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Rolling the Position
Time spreads are unlike all the other strategies in regards to rolling or continuing the position. In other strategies, the option component is limited to a single month. The position disappears at expiration. It either transforms into stock or expires worthless leaving you with no option position. This is not so in the case of a time spread where you are dealing with two different expiration months.

After the front month expires, in addition to a potential stock position, you still have an option position. The out-month option still has time until expiration. You must first understand the new position you have inherited to properly roll it.

Rolling the Call Spread

Look at the call time spread first. For the purposes of our example, pretend we are long the September / October 25 call spread. If the stock closes below $25.00 on expiration Friday of September, the September 25 calls will expire worthless leaving you with a long October 25 call position. You have several things that you can do from this position.

First, you can sell out the October 25 call. Perhaps, the combination of the expiration of the September 25 calls and their subsequent worthlessness along with the proceeds gained from the sale of the October 25 calls after September expiration might make a profitable trade.

You can also keep the position open and continuing in several ways. You can stay long the October 25 call naked. You can sell the October 30 call and become long the October 25 / 30 vertical call spread if you are bullish. You can sell the October 20 call and become short the October 20 / 25 vertical call spread if bearish.

You can buy the October 25 puts and become long the October 25 Straddle if you feel the stock would become volatile. You can even sell the stock and create a synthetic put if you are very bearish. There are ways to create a new position that reflects any possible outlook an investor has.

If the stock closes above $25.00, then the September 25 call will close in-the-money. At that time, you will be assigned your short September 25 call and that translates into a short stock position. The short stock position that you receive from the assignment of your short September 25 call, along with the remaining October 25 long call position, is the equivalent of a synthetic put. At this time, you can close out the position or keep it.

The position is a bearish one, so if you feel the stock may head down, you can keep the position on. You can sell another option of a different strike to set up either a bull or bear put spread. You can buy the October 25 call to create a long Straddle. As you see, many different combinations are available.

If you are short the September / October 25 call time spread and the stock expires under $25.00 on expiration Friday in September, then you will have a remaining position of a short October 25 call naked. There are many potential ways of continuing the position. You can always buy back the naked call and close the position if you no longer want to maintain a position in the stock.

If you do, you can buy a call in the same month and create a vertical spread, sell the corresponding put and create a short Straddle, buy the stock one-to-one and create a buy-write or other combination based upon what you feel the stock will do.

If the stock closes above $25.00 and you are short the call time spread, you will have with a long stock position from your long September 25 call and short the October 25 call against the long stock position. The position that remains is a buy-write. Depending on your outlook for the stock, you can keep the buy-write on, take it off or use other options to change the position to what you want it to be.

Rolling Put Spreads

Let us see where we are when the front month option expires. We will use the September / October 25 put spread for our example. When long the spread, and the stock closes above $25.00, the September 25 puts, which you are short, will expire worthless leaving you with a long naked put position. From that position, you can close it or combine it with other option or stock to create a different position. Again, there are many different possibilities.

If you are short the put time spread, and the stock closes above $25.00, then the September 25 put (which you are long) will expire worthless leaving you with a short naked put position in the October 25 puts. This position may be closed out or combined with other options or stock to create a strategy, which will take advantage of the outlook you have on the stock.

When the stock closes below $25.00, the scenario is different. When long the spread with the stock closing lower than the strike price, the front month put which you are short will be assigned to you thus making you long stock in addition to your long October 25 put. This position is known as a synthetic call.

There are many ways to combine other options and/or stock to change the position so that it is in line with what you want it to be going forward.

If you were short the spread, and the stock closed below $25.00, then you would exercise your long September 25 put making you short stock and short the October 25 put. That position, which is called a “sell-write” (the sister strategy to the buy-write), can be kept as is, closed out, or changed in different ways by combining it with stock or other options based upon your expectations of the stock’s future movements.

Closing the Time Spread Position

It is important to remember that the time spread will leave you with several potential positions that can be altered by other options or stock in numerous ways. There are a number of decisions you must make to clarify your understanding and goals.

First, it is important to understand what position remains when the near-month option expires. Second, you must decide what you think the stock is going to do (formulate a bullish or bearish lean) and then figure out the best way to take advantage of that opinion. Next, you must figure out how to adjust your present position and change it into an advantageous one for a profitable outcome. That might mean selling out of the position totally. Your changes to the position must not only be correct, but also done in the most efficient, cost-effective manner including keeping commission prices down.

It is also important to note that you should go from one hedged position to another to ensure proper risk management.

The time spread is an excellent strategy for premium sellers who want to capture premium in a hedged way. It is ideal for stagnant periods when a stock is likely to remain in a tight price range. Time spreads are less expensive and less risky than almost all other premium collecting strategies, so it is friendlier to investors who are short on capital and experience. Time spreads can also take advantage of volatility changes and even some directional stock movements.

