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Covered Call

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Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Covered Call'

An options strategy whereby an investor holds a long position in an asset and writes (sells) call options on that same asset in an attempt to generate increased income from the asset. This is often employed when an investor has a short-term neutral view on the asset and for this reason hold the asset long and simultaneously have a short position via the option to generate income from the option premium.

This is also known as a "buy-write".
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Covered Call'

For example, let's say that you own shares of the TSJ Sports Conglomerate and like its long-term prospects as well as its share price but feel in the shorter term the stock will likely trade relatively flat, perhaps within a few dollars of its current price of, say, $25. If you sell a call option on TSJ for $26, you earn the premium from the option sale but cap your upside. One of three scenarios is going to play out:

a) TSJ shares trade flat (below the $26 strike price) - the option will expire worthless and you keep the premium from the option. In this case, by using the buy-write strategy you have successfully outperformed the stock.

b) TSJ shares fall - the option expires worthless, you keep the premium, and again you outperform the stock.

c) TSJ shares rise above $26 - the option is exercised, and your upside is capped at $26, plus the option premium. In this case, if the stock price goes higher than $26, plus the premium, your buy-write strategy has underperformed the TSJ shares.

Directory (Option Strategy)

  1.

    Alligator Spread

  2. Atlantic Spread

  3. Back Fee

  4. Backspread

  5. Bailard, Biehl And Kaiser Five-Way Model

  6. Bear Call Spread

  7. Bear Put Spread

  8. Bear Spread

  9. Bear Straddle

  10. Box Spread

  11. Bull Call Spread

  12. Bull Put Spread

  13. Bull Spread

  14. Bullet Trade

  15. Butterfly Spread

  16. Buy A Spread

  17. Calendar Spread

  18. Call Ratio Backspread

  19. Collar

  20. Collar Agreement

  21. Condor Spread

  22. Contingent Order

  23. Conversion Arbitrage

  24. Covered Call

  25. Covered Combination

  26. Covered Straddle

  27. Credit Spread

  28. Death Put

  29. Debit Spread

  30. Delta Hedging

  31. Delta Neutral

  32. Delta Spread

  33. Diagonal Spread

  34. Dividend Arbitrage

  35. Double One-Touch Option

  36. Fence (Options)

  37. Fiduciary Call

  38. Fixed Dollar Value Collar

  39. FMAN

  40. Forex Hedge

  41. Forex Option & Currency Trading Options

  42. Form 6781: Gains And Losses From Section ...

  43. Front Fee

  44. Gut Spread

  45. Heston Model

  46. Horizontal Spread

  47. Implied Volatility - IV

  48. Interest Rate Collar

  49. Iron Butterfly

  50. Iron Condor

  51. Leg

  52. Leg Out

  53. Long Jelly Roll

  54. Long Leg

  55. Long Put

  56. Long Straddle

  57. Long-Term Equity Anticipation Securities ...

  58. Married Put

  59. Modidor

  60. Multi Index Option

  61. Multi-Leg Options Order

  62. Naked Call

  63. Naked Put

  64. Negative Butterfly

  65. Net Option Premium

  66. Neutral

  67. Option Premium

  68. Outright Option

  69. Overwrite

  70. Overwriting

  71. Positive Butterfly

  72. Protective Put

  73. Put

  74. Put Calendar

  75. Put Ratio Backspread

  76. Ratio Call Write

  77. Ratio Spread

  78. Reverse Calendar Spread

  79. Reverse Conversion

  80. Risk Reversal

  81. Roll Down

  82. Roll Forward

  83. Roll Up

  84. Seagull Option

  85. Sell To Open

  86. Series 4

  87. Short Leg

  88. Short Straddle

  89. Straddle

  90. Strangle

  91. Swing Option

  92. Synthetic Dividend

  93. Variable Ratio Write

  94. VIX Option

  95. Writing An Option

  96. Zero Cost Collar

  97. Zomma

Articles Of Interest

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    Covered Call Strategies For A Falling Market

    Find out how to come out on top, even when the market is dropping.

  2. Cut Down Option Risk With Covered Calls

    A good place to start with options is writing these contracts against shares you already own.

  3. Naked Call Writing: A Risky Options Strategy

    Learn about this aggressive trading strategy to generate income as part of a diversified portfolio.

  4. Tips For Series 7 Options Questions

    We'll show you how to ace the largest and most difficult section of this exam.

  5. The Basics Of Covered Calls

    Learn how this simple options contract can work for you, even when your stock isn't.

  6. An Alternative Covered Call Options Trading Strategy

    This different approach to the covered-call write offers less risk and greater potential profit.

  7. Options Basics Tutorial

    Discover the world of options, from primary concepts to how options work and why you might use them.

  8. Going Long On Calls

    Learn how to buy calls and then sell or exercise them to earn a profit.

  9. Trade Smarter With Equivalent Positions

    Understanding the concept of equivalent positions will help you trade more efficiently and save money on trade fees.

  10. Using LEAPS In A Covered Call Write

    Discover how strategy can help reduce your downside risk.
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