On Tuesday I entered into the following transaction:
7/24/12 STO 3 FCX Aug 18 2012 30 Puts @.45 $122.75
At the time I entered into this trade FCX was trading at $32.50/share. This is a 25 day trade with ~$1600 in margin maintenance. If these puts expire worthless our return on maintenance is 7.67% or 112% annual. The returns are inflated because this is a volatile security. In the event this stock drops I feel confident we will be able to roll out and down for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.
If put to us at 29.70 or so, FCX will have a yield on cost of 4.2%. Theoretically, that should buoy the stock. FCX has a rising dividend.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Trade Continuation: GDX Naked Puts
Last week I continued my GDX investment as follows:
03/20/2012 STO 3 GDX Apr 21 2012 47.0 Put @ .53 146.75
04/20/2012 BTC 3 GDX Apr 21 2012 47.0 Put @.63 -201.24
04/20/2012 STO 3 GDX May 19 2012 45 Put @.97 288.70
05/14/2012 BTC 3 GDX May 19 2012 45 Put @3.46 1050.24
05/14/2012 STO 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Put @3.99 1194.68
06/01/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Put @1.20 - 372.25
06/01/2012 STO 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 43 Put @1.60 467.74
07/19/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 43 Put @1.40 -432.24
07/19/2012 STO 2 GDX Sep 22 2012 42 Put @2.41 470.50
In this latest option roll I was able to get paid $38.26 to roll down a strike AND to reduce my exposure to 2 contracts. By reducing the number of contracts we were able to reduce our maintenance requirement from ~$3200 to ~$2100 thereby freeing up money for other trades. In addition, our percentage return on maintenance increases with the reduction in required maintenance.
It had never occurred to me before to reduce the number of contracts as I roll down and out. Props to Teddi Knight at FullyInformed.com for sharing her experience and insight in that regard.
We have now collected $512.40 in option premium on this trade. Our cost basis if put to us is down to $39.44/share. While this ETF has sunk to new lows recently our cost basis is below that.
The September expiration will make this trade 6 months old. If the shares expire worthless we will earn $512.40 on an average of ~$2600 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return on maintenance of ~19.7% or or 39.4% annual.
03/20/2012 STO 3 GDX Apr 21 2012 47.0 Put @ .53 146.75
04/20/2012 BTC 3 GDX Apr 21 2012 47.0 Put @.63 -201.24
04/20/2012 STO 3 GDX May 19 2012 45 Put @.97 288.70
05/14/2012 BTC 3 GDX May 19 2012 45 Put @3.46 1050.24
05/14/2012 STO 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Put @3.99 1194.68
06/01/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Put @1.20 - 372.25
06/01/2012 STO 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 43 Put @1.60 467.74
07/19/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 43 Put @1.40 -432.24
07/19/2012 STO 2 GDX Sep 22 2012 42 Put @2.41 470.50
In this latest option roll I was able to get paid $38.26 to roll down a strike AND to reduce my exposure to 2 contracts. By reducing the number of contracts we were able to reduce our maintenance requirement from ~$3200 to ~$2100 thereby freeing up money for other trades. In addition, our percentage return on maintenance increases with the reduction in required maintenance.
It had never occurred to me before to reduce the number of contracts as I roll down and out. Props to Teddi Knight at FullyInformed.com for sharing her experience and insight in that regard.
We have now collected $512.40 in option premium on this trade. Our cost basis if put to us is down to $39.44/share. While this ETF has sunk to new lows recently our cost basis is below that.
The September expiration will make this trade 6 months old. If the shares expire worthless we will earn $512.40 on an average of ~$2600 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return on maintenance of ~19.7% or or 39.4% annual.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Profitable Trade: GDX Naked Puts
On Friday I closed the following transaction for a net profit:
03/19/2012 STO 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Puts@.99 284.71
06/07/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Puts@.68 -216.28
06/07/2012 STO 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 42 Puts@.99 284.71
07/20/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 42 Puts @.55 -177.28
In this trade we generated $175.86 in 4 months on ~2600 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return of 6.76% or 20.29% annual. This trade shows the power of naked puts and the ability to roll them down and out for a net credit. Even though GDX continued to tank throughout this transaction we were able to still turn a profit.
