Diagonal spread options strategy

The profit and loss lines are not straight. Options lines and hard angles usually indicate that all options in the strategy have the same expiration date.

Both of those strategies are time-decay plays. At first glance, this seems like an exceptionally complicated option strategy. Typically, the stock will be halfway between strike B and strike C when you establish the strategy. If the stock is not in the center at this point, the strategy will have options bullish or bearish bias. The put you bought at strike A and the call you bought at strike D serve to reduce your risk over the course of the strategy in case the stock makes a larger-than-expected move in either direction.

You should try to establish this strategy for a net credit. So you might choose to run it for a small net debit and make up the cost when you sell the second set of options after front-month expiration. As expiration of the front-month options approaches, hopefully the stock spread be somewhere between strike B options strike C. These options will have the same expiration as the ones at strike A and strike D.

See rolling an option position for more on this concept. This helps guard against unexpected price swings between the close of the market on the expiration date and the open on the following trading day. The goal at this point is still the same as at the outset—you want the stock price to remain between strike B and C. Ultimately, you want all of the options to expire out-of-the-money and worthless strategy you can pocket the total credit diagonal running strategy segments of this strategy.

Some investors consider this to be a nice alternative to simply running a longer-term iron condor, because you can capture the premium for strategy short options at strike B and C twice. Are you getting the feeling that rolling is a really important concept to understand before you run this play? To run this strategy, you need to know how to manage the risk of early assignment on your short options.

Some investors may wish to run this strategy using index options rather than options on individual stocks. It is possible to approximate your break-even points, but there are too spread variables to give an spread formula.

The sweet spot is not as straightforward as it is with most other plays. That will jack up the overall time value you receive. However, the closer the stock price is to strike B or C, the more spread might lose sleep because there is increased risk of the strategy becoming a loser if it continues to make a bullish or bearish move beyond the short strike. So running this strategy is a lot easier to manage if the stock stays right between strike B and strike C for the duration of the strategy.

Potential spread for this strategy is limited to the net credit received for the sale of the front-month options at strike B and strike C, plus the net credit received for the sale of the second round of options at strike B and strike C, minus the net debit paid for the back-month options at strike A and strike D.

If established for a net credit options initiation of the strategy, risk is limited to strike B minus strike A minus strategy net credit received.

If you are able to sell an additional set of options at strikes B and C, deduct this additional premium from the total risk. If established for a net debit at initiation of the strategy, risk is limited to strike B minus strike A plus the debit paid. Margin requirement is the diagonal call spread requirement or the diagonal put diagonal requirement whichever is greater. If established for a net credit, the proceeds may be applied to the initial margin requirement.

Keep in mind this requirement is on a per-unit basis. For this strategy, time decay is your friend. Ideally, you want all of the options to expire worthless. That way, you will receive more premium for the sale of the additional options at strike B and strike C. After front-month expiration, the effect of implied volatility depends on where the stock is relative to your strike prices.

If the stock is near or between strikes B and C, you want volatility to decrease. In addition, you want the stock price to remain stable, and a decrease in implied volatility suggests that may be the case.

If the stock price is approaching or outside strike A or D, in general you want volatility to increase. An increase in volatility will increase the value of the option you own at the near-the-money strike, while having less effect on the short options at strikes B and C.

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. For more information, please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options brochure before you begin trading options. Options investors may lose the entire amount of their investment in a relatively short period of time.

Multiple leg options strategies involve additional risksand may result in options tax treatments. Please consult a tax professional prior to implementing these strategies.

Implied volatility represents the consensus of the marketplace as to the future level of stock price volatility or the probability of reaching a specific price point. The Greeks represent the consensus of the marketplace as to how the option will react to changes in certain variables associated with the pricing of an option contract.

There is no guarantee that the forecasts of implied volatility or the Greeks will be correct. System response and access times may vary due to market conditions, system performance, and other factors. TradeKing provides self-directed investors with discount brokerage services, strategy does not make recommendations or offer investment, financial, legal or tax advice.

You alone are responsible for evaluating the merits and spread associated with the use of TradeKing's systems, services or products. Content, research, diagonal, and spread or option symbols are for educational and illustrative purposes only and do not imply diagonal recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell a particular security or to engage in any particular investment strategy. The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, are diagonal guaranteed for accuracy or completeness, do not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results.

All investments involve risk, spread may exceed the principal invested, and the past performance of a security, industry, sector, market, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. Your use of the TradeKing Trader Options is conditioned to your acceptance of all TradeKing Disclosures and of the Trader Network Terms of Service. Anything mentioned is for educational purposes and is not a recommendation or advice.

The Options Playbook Radio is brought to you by TradeKing Group, Inc. Securities offered through TradeKing Securities, LLC. The Strategy Playbook Featuring 40 options strategies for bulls, bears, rookies, all-stars and everyone in between. The Setup Buy an out-of-the-money put, strike price A Approx. If the stock price is still between strike price B and strike price C diagonal expiration of the front-month options: Sell another put at strike price B and sell another call at strike price C, with the same expiration as the options at strike price A and strike price D.

Break-even at Expiration It is possible to approximate your break-even points, but there are too many variables to give an exact formula.

The Sweet Spot The sweet spot is not as straightforward as strategy is with options other plays. Maximum Potential Profit Potential profit for this strategy is limited to the net credit received for the sale of the front-month options at strike B and strike C, plus the net credit received for the sale of the second round of options at strike B and strike C, minus the net debit paid for the back-month options at strike A and strike D.

Maximum Potential Loss If established for a net credit at initiation of options strategy, risk is limited to strike B diagonal strike A minus the net credit received.

Strategy Margin Requirement Margin requirement is the diagonal call spread requirement or the diagonal put spread requirement whichever is greater. As Time Goes By For this strategy, time decay is your friend.

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