Yesterday in a taxable account I entered into the following transaction:
03/29/2012 STO 2 PG July 21 2012 62.5 Puts @.88 164.47
Proctor & Gamble is a tried and true Dividend Champion. It was showing a bit of weakness yesterday trading at 66 and change so I pulled the trigger on this little trade. PG is set to raise it's dividend next quarter so the share price should be supported a bit by the increase in yield. As of now the yield is 3.1%. If put to us our yield on cost, with the raise, will exceed 3.6% which is well above the historical average. The maintenance requirement on this trade is ~$2000. If these puts expire worthless we will earn $164.47 in 114 days on $2000 of margin maintenance. This equates to an 8.2% return or 26.25% annual. At this price we should be able to roll out and down for a net credit so we have an exit strategy in place.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
New Trade: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Naked Puts
Today at the close of the market I entered into the following trade:
03/28/2012 STO 2 JNJ Jul 21 2012 62.5 Puts @.95 178.51
JNJ, one of the bluest of the blue chip Dividend Champions, was trading at just under 65 at the time I entered this trade. If these puts expire worthless we will earn $178.51 in 115 days on ~$2200 of margin maintenance. This equates to an 8.1% return on maintenance or 25.7% annual. JNJ currently yields 3.5% and it's set to hike it's dividend next quarter. If put to me the yield on cost will be around 4%. These puts were written near JNJ's support level. If the stock drops I feel confident I will be able to roll out and down for a net credit. As such, I have an exit strategy in place.
03/28/2012 STO 2 JNJ Jul 21 2012 62.5 Puts @.95 178.51
JNJ, one of the bluest of the blue chip Dividend Champions, was trading at just under 65 at the time I entered this trade. If these puts expire worthless we will earn $178.51 in 115 days on ~$2200 of margin maintenance. This equates to an 8.1% return on maintenance or 25.7% annual. JNJ currently yields 3.5% and it's set to hike it's dividend next quarter. If put to me the yield on cost will be around 4%. These puts were written near JNJ's support level. If the stock drops I feel confident I will be able to roll out and down for a net credit. As such, I have an exit strategy in place.
Dividend Tax Hike?
I've read that the dividend tax rate of 15% may be shot down. I tend to think that this is rhetoric so some shady, back room deals can be made to grease the palms of the politicians supporters. With this looming, however, I wonder if it's smart to enter into new transactions on dividend stalwarts or take a wait and see approach. On the other hand if I'm right and the tax cuts are extended then this is an opportunity to take advantage of investor fear and pull in higher option premium. What's your take on the dividend tax?
Note: I read that the hike wouldn't take effect until 2013 so we've got some time.
Note: I read that the hike wouldn't take effect until 2013 so we've got some time.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Profitable Trade: Walgreen's (WAG) Naked Puts
Today I closed the following transaction for a profit in a taxable account:
02/27/2012 STO 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.23 78.99
03/06/2012 BTC 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.3 -133.00
03/06/2012 STO 4 WAG Apr 21 2012 31 Puts @.7 276.94
03/27/2012 BTC 4 WAG Apr 21 2012 31 Puts @.05 -20.04
Walgreen's didn't collapse after losing the Express Scripts deal so these puts lost all their value. I took the opportunity to close the position without a commission. We made $202.89 in 31 days on ~$1700 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return on maintenance of 11.93% or 140.46% annual. The returns are inflated as there was a quarterly report looming and fear from the Express Scripts deal.
02/27/2012 STO 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.23 78.99
03/06/2012 BTC 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.3 -133.00
03/06/2012 STO 4 WAG Apr 21 2012 31 Puts @.7 276.94
03/27/2012 BTC 4 WAG Apr 21 2012 31 Puts @.05 -20.04
Walgreen's didn't collapse after losing the Express Scripts deal so these puts lost all their value. I took the opportunity to close the position without a commission. We made $202.89 in 31 days on ~$1700 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return on maintenance of 11.93% or 140.46% annual. The returns are inflated as there was a quarterly report looming and fear from the Express Scripts deal.
Monday, March 26, 2012
The End of Fear?
For sure the answer is no...but for now there doesn't seem like there's much fear out there. The risk on trades are happening. Folks are moving money out of bonds and into stocks. We've got money to spend but are patiently waiting for a correction or at least a healthy dose of fear. I'd like to write out of the money puts on Proctor & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson as they will be announcing dividend hikes soon. I also think Pepsico has stabilized and will begin rising to get it's PE more in line with Coca-Cola.
There's a chance the market will keep rising but I definitely won't enter into any trades until we have a day in the red. In the meantime patience is a virtue.
