Purchasing calls has remained the most popular strategy with investors since listed
options were first introduced. Before moving into more complex bullish and bearish
strategies, an investor should thoroughly understand the fundamentals about buying
and holding call options.
Bullish to Very Bullish
This strategy appeals to an investor who is generally more interested in the dollar
amount of his initial investment and the leveraged financial reward that long calls
can offer. The primary motivation of this investor is to realize financial reward
from an increase in price of the underlying security. Experience and precision are
key to selecting the right option (expiration and/or strike price) for the most
profitable result. In general, the more out-of-the-money the call is the more bullish
the strategy, as bigger increases in the underlying stock price are required for
the option to reach the break-even point.
An investor who buys a call instead of purchasing the underlying stock considers
the lower dollar cost of purchasing a call contract versus an equivalent amount
of stock as a form of insurance. The uncommitted capital is "insured" against a
decline in the price of the call option's underlying stock, and can be invested
elsewhere. This investor is generally more interested in the number of shares of
stock underlying the call contracts purchased, than in the specific amount of the
initial investment - one call option contract for each 100 shares he wants to own.
While holding the call option, the investor retains the right to purchase an equivalent
number of underlying shares at any time at the predetermined strike price until
the contract expires.
Note: Equity option holders do not enjoy the rights due stockholders – e.g.,
voting rights, regular cash or special dividends, etc. A call holder must exercise
the option and take ownership of the underlying shares to be eligible for these
rights.
A long call option offers a leveraged alternative to a position in the stock. As
the contract becomes more profitable, increasing leverage can result in large percentage
profits because purchasing calls generally requires lower up-front capital commitment
than with an outright purchase of the underlying stock. Long call contracts offer
the investor a pre-determined risk.
Maximum Profit: Unlimited
Maximum Loss: Limited Net Premium Paid
Upside Profit at Expiration: Stock Price - Strike Price - Premium Paid Assuming
Stock Price above BEP
Your maximum profit depends only on the potential price increase of the underlying
security; in theory it is unlimited. At expiration an in-the-money call will generally
be worth its intrinsic value. Though the potential loss is predetermined and limited
in dollar amount, it can be as much as 100% of the premium initially paid for the
call. Whatever your motivation for purchasing the call, weigh the potential reward
against the potential loss of the entire premium paid.
BEP: Strike Price + Premium Paid
Before expiration, however, if the contract's market price has sufficient time value
remaining, the BEP can occur at a lower stock price.
If Volatility Increases: Positive Effect
If Volatility Decreases: Negative Effect
Any effect of volatility on the option's total premium is on the time value portion.
Passage of Time: Negative Effect
The time value portion of an option's premium, which the option holder has "purchased"
by paying for the option, generally decreases, or decays, with the passage of time.
This decrease accelerates as the option contract approaches expiration.
At any given time before expiration, a call option holder can sell the call in the
listed options marketplace to close out the position. This can be done to either
realize a profitable gain in the option's premium, or to cut a loss.
At expiration, most investors holding an in-the-money call option will elect to
sell the option in the marketplace if it has value, before the end of trading on
the option's last trading day. An alternative is to exercise the call, resulting
in the purchase of an equivalent number of underlying shares at the strike price.