On Friday, September 1, I bought 400 shares of Cisco (CSCO) for $32.12 per share and simultaneously “sold to open” four September 29 2017, $32.50 call options for $0.31 per share.
It’s my latest “high-yield trade” — a strategy designed to generate above average income from some of the best companies in the world.
[hana-code-insert name=’adsense-article’ /]By selling the call options on Cisco, I’m giving the buyer of the options the right, but not the obligation, to purchase my 400 shares at $32.50 per share (the “strike” price) anytime before September 29 (the contract “expiration” date).In exchange for that opportunity, the buyer of the options paid me $0.31 per share (the “premium”).
Because I collected immediate income when the trade opened, I’m lowering my cost basis on the shares I’m buying.
This is precisely what makes a “high-yield trade” safer than simply purchasing shares of the underlying stock the “traditional” way.
Yes, I’m limiting my potential upside (if Cisco shares climb to $34, for example, I’ll still be forced to sell at “just” $32.50)… but that would still generate a capital gain for me… AND I’m generating immediate income in the process.
It’s a trade-off… and one I’m willing to make because this strategy, by its very nature (selling a call option instead of buying one), is designed to be conservative and to generate income.
With all of this in mind, there are likely two ways this trade will work out — and they both spell high annualized yields on my purchase price…
Please note: To be conservative, I don’t include any dividends in my calculations for either of the following scenarios. Any dividends collected are just “bonus” that will boost the overall annualized yields even further.
Scenario #1: Cisco (CSCO) stays under $32.50 by September 29
If CSCO stays under $32.50 by September 29, I’ll get to keep my 400 shares.
In the process I’ll also have received $124 in call income ($0.31 x 400 shares).
The call income, or premium, was collected instantly on Friday. It was deposited in the account where I made the trade, which is my 401(k) retirement account.
At the end of the day, if “Scenario 1” plays out I’ll be looking at $116.27 in profit after commissions and fees.
On a percentage basis, I received a 1.0% yield for selling the calls ($0.31 / $32.12).
When I subtract out the commissions and fees I’m looking at a 0.9% yield in 28 days, which works out to an 11.8% annualized yield.
Scenario #2: Cisco (CSCO) climbs over $32.50 by September 29
If CSCO climbs over $32.50 by September 29, my 400 shares will get sold (“called away”) at $32.50 per share.
Like “Scenario 1”, I get to keep the $124 in call income ($0.31 x 400 shares). But I’ll also generate $152 in capital gains ($0.38 x 400) since I bought at $32.12 and will be selling at $32.50.
In this scenario, after commissions and fees I’ll be looking at a $263.32 profit.
From a percentage standpoint, this high-yield trade will deliver an instant 0.9% yield for selling the call ($0.31 / $32.12) and a 1.2% gain ($0.38 / $32.12).
After subtracting out the commissions and fees, I’m looking at a 2.0% total return in 28 days.
That works out to a 26.7% annualized yield from Cisco. Not bad, considering the stock’s “regular” yield is 3.6%.
Greg Patrick
TradesOfTheDay.com
P.S. I only made this trade because: 1) I want to own the underlying stock anyways 2) I believe it was trading at a reasonable price when I made the trade 3) I am comfortable owning it for the long-haul in case the price drops significantly below my cost basis by expiration and 4) I am comfortable letting it go if shares get called away. To be mindful of position sizing, except in rare cases, the value of this trade wouldn’t exceed 5% of my total portfolio value. In addition, to minimize taxes and tax paperwork, I made this trade in a retirement account.
[stextbox id=”info”]Please keep in mind that these “High-Yield Trade” alerts are for information purposes only. We’re not registered financial advisors and these aren’t specific trade recommendations for you as an individual. Each of our readers have different financial situations, risk tolerance, goals, time frames, etc. The ideas we publish are simply ideas that we feel fit our specific needs and that we’re personally making in our own portfolios. You should also be aware that some of the trade details (specifically stock prices and options premiums) are certain to change from the time we make our trade to the time you’re alerted about it. So please don’t attempt to make this “High-Yield Trade” yourself without first doing your own due diligence and research.[/stextbox] [hana-code-insert name=’MMPress’ /]