FYI other stocks I'm looking to trade are Altria, AT&T, Chevron, General Dynamics and Microsoft.
There's a chance the market will keep rising but I definitely won't enter into any trades until we have a day in the red. In the meantime patience is a virtue.
FYI other stocks I'm looking to trade are Altria, AT&T, Chevron, General Dynamics and Microsoft.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Profitable Trade: Pepsico (PEP) Naked Puts
Two days ago in a retiree's taxable account we closed the following trade for a profit:
02/09/2012 STO 3 PEP Apr 21 2012 60 Puts @.54 149.71
03/21/2012 BTC 3 PEP Apr 21 2012 60 Puts @.05 -15.04
In this trade we earned $135.73 in 40 days on ~$2500 in margin maintenance. This equates to a 5.4% return on maintenance or 49.27% annual. We got to the point where we could close the trade without commissions and look to put the money to work somewhere else. On both of the Pepsico trades our strategy of selling puts after a disappointing quarterly report paid off. It is my experience that when these Dividend Champion, blue chip stalwarts sell off after a quarterly report it provides an opportunity as they usually drift back up to where they were before the report was released as one quarter does not a blue chip make.
02/09/2012 STO 3 PEP Apr 21 2012 60 Puts @.54 149.71
03/21/2012 BTC 3 PEP Apr 21 2012 60 Puts @.05 -15.04
In this trade we earned $135.73 in 40 days on ~$2500 in margin maintenance. This equates to a 5.4% return on maintenance or 49.27% annual. We got to the point where we could close the trade without commissions and look to put the money to work somewhere else. On both of the Pepsico trades our strategy of selling puts after a disappointing quarterly report paid off. It is my experience that when these Dividend Champion, blue chip stalwarts sell off after a quarterly report it provides an opportunity as they usually drift back up to where they were before the report was released as one quarter does not a blue chip make.
Profitable Trade: Pepsico (PEP) Naked Puts
Today in a taxable account I closed the following trade for a profit:
02/09/2012 STO 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.7 128.51
03/06/2012 BTC 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.63 -137.48
03/06/2012 STO 2 PEP July 21 2012 60 Puts @1.58 314.36
03/23/2012 BTC 2 PEP July 21 2012 60 Puts @.6 -131.48
We made $173.91 in 42 days on ~$1800 in margin maintenance. This is a 9.66% return on maintenance or 83.94% annual. I could have waited it out and slowly let these puts expire worthless but we had wrung the fast money out of the trade and I'm looking for other places to use the money to get a higher return.
02/09/2012 STO 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.7 128.51
03/06/2012 BTC 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.63 -137.48
03/06/2012 STO 2 PEP July 21 2012 60 Puts @1.58 314.36
03/23/2012 BTC 2 PEP July 21 2012 60 Puts @.6 -131.48
We made $173.91 in 42 days on ~$1800 in margin maintenance. This is a 9.66% return on maintenance or 83.94% annual. I could have waited it out and slowly let these puts expire worthless but we had wrung the fast money out of the trade and I'm looking for other places to use the money to get a higher return.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
New Trade: GDX Naked Puts
Today at the close I entered into the following transaction in a taxable account:
03/20/2012 STO 3 GDX Apr 21 2012 47.0 Put @ 0.53 146.75
As stated in my prior post I believe that GDX has reached it's support level of $50/share. I sold these while GDX was trading at ~$49.60/share. If these puts expire worthless we will earn $146.75 in 32 days on margin maintenance of $2,350.00. This equates to a return on maintenance of 6.24% or 71.17%f annual. If this precious metal miners ETF drops we should be able to roll out and down for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place. As long as there is not an immediate drop in price we have time decay working in our favor and our prospects for rolling increase each day.
Note: ITM the maintenance increased to ~$3,000.
03/20/2012 STO 3 GDX Apr 21 2012 47.0 Put @ 0.53 146.75
As stated in my prior post I believe that GDX has reached it's support level of $50/share. I sold these while GDX was trading at ~$49.60/share. If these puts expire worthless we will earn $146.75 in 32 days on margin maintenance of $2,350.00. This equates to a return on maintenance of 6.24% or 71.17%f annual. If this precious metal miners ETF drops we should be able to roll out and down for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place. As long as there is not an immediate drop in price we have time decay working in our favor and our prospects for rolling increase each day.
Note: ITM the maintenance increased to ~$3,000.
