Showing posts with label yield on cost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yield on cost. Show all posts

Monday, November 5, 2012

New Trade: Pepsico (PEP) Naked Puts

On October 22, 2012 I entered into the following transaction:

10/22/12   STO 2 PEP Dec 22 67.5 Puts @.8     $148.46

This is a 59 day trade that uses ~$2600 in margin maintenance. Pepsi had showed a bit of weakness after issuing it's quarterly report. If these puts expire worthless we will earn 5.71% in 59 days or 35.32% annual return on maintenance. If the shares our put to us our yield on cost will be 3.2%.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

New Trade: Southern Company (SO) Naked Puts

On Friday when SO dipped below 45 to ~44.70 I entered into the following transaction:

09/14/12    STO 3 SO Nov 17 43 2012 Puts @.5    137.69

With Bernanke's latest moves the "risk on" trades are in vogue. That provides weakness/opportunity in the "risk off" trades, i.e., utilities, telecom and healthcare. Southern Company is my favorite utility stock and it has a rising dividend. I have been patiently waiting for the stock to drop below 45 so I could write some out of the money puts.

SO currently has a yield of 4.35%. If put to us our yield on cost will be 4.61% with another dividend rise announcement expected in April 2013. I feel that the yield will buoy the price of the stock.

This is a 64 day trade with an initial maintenance requirement of $2218. If these puts expire worthless we will earn 6.2% return on maintenance or 35.36% annual. If the stock price drops I anticipate volatility will rise and we will be able to roll down and/or out for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.

This trade illustrates the remarkable returns that naked put selling can generate. I mean this is a utility stock for goodness sake :)


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

New Trade: Phillip Morris (PM) Naked Puts

Today with Phillip Morris showing weakness and trading down below $87/share I entered into the following transaction:

09/12/12   STO 2 PM Dec 22 2012 80 Puts @1.23    234.50

I've wanted to trade PM for a while but never had the opportunity as it was in a constant incline while I like to sell puts on weakness. Phillip Morris is a blue chip company with a rising dividend. In fact it raised it's quarterly dividend today to .85/share which increases PM's yield to 3.9%. The stock has been rising but appears to have support above 80. If put to us our yield on cost will be 4.3%.

If the puts expire worthless we will earn $234.50 in 101 days on initial margin maintenance of $2100. This equates to an 11.16% return on maintenance or 40.33% annual. We have downside protection in the neighborhood of 10%. In the event the stock tanks we should be able to roll down and out for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

New Trade: Intel (INTC) Naked Puts

Yesterday with Intel trading down to ~$24.40 I entered into the following transaction:

09/05/2012  STO 5 INTC Oct 20 2012 22 Puts@.22    $96.16

This is a 45 day trade that is using $1350 in margin maintenance. If the puts expire worthless we will earn 7.1% or 57.6% annual return on maintenance. If put to us our yield on cost will be a whopping 4.12%.

That's 3 Intel trades I've got going for October with the 24's, 23's and now the 22's. After today's action I feel pretty good about it but if the trades go against me there appears to be ample opportunity to roll down and out for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

New Trade: ConocoPhillips (COP) Naked Puts

Today when the Dow was down less than 1% and COP had sunk to ~54.80 I entered into the following transaction:

09/05/12   STO 3 COP Oct 20 50 Puts @.38    $101.73

ConocoPhillips is a rising dividend, blue chip, oil & gas company. I have been waiting for it to show some weakness, i.e., drop below 55, as I love it's yield as a buoy for the stock price. Today I got my wish although I must admit that the lack of news was a bit disconcerting. Hopefully there are not problems brewing behind closed doors.

This is a 45 day trade that uses ~$1600 in margin maintenance. If the puts expire worthless I will earn 6.36% return on maintenance in 45 days or 51.6% annual.

If COP  were to drop below 50 and the stock was put to us our yield on cost would be a whopping 5.3%. I like this yield amount as a buoy of the stock price. If the price tanks I feel confident that I could roll down and/or out for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.

I have been enjoying writing naked puts far out of the money because the maintenance requirement is so low. This allows me to enjoy higher returns on maintenance and to commit less capital to any one trade. In addition, the downside protection is very high making this a comfortable yet probably profitable setup.

Monday, August 27, 2012

New Trade: Intel (INTC) Naked Puts

On Friday before the close with Intel trading at ~24.85 I entered into the following transaction:

08/24/12   STO 5 INTC Oct 20 2012 23 Puts @.35    161.20

This is essentially a one strike down, double down of my trade of a few days ago. I was able to take advantage of weakness/fear in Intel due to the Buffett hangover and weak results from Hewlett-Packard and Dell. If put to us our yield on cost will be right under 4% and we're just one roll away from a yield on cost above 4%. I feel pretty good that a 4% yield will buoy the stock price. In addition, we have strong support at the 25 price level.

