Definition
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.
Explanation
An index put is an investment strategy that involves the purchase of put contracts in an index that closely tracks the performance of a portfolio of stocks in terms of beta. This strategy provides the investor with a hedge against a down market, protecting unrealized profits or limiting a further decline in an unrealized loss. While an index put provides insurance against a bear market, it also provides the investor with upside potential in a bull market.
As a reminder, a put (American) provides the owner with the right, but not an obligation, to sell the index at the strike price at any time before the option's expiration date regardless of how low the stock's price declines. The price paid for the put, is said to be the investor's insurance premium. If the value of the index increases, the investor benefits from the gain in the value of their portfolio and does not exercise their option. If the value of the index declines, the investor has the option of selling the index at the strike price of the in-the-money put to offset the loss in the value of their portfolio.
Example
An investor owns a portfolio of technology stocks worth $500,000 that very closely match the performance of the NASDAQ 100 Index. The current value of the NASDAQ 100 is right around $5,000, so one put option would protect $5,000 x 100 multiplier for the index, or around $500,000 of the portfolio; therefore, only one contract is needed.
The cost of this insurance with a strike price of $4,950 is $35.00, which means the investor would have to pay $35.00 x 100, or $3,500 for this three-month index put. If the price of the NASDAQ 100 increases to $5,100, the value of the investor's profit would be:
= Ending Value of Portfolio - Starting Value of Portfolio - Cost of Index Put= $510,000 - $500,000 -$3,500, or= $10,000 - $3,500, or $6,500
If the price of the NASDAQ 100 fell to $4,900, and the investor did not purchase the index put, the investor's loss would be:
= Ending Value of Portfolio - Starting Value of Portfolio= $490,000 - $500,000, or -$10,000
If the price of the NASDAQ 100 fell to $4,900, and the investor exercised their put at $4,950, the investor's loss would be:
= Ending Value of Portfolio - Starting Value of Portfolio - Cost of Index Put + Profit on Index Put= $490,000 - $500,000 - $3,500 + $50 x 100, or= $490,000 - $500,000 - $3,500 + $5,000, or = -$10,000 -$3,500 + $5,000, or $8,500
Related Terms
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.
Moneyzine EditorJanuary 12th, 2024
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 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