Monday, March 19, 2012
New Trade: GDX Naked Puts
This morning in a taxable account I entered into the following trade:
03/19/2012 STO 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Puts@.99 284.71
If these puts expire worthless we will earn a 15.5% return on margin maintenance of $1835.11 in 89 days. This equates to 63.56% annual. GDX is at it's support level of $50/share. These puts are written 10% below that. When there is a strong market without fear these shares have suffered. This trade is based upon the belief that: 1) the market is toppy; 2) precious metals are still in a bull market due to fundamentals and, therefore, buying on the dips is warranted; and 3) support levels have held up well. In the event I'm wrong, I have an exit strategy in place as GDX is a strong candidate to roll down and out for a net credit.
03/19/2012 STO 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Puts@.99 284.71
If these puts expire worthless we will earn a 15.5% return on margin maintenance of $1835.11 in 89 days. This equates to 63.56% annual. GDX is at it's support level of $50/share. These puts are written 10% below that. When there is a strong market without fear these shares have suffered. This trade is based upon the belief that: 1) the market is toppy; 2) precious metals are still in a bull market due to fundamentals and, therefore, buying on the dips is warranted; and 3) support levels have held up well. In the event I'm wrong, I have an exit strategy in place as GDX is a strong candidate to roll down and out for a net credit.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Trade Continuation: Walgreen's (WAG) Naked Puts
In a taxable account I continued the following transaction:
02/27/2012 STO 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.23 78.99
03/06/2012 BTC 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.3 -133.00
03/06/2012 STO 4 WAG Apr 21 2012 31 Puts @.7 276.94
This was another trade I couldn't monitor while on vacation and disconnected from the world... so I rolled it down and out for a credit. Margin maintenance on this trade is down to $1532.00. If these expire worthless we will earn $222.93 in 54 days which equates to a return on maintenance of 14.55% or 98.35% annual. Not too shabby. :)
02/27/2012 STO 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.23 78.99
03/06/2012 BTC 4 WAG Mar 17 2012 32 Puts @.3 -133.00
03/06/2012 STO 4 WAG Apr 21 2012 31 Puts @.7 276.94
This was another trade I couldn't monitor while on vacation and disconnected from the world... so I rolled it down and out for a credit. Margin maintenance on this trade is down to $1532.00. If these expire worthless we will earn $222.93 in 54 days which equates to a return on maintenance of 14.55% or 98.35% annual. Not too shabby. :)
Profitable Trade: Proctor & Gamble (PG) Naked Puts
In a taxable account the following naked puts expired worthless:
01/23/2012 STO 4 PG Mar 17 2012 60 Puts @ .29 153.36
We earned 3.64% in 54 days on a margin maintenance requirement of $4209.60. This includes commission costs and equates to 24.6% annual.
01/23/2012 STO 4 PG Mar 17 2012 60 Puts @ .29 153.36
We earned 3.64% in 54 days on a margin maintenance requirement of $4209.60. This includes commission costs and equates to 24.6% annual.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Trade Continuation: Pepsico (PEP) Naked Puts
A couple of days ago in a taxable account I continued the following transaction:
02/09/2012 STO 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.7 128.51
03/06/2012 BTC 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.63 -137.48
03/06/2012 STO 2 PEP July 21 2012 60 Puts @1.58 314.36
With a drop in PEP price below 62.5, I rolled this position for a unique reason. I'm too busy right now with my business to monitor these trades and I'm going on vacation next week during option expiration and won't have good computer access. I rolled out and down for a net credit. If put to me my cost basis will be ~58.50/share and Pepsico is set for another dividend raise so the yield on cost will be a juicy 3.75% or so. In my opinion, that ain't gonna happen. If it does I feel great about this becoming a great enhanced income, double dividend candidate. In other words I'll start writing covered calls on the position collecting option premium and dividends. BTW for this trade we are using $2257.77 in margin maintenance. If they expire worthless we will earn $305.39 in 171 days which equates to 13.53% or 28.87% annual.
02/09/2012 STO 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.7 128.51
03/06/2012 BTC 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.63 -137.48
03/06/2012 STO 2 PEP July 21 2012 60 Puts @1.58 314.36
With a drop in PEP price below 62.5, I rolled this position for a unique reason. I'm too busy right now with my business to monitor these trades and I'm going on vacation next week during option expiration and won't have good computer access. I rolled out and down for a net credit. If put to me my cost basis will be ~58.50/share and Pepsico is set for another dividend raise so the yield on cost will be a juicy 3.75% or so. In my opinion, that ain't gonna happen. If it does I feel great about this becoming a great enhanced income, double dividend candidate. In other words I'll start writing covered calls on the position collecting option premium and dividends. BTW for this trade we are using $2257.77 in margin maintenance. If they expire worthless we will earn $305.39 in 171 days which equates to 13.53% or 28.87% annual.
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