This is a 57 day which uses ~$1800 in margin maintenance. If the puts expire worthless we will earn ~8.95% or 57.3% annual return on maintenance. If the stock drops I feel confident we can roll out and/or down for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

New Trade: Intel (INTC) Naked Puts

This afternoon with the market down ~80 points and Intel down to ~$25.70 I entered into the following transaction:

08/22/12   STO 5 INTC Oct 20 2012 24 Puts @.37   $171.18

Buffett just sold his stake in Intel. Bill Cara  just sold his stake. Fear and uncertainty is setting in for Intel. I took this opportunity to write puts a point below the 25 support level.

This is a 59 day trade which will initially take $1700 in margin maintenance. If the puts expire worthless, return on maintenance will be 10% in 59 days or 61.86% annual. If put to us our yield on cost will be 3.8%. That yield should buoy the stock absent unforeseen market conditions. In the event the stock tanks we will look to roll down and out for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

New Trade: McDonald's (MCD) Naked Puts

Yesterday with the market down a bit and MCD trading at 87.90 I entered into the following transaction:

08/13/12   STO 2 MCD Sep 22 2012 85 Puts @.72    132.50

McDonald's is a Dividend Aristocrat/Champion/Achiever that really needs no introduction. There has been a bit of weakness in the stock as of late due to July same store sales declining a miniscule percentage. I almost pulled the trigger on the 82.5's a few days ago when MCD was at 86.10 but decided against it because I thought the market and the stock still had room to drop. Opportunity missed.

This trade at the 85's is still pretty good as 85 is a strong support line for MCD. If the stock drops I will roll out and/or down for a net credit. As such, an exit strategy is in place.

If put to us our yield on cost will be ~3.3% and MCD is set to raise it's dividend in November. This dividend rise should buoy the stock. If these puts expire worthless we will earn 4.3% on margin maintenance of $3078.25 in 40 days which equates to 39.23% annual return on maintenance.

I didn't see any fat pitches to swing at so I entered into this one trade to take advantage of time decay in what I see as a fairly safe play.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

New Trade: Freeport-McMoran (FCX) Naked Puts

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.

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.

Monday, June 18, 2012

New Trade: Proctor & Gamble (PG) Naked Puts

Today with PG trading down at ~61.80 I entered into the following transaction:

06/18/2012  STO 2 PG Jul 21 2012 60 Puts @.61   $110.49

This is a 33 day trade that starts out using ~$2000 in margin maintenance. If they expire worthless we will earn 5.52% return on maintenance in 33 days or 61.05% annual.

PG, a tried and true Dividend Champion/Aristrocrat, has shown a lot of support at the 60 level. If put to us our yield on cost will be 3.78% which is much higher than the historical average. If the price sinks we should be able to roll out and down for a net credit, therefore, an exit strategy is in place.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

New Trade: Walgreen's (WAG) Naked Puts

Today with the markets in the red and Walgreen's trading down at $30.80 I entered into the following transaction:

5/30/12   STO  3 WAG Jul 21 2012 28 Puts @.41   $110.75

The margin maintenance is ~$1,000 for this 52 day trade. This equates to ~11% return on margin in 52 days or 77.21% annual if they expire worthless.

WAG has had great support at the 31 level and these puts are a full 10% below that. If put to us the yield on cost will be 3.25% which is way above historical highs for this Dividend Champion.

Friday, March 30, 2012

New Trade: Proctor & Gamble (PG) Naked Puts

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.

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.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

New Trade: Pepsico (PEP) Naked Puts

Two days ago in a retiree's taxable account I entered into the following trade:

02/09/2012    STO 3 PEP Apr 21 2012 60 Puts @.54                 149.71

I entered into this trade when PEP had tanked down to 64 after it's quarterly report. As stated in my prior post, it has been my experience that when blue chip Dividend Champions release a quarterly report which disappoints it may tank briefly before rising to it's prior price. These were written well below the tank and if put to us the yield on cost will be 3.46% with a dividend rise expected in June. If these puts expire worthless we will earn 5.34% in 73 days on $2800 of margin maintenance which equates to 26.7% annual. If the stock tanks all the way to 60 or below I am confident we can roll the position for a credit.

