. In percentage terms that’s 39,750 / 40,490 = 98.2%. The only reason it’s not a 100% loss is because of the $740 premium for selling the call options.
  • The maximum you can gain is if the price reaches $50 or above. When the call buyer exercises the call options, you will be forced to sell your 1,000 shares at $50 each. Your gain would be (50 – 40.49) + 740 = 10,250. That’s a whopping 10,250 / 40,490 = 25.3% return in a few short months. An annualized return close to 100%!
  • If by September 15, 2023, the price of ARKK ETF does not reach $50, you get to keep $740 and continue to hold the ETF shares. You can sell more call options at that point to generate more income.

Options Strategy 2: Managing Risk with Protective Puts

Protective puts can be used to manage risk when investing in ARK Innovation. By purchasing put options on ARK Innovation shares, you gain the right to sell the shares at a predetermined price (strike price) within a specified time frame. If the price of ARK Innovation declines, the value of the put options increases, providing you with downside protection. This strategy can help limit potential losses and safeguard your investment in the event of a market downturn.

Same as in strategy 1, let’s say you bought 1,000 shares for $40,490. What will happen if there is a major stock market crash three months from now and the price of your shares declines 50%? Well, your unrealized losses will be 50%, unless you protect yourself by buying 10 put options. Remember, each put contract represents 100 shares. So 10 puts represent 10 x 100 = 1,000 shares. What this would do is give you the right to sell the ETF at the strike price on or before the expiry date.

Just like in strategy 1 above, there are a lot of put options to choose from. Let’s break it down:

  • First, decide the timeframe. When do you want the option to expire? The longer the expiry date, the more expensive an option is, which means you’ll pay more premium when you buy it. Available expiry dates range from June 2, 2023, all the way to January 17, 2025. Again, let’s say you decide on the short-to-medium term, expiring a few months from now because you’re concerned about the economy and high interest rates. You opt for the September 15, 2023 expiry date.
  • Second, decide the strike price. What’s the maximum you’re willing to lose? Let’s say you decide that you don’t want to lose more than ~20% on your investment. You’ll need to buy out-of-the-money (OTM) put options. For puts, this means that the strike price should be lower than the current price. Available strike prices range from $18 to $65. So you opt for $8 less than the current price, at $32.
ARKK puts strike prices
The screenshot was taken from Yahoo. These are the available put option expiry dates. Not all of them are displayed because there are too many to show in one screenshot.
  • Third, buy 10 put options. The last price sold was $0.88 for a put option that expires on September 15, 2023, with a strike price of $32. If you manage to buy the 10 put options at that price, you’ll spend 10 x 100 x 0.88 = $880 in premium.

Possible Outcomes

  • Your break-even price is 40.49 + 0.88 = $41.37. This means that if the ETF price is above the break-even price on September 15, 2023, you make money. If it’s below, you lose money.
  • The maximum you can lose would be if the price decreases to $32 or lower. In that case, your loss would be (40.49 – 32) x 1,000 + 880 = $9,370. In percentage terms, that’s 9,370 / (40,490 + 880) = 22.6%. For example, if the price reaches $20 because your worst fear came to fruition and the ETF declined 50%, you can exercise your put option and sell your holdings at $32. Or if you’d like to still hold the ETF, you could sell your put options at a gain instead, since they’ll be in-the-money (ITM). For puts, this means that the ETF price is below the strike price. But you’d still be at a similar 22.6% loss. At least that’s better than losing 50%
  • The maximum you can gain is theoretically unlimited because the price of ARKK could keep climbing indefinitely.
  • If by September 15, 2023, the price of ARKK ETF does not fall to $32, you get to continue to hold the ETF shares, but you’re no longer protected and could theoretically lose your entire investment. You can buy more put options to protect against declines.

Options Strategy 3: Speculating on ARK Innovation’s Future

Options trading also allows you to speculate on the future direction of ARK Innovation’s price. If you have a bullish outlook on ARK Innovation, you can consider buying call options. Call options give you the right to purchase ARK Innovation shares at a predetermined price (strike price) within a specified time period. If ARK Innovation’s price rises above the strike price, the value of the call options increases, allowing you to potentially profit from the price appreciation.