This one was a bit too much of a wild ride for my temperament, however, so I will probably return to trading blue chip stocks with a rising dividend. Right now I'm watching the weakness in MSFT and INTC closely. If MSFT drops below 29 and INTC gets in the low 24's it will be hard not to pull the trigger on some new naked put trades.
03/19/2012 STO 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Puts@.99 284.71
06/07/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jun 16 2012 45 Puts@.68 -216.28
06/07/2012 STO 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 42 Puts@.99 284.71
07/20/2012 BTC 3 GDX Jul 21 2012 42 Puts @.55 -177.28
In this trade we generated $175.86 in 4 months on ~2600 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return of 6.76% or 20.29% annual. This trade shows the power of naked puts and the ability to roll them down and out for a net credit. Even though GDX continued to tank throughout this transaction we were able to still turn a profit.
This one was a bit too much of a wild ride for my temperament, however, so I will probably return to trading blue chip stocks with a rising dividend. Right now I'm watching the weakness in MSFT and INTC closely. If MSFT drops below 29 and INTC gets in the low 24's it will be hard not to pull the trigger on some new naked put trades.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Profitable Trade: Intel (INTC) Naked Puts
The following puts expired worthless:
07/09/12 STO 4 INTC Jul 21 2012 25 Puts @.26 90.99
We earned $90.99 in 12 days in this trade on ~$1500 in margin maintenance. This equates to a 6% return or 184% annual. The returns are so large as there was a quarterly report issued during the time of this trade.
I didn't see an opportunity I liked to roll out and/or down for a credit so I just let them expire worthless. I will look to trade INTC again should it drop under $25.
07/09/12 STO 4 INTC Jul 21 2012 25 Puts @.26 90.99
We earned $90.99 in 12 days in this trade on ~$1500 in margin maintenance. This equates to a 6% return or 184% annual. The returns are so large as there was a quarterly report issued during the time of this trade.
I didn't see an opportunity I liked to roll out and/or down for a credit so I just let them expire worthless. I will look to trade INTC again should it drop under $25.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Profitable Trade: Proctor & Gamble (PG) Naked Puts
The following puts just expired worthless:
03/29/2012 STO 2 PG July 21 2012 62.5 Puts @.88 164.47
This was a 114 day trade with an average of ~2300 in margin maintenance. Our return on maintenance is 7.15% or 22.9% annual. I thought about rolling out the 62.5's but decided against it with the recent surge in the stock due to the Ackman intervention. In addition, I believe long term that Costco and Wal-Mart and their brand of products will continue to take market share from the more expensive PG products. That being said I will still sell out of the money puts when fearful dumping of PG stock occurs.
03/29/2012 STO 2 PG July 21 2012 62.5 Puts @.88 164.47
This was a 114 day trade with an average of ~2300 in margin maintenance. Our return on maintenance is 7.15% or 22.9% annual. I thought about rolling out the 62.5's but decided against it with the recent surge in the stock due to the Ackman intervention. In addition, I believe long term that Costco and Wal-Mart and their brand of products will continue to take market share from the more expensive PG products. That being said I will still sell out of the money puts when fearful dumping of PG stock occurs.
Monday, July 16, 2012
New Trade: Lowe's (LOW) Naked Puts
Today with the weakness in Dividend Champion/Aristocrat LOW and weakness in the retail spending numbers I entered into the following transaction:
7/16/12 STO 4 LOW Aug 18 '12 24 Puts @.34 $122.97
At the time of this trade LOW was down ~3% to $25.90. If put to me the cost basis will be ~23.70. The yield on cost will be 2.7% which is high for LOW.
This is a 33 day trade with initial margin maintenance of $1500. If they expire worthless I will earn 8.2% return on maintenance or 90.7% annual. In the event the stock continues to drop I will look to roll down and/or out for a net credit. As such, I have an exit strategy in place.
I think that if I can trade my way to a yield on cost of 3% that I will be golden. I could have done that right away by selling the October 21's but I didn't want to commit to that much time.