New Trade: Pepsico (PEP) Naked Puts

A couple of days ago in a taxable account I entered into the following trade:

02/09/2012    STO 2 PEP Mar 17 2012 62.5 Puts @.7                      128.51

At the time I entered into this transaction PEP had tanked more than two points down to ~64 based upon it's quarterly report. My experience has been that when a blue chip stalwart tanks after a quarterly report it usually is a knee jerk reaction and it will slowly work it's way back. I wrote the puts under where it tanked and if it tanks more I feel that I will be able to roll the position for a credit and wait for the stock to drift back up. If put to me the yield on cost would be 3.3% with a dividend raise expected in the June quarter. If these puts expire worthless we will earn $128.51 in 38 days on margin maintenance of $2400. This equates to a 5.35% return or 51.4% annual.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

New Trade: Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) Naked Puts

Today in a taxable account with JNJ trading at just under 65 I entered into the following transaction:

01/19/2012    STO  4 JNJ Apr 21 2012 60 Puts @.77        294.89

JNJ is obviously a long term hold. It is a dividend aristocrat, dividend champion, blue chip, widow and orphan core holding. If put to us our yield on cost will be over 3.8% with a dividend increase expected shortly after. We could then write covered calls on the position. If the puts expire worthless we will earn 8.73% in 93 days on margin maintenance of $3377.60 which equates to 34.26% annual. Of course we could choose to roll the position, we'll just have to see how things shake out.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Sold Conoco Phillips (COP) Put

Today with the market up a smidgen and COP trading at ~66.95 I entered into the following transaction in a taxable account:

STO 1 COP Jan 21 2012 60 Put @ 1.30                                 +119.23

Conoco Phillips has a rising dividend and is a stock I'm interested in holding long term. It is a Buffett favorite. In reading the charts, like a psychic reads tea leaves...ha, it is revealed to me that every time COP has hit 60 in the last year it immediately found support and jumped up like a prairie dog sittin' on a cactus. If assigned to us we'll take COP at ~ 59 which will at that price yield 4.5%. In addition, COP will probably raise it's dividend next quarter. If the put expires worthless we will earn 2% in 57 days which equates to 12.8% annual. If one were to believe in return on margin (ROM) the return on a $781.84 margin requirement is 15.2% or 98% annual.

All the puts I've sold lately are at the very bottom of the last year's trading range. At this point in my trading experience that's about the best I can do. If these stocks fall below the strike prices, we can: 1) accept the stocks and collect dividends and write calls; or 2) roll them out for a credit. Either way they won't have heard the last from this gal! ha!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Trade Continuation: Realty Income (O) Covered Calls

Here is the transaction to date:

  • 07/15/11               Bought 200 O @33.7846                                            -6766.91
  • 07/15/11               Sold 2 O Dec 17 2011 35 Calls@.7                             +128.50
  • 08/15/11               Dividend                                                                         +28.98
  • 09/15/11               Dividend                                                                         +28.98
  • 10/17/11               Dividend                                                                         +29.04
  • 11/15/11               Dividend                                                                         +29.04
  • 11/22/11               Bought 2 O Dec 17 2011 35 Calls@.05                          -10.03
  • 11/22/11               Sold 2 O Mar 17 2012 35 Calls@.8                             +148.47
Our roll out today lowers the amount out of pocket on this investment to $6383.93. This equates to $31.91/share. Realty Income is "The Monthly Dividend Company." It has a rising dividend for many years now. Our yield on cost is up to ~5.5%. If these calls expire worthless we will collect 4 more dividends totalling at least $116.16 (assuming no increase). That will lower our amount out of pocket to $6267.77 or $31.33/share.

Realty Income in this gal's opinion is easy pickings for double digit returns. When one juices the monthly dividend with out of the money covered calls, the out of pocket drops monthly. I don't recommend Realty Income in taxable accounts because the dividends are taxed as regular income. For a tax free account, however, O is very yummy.

Sold Microsoft (MSFT) Puts

Today in a taxable account and during amateur hour (ha!) I entered into the following transaction:

STO 4 MSFT Dec 17 2011 24 Puts@.38               +138.95

Microsoft is a cash cow and is now steadily raising it's dividend. It is also extremely heavily traded and, therefore, very liquid. It is a holding we are happy to own long term. If put to us we will have a cost basis after commissions of ~23.70/share. There has been strong support for MSFT at this level. At $23.70 our yield on cost is ~3.4%.

If the puts expire worthless our return is 1.45% for 25 days which equates to 21.17% annual. If one were to calculate return on margin (ROM) our return on a margin requirement of $1744.91 is 8% which equates to 115% annual.

I've entered into several transactions during this time of fear and uncertainty. I'll probably chill for a little while and see how things play out. My feeling is that we are oversold, however, as seems to be the norm these days a crash is always a possibility.