For example, you do not own ARKK shares and you buy the same call option as in strategy 1. Expiry on September 15, 2023, with a strike price of $50. This means that you spend only 10 x 100 x 0.74 = $740 in premium to gain exposure to 1,000 ARKK shares.

Possible Outcomes

  • Your break-even price is 50 + 0.74 = $50.74. This means that if the ETF price is above the break-even price on September 15, 2023, you make money. If it’s below, you lose money.
  • The maximum you can lose would be if the price stays below $50. In that case, your loss would be your entire premium of $740. In percentage terms, that’s 740 / 740 = 100%. If by September 15, 2023, the price of ARKK ETF does not reach $50 or above, you lose your entire initial investment.
  • The maximum you can gain is theoretically unlimited because the price of ARKK could keep climbing indefinitely.

Note: this is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. It’s very likely that you will lose 100% of your investment when buying out-of-the-money (OTM) call options.

Implementing Strategies Based on Market Conditions

Successful options trading with ARK Innovation requires adapting to market conditions. Stay informed about the latest news, technological advancements, and overall market sentiment. Depending on your outlook, you can adjust your options strategies accordingly. Whether it’s taking advantage of bullish trends, protecting against downside risks, or capitalizing on volatility, being flexible and adaptable is key.

Risk Management and Due Diligence

As with any investment, it’s essential to manage risks and conduct due diligence when trading options with ARK Innovation. Understand the potential risks associated with options trading, including the potential loss of the entire premium paid for options contracts. Consider factors such as the underlying ETF’s performance, volatility, and expiration dates when formulating your options trading strategy. Diversification, disciplined risk management, and thorough research are vital to navigating the world of ARK Innovation and options.

By exploring ARK Innovation with options, you can unlock new opportunities and potentially enhance your investment returns. However, it’s important to approach options trading with caution and always seek to expand your knowledge and expertise in this complex financial instrument. Take advantage of educational resources, consult with financial professionals, and practice prudent risk management to maximize your potential for success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding stock options can be a valuable addition to your investment journey. By grasping the fundamentals, such as what stock options are, why they matter, and how to get started, you can unlock new possibilities for building a solid portfolio, managing risk, and potentially increasing your investment returns.

Remember, stock options provide you with the flexibility to take advantage of market opportunities, protect your investments, and speculate on the future direction of stocks or ETFs like ARK Innovation. However, it’s essential to approach options trading with knowledge, caution, and a well-defined investment strategy.

As you embark on your options trading journey, keep these key takeaways in mind:

  1. Educate Yourself: Continuously learn about options trading strategies, market trends, and risk management techniques. Expand your knowledge through books, webinars, and reputable financial resources.
  2. Start Small: Begin with a small allocation of your portfolio dedicated to options trading. As you gain experience and confidence, you can gradually increase your exposure.
  3. Manage Risk: Develop a disciplined risk management approach. Set stop-loss orders, diversify your options positions, and avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.
  4. Stick to Your Investment Goals: Always align your options trading activities with your long-term investment objectives. Avoid being swayed by short-term market fluctuations and stay true to your overall financial plan.
  5. Seek Professional Advice: Consider consulting with a financial advisor or options trading expert who can provide personalized guidance based on your unique circumstances and goals.

By following these principles and continuously refining your options trading skills, you can navigate the world of stock options with confidence and maximize the potential benefits they offer.

Ultimately, the journey of mastering stock options takes time, dedication, and a commitment to ongoing learning. Remember that mistakes and setbacks are part of the learning process, and it’s important to stay resilient and persevere. With the right knowledge, strategies, and mindset, you can harness the power of stock options to grow your wealth, achieve financial independence, and work towards your long-term financial goals.

Now, it’s time to embark on your options trading adventure. Take the first step, stay curious, and embrace the possibilities that stock options bring. Good luck and may your investments flourish!