What is a Call Option and How to Use them With Examples

There are many expiration dates and strike prices that traders can choose. As the value of Apple stock goes up, the price of the option contract goes up, and vice versa. When a call option buyer exercises his right, the naked option seller is obligated to buy the stock at the current market price to provide the shares to the option holder. If the stock price exceeds the call option’s strike price, then the difference between the current market price and the strike price represents the loss to the seller. Most option sellers charge a high fee to compensate for any losses that may occur.

For individuals, income is the money they earn from working, or the returns from their investments. For businesses, it’s what’s left of their revenue after expenses. Bankrate follows a strict
editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.

What Is a Call Option and How to Use It With Example

This means the option writer doesn’t profit from the stock’s movement above the strike price. The options writer’s maximum profit on the option is the premium that was received. If you are thinking of selling an asset you already own, you might want to sell a covered call option on it instead. You make risk-free money from the premium you charge for the option. You also make money when the strike price is higher than the amount you originally paid, and the buyer exercises the option.

Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions.

What is leverage?

Vanilla options on foreign exchange market can be used to mitigate currency risk through currency hedging strategies. For the sake of clarity, the CONTRACT is the OPTION while the ASSET that the contract refers to is called the UNDERLYING ASSET, making an option a derivative instrument. If the price of the underlying asset increases, then the option holder earns a profit. However, if the price of the asset declines, then the option holder chooses not to exercise the option, and instead absorbs the cost of the option contract.

Call buyers generally expect the underlying stock to rise significantly, and buying a call option can provide greater potential profit than owning the stock outright. Call options are “in the money” when the stock price is above the strike price at expiration. The call owner can exercise the option, putting up cash to buy callable option meaning the stock at the strike price. Or the owner can simply sell the option at its fair market value to another buyer before it expires. This effectively gives the owner a long position in the given asset.[2] The seller (or “writer”) is obliged to sell the commodity or financial instrument to the buyer if the buyer so decides.

The risk of a covered call option is missing out on gains if the share price jumps. Instead, you must sell the agreed amount of shares to the call option holder at the strike price. You will keep the premium, but the call option holder reaps the net profit from the share price increase. For example, say Sam owns 100 shares of XYZ,  valued at $70 per share. If Mary believes shares of that stock are going to increase in value, then she may purchase a call option to buy those shares at a strike price of $80. If the share price reaches $90 before the exercise date and Mary exercises the option, she realizes a $10 per share profit.

Covered Call Option

Buying and selling call options can also be used as part of more complex option strategies. Implied volatility essentially measures the supply and demand for the option. You’re not paying for a longer ride, or a better car, you’re simply paying more because at that moment, there are more people seeking rides than there are drivers available. Just like prices on Ubers, implied volatility on options is always rising and falling based on supply and demand. The value of shares and ETFs bought through a share dealing account can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Additionally, much like regular securities, options are subject to volatility.

If you’re buying a put option, you’re betting the stock will fall below the strike price. In that scenario, the other investor is obligated to buy the shares at the strike price, which is higher than the market price — That’s where your potential profit comes from. On the bright side, if you bought 100 shares of Xavier’s Xylophones stock at $50 per share in May, you’d be down $1,000 on your investment.

Buying a Call Option

But, because you chose to buy a call option, your risk was limited to what you paid, which was $200. Meanwhile, in our first scenario, if the stock went to $60, you could have made more money owning the stock ($1,000 vs. $300), but your initial investment would have been $5,500 instead of $200. If you choose #1, you would be buying the stock for $5 dollars per/share less than the current market value of $60. So, technically if you sold your shares at $60, you would only have a profit of $300 when you account for the cost of your call option. All investments involve risk and past performance of any security does not guarantee future results or returns.

Please refer to our fee schedule for a complete listing of relevant charges. System response, trade executions and account access may be affected by market conditions, system performance, quote delays and other factors. This is not an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction where we are not authorized to do business. All information on the platform regarding products and services provided by Optionality is subject to change without notice. Optionality is not responsible for misprints, out of date information, or errors.

ExampleAsset A is currently priced at 30.0 dollars; you can pay a premium of 0.5 dollars which gives you the right to buy the asset in a month at 36.0 dollars. If in a month the asset price will be higher than 36.0 dollars (the buy – 30 – plus the premium – 0.5) it will be convenient to purchase the asset and to sell it on the market at a higher price (in the money). A Call option is a derivative instrument through which the buyer gains the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a determined underlying asset at a given strike price.

There are several factors to keep in mind when it comes to selling call options. Be sure you fully understand an option contract’s value and profitability when considering a trade, or else you risk the stock rallying too high. If the price doesn’t rise above the strike price, the buyer won’t exercise the option. The appeal of selling calls is that you receive a cash premium upfront and do not have to lay out anything immediately. If the stock falls, stays flat, or even rises just a little, you’ll make money.

Payoff for Call Option Sellers

When the option is in the money or above the breakeven point, the option value or upside is unlimited because the stock price could continue to climb. This information is educational, and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. This information is not a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell an investment or financial product, or take any action. This information is neither individualized nor a research report, and must not serve as the basis for any investment decision. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of capital. Before making decisions with legal, tax, or accounting effects, you should consult appropriate professionals.

• But you’ve heard there’s more to investing than just buying low and selling high—it may be time to consider investing with options.
• Then the option value flatlines, capping the investor’s maximum loss at the initial outlay of $500.
• If the market price of the stock rises above the option’s strike price, the option holder can exercise the option, buying at the strike price and selling at the higher market price in order to lock in a profit.
• Suppose you purchase a call option for company ABC for a premium of $2 per share or $200 in total.
• If you own significant assets, and you need cash now, a covered call may be a good option.

Unlike stocks, which can live in perpetuity, an option will cease to exist after expiration, ending up either worthless or with some value. Investors will consider buying call options if they are optimistic—or “bullish”—about the prospects of its underlying shares. For these investors, call options might provide a more attractive way to speculate on the prospects of a company because of the leverage that they provide. After all, each options contract provides the opportunity to buy 100 shares of the company in question. For an investor who is confident that a company’s shares will rise, buying shares indirectly through call options can be an attractive way to increase their purchasing power. For example, an investor may own 100 shares of XYZ stock and may be liable for a large unrealized capital gain.