Chapter 7: Covered Put

Abhinav’s manager anticipates a dip in the market in the coming months. He asks Abhinav to prepare a report on Covered Put for a client. Abhinav knows that this multi-leg Option strategy is used when an investor has a negative outlook on the market. He decides to read up more on the Covered Put.

He reads that a Covered Put is used in situations in which the trader has a negative outlook on the stock and wants to go short. Here, he can make a short stock position and also a short Put position. In this manner, he can immediately avail of some income from the premium he gets from writing the Put. Let’s take a look at this in more detail.

Looking at the Covered Put

In the event that you are mildly bearish on the market, the best strategy to adopt would be a Covered Put. This strategy will involve writing (selling) an OTM Put Option along with selling the underlying. Ideally, this strategy is well executed using stock futures due to limitation of shorting stocks by exchanges. Only intraday shorting of shares is allowed, but for the ease of understanding, the illustration here is given using underlying shares.

• As you are moderately bearish, you will not mind buying back the underlying (obligation to buy under Put Option) if the price goes down to the strike price.
• At the same time, you will make gains on your short position on the underlying as the price goes down and also on the amount of premium received on a Put Option.

Strategy: Short stock + Sell OTM stock Put Option

When to use: When you are mildly bearish on the underlying and want to earn extra income

Breakeven:  Sale price of the stock + Premium received from shorting Put Option

Maximum profit:  Sale price of the stock – Strike price + Put premium

Maximum risk: Unlimited, if the stock price rises significantly

Let’s understand this strategy with an example:

Abhinav decides to sell ABC Ltd. for Rs. 1,000 and simultaneously sell an ABC Ltd. Put Option at a strike price of Rs. 900, available at Rs. 50 in the market. He believes that the price of ABC Ltd. will not fall below Rs. 900. However, in case this happens, he will buy it back.

If the stock price stays at or below Rs. 900, the Put Option will get exercised by the buyer. If the stock price goes above Rs. 1,000, the short stock position will be responsible for the losses made.

Note: This strategy is most useful only if you are mildly bearish about the prices of an underlying in the near-term.

Additional Read: What is Intraday trading? A Beginner's Guide

Let’s look at the cash flow in various scenarios: 

Let us understand the payoff in various scenarios. It will give you a fair idea of how we have arrived at the above values.

If the stock closes at Rs. 800 on expiry: The sold Put Option will expire ITM

The selling price of the stock = Rs. 1000

The purchase price of the stock on expiry = Rs. 800

So, payoff from the spot position = Selling price – Purchase price = 1000 – 800 = Rs 200

Premium received on the OTM Put Option of strike price Rs.900 = Rs. 50

Premium paid on OTM Put Option of strike price Rs. 900 at expiry = Max {0, (Strike price – Spot price)} = Max {0, (900 – 800)} = Max (0, 100) = Rs. 100

So, payoff from the OTM Call Option = Premium received – Premium paid = 50 – 100 = – Rs. 50

Net payoff = Payoff from the spot position + Payoff from OTM Call Option = 200 + (– 50) = Rs. 150

If the stock closes at Rs. 1050 on expiry: The sold Put Option will expire OTM

The selling price of the stock = Rs. 1000

The purchase price of the stock on expiry = Rs. 1050

So, payoff from the spot position = Selling price – Purchase price = 1000 – 1050 = – Rs. 50

Premium received on the OTM Put Option of strike price Rs.900 = Rs. 50

Premium paid on OTM Put Option of strike price Rs. 900 at expiry = Max {0, (Strike price – Spot price)} = Max {0, (900 – 1050)} = Max (0, – 150) = 0

So, the payoff from the OTM Call Option = Premium received – Premium paid = 50 – 0 = Rs. 50

Net payoff = Payoff from the spot position + Payoff from OTM Call Option = (– 50) + 50 = 0

If the stock closes at Rs 1200 on expiry: The sold Put Option will expire OTM

The selling price of the stock = Rs. 1000

The purchase price of the stock on expiry = Rs. 1200

So, payoff from the spot position = Selling price – Purchase price = 1000 – 1200 = – Rs. 200

Premium received on the OTM Put Option of the strike price Rs.900 = Rs. 50

Premium paid on OTM Put Option of strike price Rs. 900 at expiry = Max {0, (Strike price – Spot price)} = Max {0, (900 – 1200)} = Max (0, – 300) = 0

So, the payoff from the OTM Call Option = Premium received – Premium paid = 50 – 0 = Rs. 50

Net payoff = Payoff from the spot position + Payoff from OTM Call Option = (– 200) + 50 = – Rs.  150

Additional Read: Five key parameters to look for before buying an option

Summary

• A Covered Put strategy will involve writing an OTM Put Option along with selling the underlying.
  • As you are moderately bearish, you will not mind buying back the underlying (obligation to buy under Put Option) if the price goes down to the strike price.
  • At the same time, you will gain on your short position on the underlying as the price goes down and also on the amount of premium received on a Put Option.
  • Breakeven:  Sale price of the stock + Put premium received
  • Maximum profit:  Sale price of the stock – Strike price + Put premium
  • Maximum risk: Unlimited, if the stock price rises significantly

After taking a look at what a Covered Put strategy entails, let us now proceed to delve into the strategy deployed when the investor/trader has a neutral view of the market.

Disclaimer:

ICICI Securities Ltd. ( I-Sec). Registered office of I-Sec is at ICICI Securities Ltd. - ICICI Venture House, Appasaheb Marathe Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai - 400 025, India, Tel No : 022 - 2288 2460, 022 - 2288 2470. The contents herein above shall not be considered as an invitation or persuasion to trade or invest.  I-Sec and affiliates accept no liabilities for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of any actions taken in reliance thereon. The contents herein above are solely for informational purpose and may not be used or considered as an offer document or solicitation of offer to buy or sell or subscribe for securities or other financial instruments or any other product. Investments in securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing. The contents herein mentioned are solely for informational and educational purpose.