Definition
The term covered combination refers to the simultaneous sale of an out-of-the-money covered call and secured put. Covered combinations can be used by investors that already own the securities or the securities can be purchased when the contracts are written.
Explanation
As the name implies, covered combinations involve two options: the sale of an out-of-the-money covered call, and the sale of an out-of-the-money secured put. Investors might consider this strategy if they believe a stock is going to increase in price over time, they wish to increase a return on a covered call, or if they're not sure if it's the best time to purchase a stock but they wish to own some shares now and double that amount if the price per share falls.
With a covered combination, the investor sells both a covered, out-of-the-money call, and an out-of-the-money cash-secured put. The investor receives a premium for writing both contracts. If the investor owns the underlying securities, and the price of the securities increase, the shares owned will cover the call. If the price of the securities decrease, then the cash secures the put, if assigned. With a covered combination, there are three possible outcomes:
Share Price Increases
If the stock's price rises above the covered call's strike price, the investor will likely be assigned and they will be obligated to sell the shares at the strike price. The secured put, which has a lower strike price, will expire out-of-the-money. Overall, the investor's net selling price for the shares will be the strike price on the call plus the two premiums collected for writing the contracts.
Share Price Declines
If the stock's price declines below the secured put's strike price, the investor will likely be obligated to purchase shares with the cash in their brokerage account. The covered call, which has a higher strike price, will expire out-of-the-money. In this example, the investor's net selling price for the stock is the strike price on the put minus the two premiums collected for writing the contracts.
Share Price Falls Between Contracts
If the underlying stock closes between the strike price of the call and the strike price of the put, both options will expire out-of-the-money. In this example, the investor gets to keep the two premiums collected for writing the contracts. This effectively lowers the cost basis for the shares owned, which lowers the investor's breakeven point.
Related Terms
The term cash-secured put refers to the strategy of selling a put contract with the intent to purchase the security when it trades at a price that is lower than its current market price. A cash-secured put involves both writing the option and depositing cash in a sweep account to purchase the underlying security.
Moneyzine EditorJanuary 10th, 2024- The term protective put refers to the strategy of buying one put contract for every 100 shares of the underlying stock owned. Protective puts are a form of insurance, shielding the individual's investment from market volatility.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 21st, 2023
The term index put refers to the strategy of buying a put contract to limit the downside risk of a portfolio of stocks. As is the case with protective puts, index puts provide investors with a hedge against a down market, while maintaining unlimited upside potential.Moneyzine EditorJanuary 22nd, 2024
The term buy-write index refers to a benchmark that provides investors with insights into the performance of covered call strategies. Investors use buy-write strategies to add income to an investment's return while lowering volatility.Moneyzine EditorJanuary 9th, 2024
