The Equity Strategy Workshop is a collection of discussion pieces followed by interactive worksheets. The workshop is designed to assist individuals in learning how options work and in understanding various options strategies.

Short Uncovered Put: Equity Options - OptionsHouse

These discussions and materials are for educational purposes only and are not intended to provide investment advice. Investment decisions should not be made based upon worksheet outcomes.

Put option - Wikipedia

Access to, or delivery of a copy of, the Options Disclosure Document must accompany this worksheet. Have you ever entered a limit order to buy a security at a price below its current trading level?

If so, you've most likely experienced a waiting game, and possibly a lengthy one because the stock will not be purchased until it trades at or below your limit price. Instead of simply waiting for that to happen you could take an approach that is a little more pro-active and sell write a cash-secured put.

You will be paid, in the form of the premium received for selling the put, in return for accepting the obligation to buy underlying shares if assigned, and at a price lower price that you select in advance.

Many large portfolio managers as well as individual investors find this an attractive means to acquire stock for their portfolios. An investor who employs a cash-secured put writes a put contract, and at the same time deposits in his brokerage account the full cash amount for a possible purchase of underlying shares.

The purpose of depositing this cash is to ensure that it's available should the investor be assigned on the short put position and be obligated to purchase shares at the put's strike price.

While the cash is on deposit it may generally be invested in short-term, interest-bearing instruments. The net price paid for underlying shares on assignment is equal to the put's strike price minus the premium received for selling the put in the first place.

For this reason, the strike price chosen, less the premium amount, should reflect the investor's target price for acquiring underlying shares.

Regardless of the direction the stock price takes after the put is sold, or whether assignment is received or not, the put seller keeps the premium. On the downside, the break-even point for this strategy is an underlying stock price equal to the put's strike price less the premium received for selling it. If the stock declines significantly below the strike price by expiration, on assignment the investor may be obligated to purchase shares well above their current price level.

Stock bought under this circumstance may therefore reflect a loss compared to its market price at the time. However, this loss would be unrealized as long as the investor holds the shares and is positioned to profit from an increase in their price.

Any investor whose motivation in writing a cash-secured put is to buy underlying stock should therefore be committed in advance to a target price for a possible purchase, and select a strike price accordingly.

On the upside the risk is one of opportunity loss. After selling the put the underlying stock price can go up and remain above the put's strike price. In this case, neither a put seller who is not assigned, nor an investor who originally entered a low limit order for the stock instead, will buy the stock.

The put seller, however, keeps the put sale premium received. TradeStation Voted Best for Options Traders 2 Years in a Row by Barron's. Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors.

Prior to buying or selling an option, a person must receive a copy of Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options ODD. Copies of the ODD are available from your broker or from The Options Clearing Corporation, One North Wacker Drive, Suite , Chicago, Illinois The information on this website is provided solely for general education and information purposes and therefore should not be considered complete, precise, or current.

Many of the matters discussed are subject to detailed rules, regulations, and statutory provisions which should be referred to for additional detail and are subject to changes that may not be reflected in the website information. No statement within the website should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell a security or to provide investment advice.

The inclusion of non-CBOE advertisements on the website should not be construed as an endorsement or an indication of the value of any product, service, or website.

Access to this page has been denied.

The Terms and Conditions govern use of this website and use of this website will be deemed acceptance of those Terms and Conditions. My Account Account Settings Sign Out. Equity Option Strategies - Cash-Secured Puts.

Put option - Wikipedia

Definition An investor who employs a cash-secured put writes a put contract, and at the same time deposits in his brokerage account the full cash amount for a possible purchase of underlying shares. CBOE Links Government Relations Investor Relations CBOE Livevol Data Shop Livevol CBOE Media Hub System Status Chinese Language Site Risk Management Conference Careers Advertise with CBOE CBOE.

Other CBOE Sites CBOE Futures Exchange C2 Exchange Trading Permit Holders. CBOE Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors.