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Option strategy filters
Bid Return:
This filter describes the return on capital you will receive if the option you are selling (either a covered call or a naked put) expires worthless. When you sell an option, you are selling where others are willing to buy which is the bid price. This filter is useful for two main reasons:
First it allows you to find returns that specifically meet your return criteria, based on the price where you would transact. Second, it removes the bid/offer spread, which can erode your returns (If you want to see if you can improve the return from the bid, add the mid column or bid-ask spread column - see 'How to use option data filters' article for more on these filters).
Annualized Return:
This filter reflects the returns you would receive from either a covered call or naked put strategy on an annualized basis, as opposed to the actual return you will attain from these strategies.
For example, if you generate a return of 3% on a covered call that expires in 1-month, your annualized return would be approximately 36% (12-months multiplied by 3%).
This filter is useful because it presents a normalized value you can compare against other strategies that have different maturities. It also describes how your strategy will perform over the course of a year.
For example, you can compare 10-day returns to 3-month returns and see and apples to apple comparison.
Break-Even Point
This filter describes a price point where the strategy you are using breaks even, where there is no gain or loss on the transaction (excluding commissions). The breakeven is calculated on a long call and put by adding (for a call) or subtracting (for a put) the premium to/from the strike price.
The breakeven for a married put is calculated by adding the premium from the put to the price you paid for the stock. The breakeven for a married call is calculated by subtracting the premium from the price were you shorted the stock.
This scan criteria are important as it shows you the price that you need to achieve at expiration for a long call or put or a married call or put to break even. You can then determine if you believe this is feasible based on your view of the underlying stock. What is important to remember is that this is the price at expiration for breakeven, but that does not mean that the price needs to get to that level for you to make money on the trade (If you close the trade prior to expiration).
Maximum Loss in Dollars
This is a straight forward filter that shows you your maximum loss in dollars. For long calls and long puts your maximum loss is your premium. For married calls or married puts, your maximum loss is the difference between the purchase price (married put) or short sale price (married call) and your strike price, plus the premium.
This filter is very useful to limit the risk in a trade, even in worse case scenarios.
Maximum Loss %
This is the maximum loss in percentages, it describes the maximum loss that you will experience on a long call, long put, married call, or married put, relative to trading the underlying stock.
This is an important filter as it qualifies your risk relative to an alternative similar asset. Additionally, you need to be aware that leveraging substantial with options, so you should expect your maximum loss % to be elevated.
This filter describes the return on capital you will receive if the option you are selling (either a covered call or a naked put) expires worthless. When you sell an option, you are selling where others are willing to buy which is the bid price. This filter is useful for two main reasons:
First it allows you to find returns that specifically meet your return criteria, based on the price where you would transact. Second, it removes the bid/offer spread, which can erode your returns (If you want to see if you can improve the return from the bid, add the mid column or bid-ask spread column - see 'How to use option data filters' article for more on these filters).
Annualized Return:
This filter reflects the returns you would receive from either a covered call or naked put strategy on an annualized basis, as opposed to the actual return you will attain from these strategies.
For example, if you generate a return of 3% on a covered call that expires in 1-month, your annualized return would be approximately 36% (12-months multiplied by 3%).
This filter is useful because it presents a normalized value you can compare against other strategies that have different maturities. It also describes how your strategy will perform over the course of a year.
For example, you can compare 10-day returns to 3-month returns and see and apples to apple comparison.
Break-Even Point
This filter describes a price point where the strategy you are using breaks even, where there is no gain or loss on the transaction (excluding commissions). The breakeven is calculated on a long call and put by adding (for a call) or subtracting (for a put) the premium to/from the strike price.
The breakeven for a married put is calculated by adding the premium from the put to the price you paid for the stock. The breakeven for a married call is calculated by subtracting the premium from the price were you shorted the stock.
This scan criteria are important as it shows you the price that you need to achieve at expiration for a long call or put or a married call or put to break even. You can then determine if you believe this is feasible based on your view of the underlying stock. What is important to remember is that this is the price at expiration for breakeven, but that does not mean that the price needs to get to that level for you to make money on the trade (If you close the trade prior to expiration).
Maximum Loss in Dollars
This is a straight forward filter that shows you your maximum loss in dollars. For long calls and long puts your maximum loss is your premium. For married calls or married puts, your maximum loss is the difference between the purchase price (married put) or short sale price (married call) and your strike price, plus the premium.
This filter is very useful to limit the risk in a trade, even in worse case scenarios.
Maximum Loss %
This is the maximum loss in percentages, it describes the maximum loss that you will experience on a long call, long put, married call, or married put, relative to trading the underlying stock.
This is an important filter as it qualifies your risk relative to an alternative similar asset. Additionally, you need to be aware that leveraging substantial with options, so you should expect your maximum loss % to be elevated.