7/16/12 STO 4 LOW Aug 18 '12 24 Puts @.34 $122.97
At the time of this trade LOW was down ~3% to $25.90. If put to me the cost basis will be ~23.70. The yield on cost will be 2.7% which is high for LOW.
This is a 33 day trade with initial margin maintenance of $1500. If they expire worthless I will earn 8.2% return on maintenance or 90.7% annual. In the event the stock continues to drop I will look to roll down and/or out for a net credit. As such, I have an exit strategy in place.
I think that if I can trade my way to a yield on cost of 3% that I will be golden. I could have done that right away by selling the October 21's but I didn't want to commit to that much time.
Profitable trade: Walgreen's (WAG) Naked Puts
On Friday I closed the following transaction for a profit:
5/30/12 STO 3 WAG Jul 21 2012 28 Puts @.41 $110.75
7/13/12 BTC 3 WAG Jul 21 2012 28 Puts @.03 -9.04
I was able to close the trade without paying commissions so I pulled the trigger. In this trade we made $101.71 in 44 days on ~$1200 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return on maintenance of 8.47% or 70.26% annual. I would have rolled out and/or down but with the recent rise of WAG above 30 I decided to wait. If and when WAG drops to 29 and change I will look to sell the 27 or 28's.
5/30/12 STO 3 WAG Jul 21 2012 28 Puts @.41 $110.75
7/13/12 BTC 3 WAG Jul 21 2012 28 Puts @.03 -9.04
I was able to close the trade without paying commissions so I pulled the trigger. In this trade we made $101.71 in 44 days on ~$1200 in margin maintenance. This equates to a return on maintenance of 8.47% or 70.26% annual. I would have rolled out and/or down but with the recent rise of WAG above 30 I decided to wait. If and when WAG drops to 29 and change I will look to sell the 27 or 28's.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Profitable Trade: Proctor & Gamble (PG) Naked Puts
Today I closed the following transaction for a profit:
06/18/2012 STO 2 PG Jul 21 2012 60 Puts @.61 $110.49
07/13/2012 BTC 2 PG Jul 21 2012 60 Puts @.04 $ 8.03
This is a 25 day trade that has used ~$2500 in margin maintenance. We earned $102.46. This equates to a 4.1% return on maintenance or 60% annual. Thank you Bill Ackman!
I would have liked to have rolled the 60's each month but the stock's sudden rise made me want to take a wait and see approach.
06/18/2012 STO 2 PG Jul 21 2012 60 Puts @.61 $110.49
07/13/2012 BTC 2 PG Jul 21 2012 60 Puts @.04 $ 8.03
This is a 25 day trade that has used ~$2500 in margin maintenance. We earned $102.46. This equates to a 4.1% return on maintenance or 60% annual. Thank you Bill Ackman!
I would have liked to have rolled the 60's each month but the stock's sudden rise made me want to take a wait and see approach.
Monday, July 9, 2012
New Trade: Intel (INTC) Naked Puts
Today with INTC down to about $25.90 I entered into the following trade:
07/09/12 STO 4 INTC Jul 21 2012 25 Puts @.26 90.99
This is a 12 day trade on a stock I'd like to own long term. It will soon be a member of the Dividend Achiever family. In fact, I expect the news of a dividend raise in the near future.
If these puts expire worthless we will earn 5.3% or 161.21% annual on $1713 in margin maintenance. The returns are inflated due to an earnings release set for July 17. If the stock drops we have many options to roll out and/or down for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.
Even if the stock doesn't drop I will probably look to roll on a weekly basis, if possible. INTC has weekly options.
07/09/12 STO 4 INTC Jul 21 2012 25 Puts @.26 90.99
This is a 12 day trade on a stock I'd like to own long term. It will soon be a member of the Dividend Achiever family. In fact, I expect the news of a dividend raise in the near future.
If these puts expire worthless we will earn 5.3% or 161.21% annual on $1713 in margin maintenance. The returns are inflated due to an earnings release set for July 17. If the stock drops we have many options to roll out and/or down for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.
Even if the stock doesn't drop I will probably look to roll on a weekly basis, if possible. INTC has weekly options.
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