The time spread can leave you with a residual naked position, which needs to be managed for risk at expiration of the front month option. It is important to fully understand the risks and rewards of the strategy and the potential risks and solutions of the residual position before execution.

The residual position affords you many choices including closing out the position totally, or continuing the position by combining it with either stock or another option to create a new position that fits the investor’s new expectations for the stock.

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Part 1

Part 2

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The seller of a time spread buys the nearer month option and sells the outer-month option in a one-to-one ratio. To profit from the sale of the time spread, the seller must look for two things.

The first is a decrease in implied volatility. As volatility decreases, the out-month option (which the seller is short) loses money faster than the near month option (which the seller is long) because of the higher Vega in the out month option. This will cause the spread to contract or lose value and will be profitable for the time spread seller.

The second thing a seller should look for is a movement in stock. A time spread is at its widest, most expensive point when it is at-the-money. A movement away from the strike in either direction decreases the value of the spread. As long as the stock moves in either direction away from the strike, the seller’s position could be profitable if time decay does not outperform the stock movement.

Time, unfortunately, never works in favor of the time-spread seller. The nearer month option (which the seller is long) naturally decays at a faster rate than does the out-month option (which the seller is short). These differing decay rates cause the spread to expand and increase in value, which produces a loss for the time spread seller.

Increases in implied volatility are also detrimental to the potential profits of the time- spread seller. When implied volatility increases, the out month option (which the seller is short) increases in value faster than the near month option (which the seller is long). This is due to the out month option’s higher Vega which creates an expansion in the spread and increases its value resulting in a negative for the spread seller.

The seller, in theory, has an unlimited loss potential. The maximum loss potential is not so much determined by the stock price movement but by the movement in implied volatility. As the seller, you will be long the front month call and short the out-month call.

The out month call will be more sensitive to movements in implied volatility due to a higher Vega or volatility sensitivity component. If implied volatility increases, then the seller’s short, out month option will increase more in value than will the seller’s long, front month option. This will cause the spread to widen or increase in value – a negative for the seller.

The second risk is that the option the seller is long is going to expire approximately 30 days prior to the option the seller is short. If volatility does not decrease or the stock does not move away from the strike significantly before the seller’s long option expires, (s)he will be left short a naked or un-hedged option and a loss on the position.

If the seller can wait out the position, the lost extrinsic value of the short option is retainable. This option also has a limited life and must shed its extrinsic value, no matter how much, by its expiration. The problem facing the seller is that the position is no longer hedged and the seller now faces unlimited risk.

Once the long option expires leaving the seller short a now naked call, stock price movement in the wrong direction is a substantial risk and under the circumstances described above, a big problem.

While the seller can wait out an implied volatility movement that created an increase in extrinsic value, they will probably not be able to wait out a large, negative stock movement creating an increase in intrinsic value. In that case, the seller must take action to prevent substantial losses once the front month expires. Attention to the implied volatility in the farther out option when the nearer month option expires can save the seller from a large loss.

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Like most trades, time spreads have a maximum loss for the buyer. You can only lose what you have spent. If you paid $1.00 for the spread, your maximum potential loss is $1.00. If you bought the spread for $2.00, the maximum potential loss is $2.00.

The buyer of a time spread will purchase the out-month option while selling the nearer month option of the same strike in a one-to-one ratio. Since the out-month option will have more time until expiration than the nearer month option, the out-month option will cost more. This means the buyer will put out money (debit spread) that makes sense. The buyer can only lose the amount of money they spent to purchase the spread. Thus, the buyer’s maximum risk is the cost of the spread.

The buyer can profit in several ways. First, as a time spread, the buyer can profit by the passage of time. Options are wasting assets. As the nearer month option decays more quickly than the outer-month option, the spread widens (increases in value) and the buyer sees a profit.

Second, implied volatility can increase. As implied volatility increases, the out-month option, which the buyer is long, increases in value more quickly (due to its higher Vega) than the nearer month option that the buyer is short. This will force the spread to widen or increase in value, which again is profitable for the buyer.

Third, the buyer can make money due to stock price movement. As stated before, a time spread’s value is at its maximum when the stock price and the spreads strike price are identical (at-the-money). You can have an increase in value if you own an out-of-the-money or in-the-money time spread, and the stock moves either up or down toward your strike. As the stock moves closer to your strike, the spread will expand and increase in value creating a profit for you, the buyer.

The buyer’s risks are obviously the opposite of the rewards. You cannot stop or reverse time, so the buyer of the spread can never be hurt by time. Implied volatility, however, can decrease as easily as it can increase. A decrease in implied volatility will decrease the value of the out-month option (which the buyer is long) faster than it will decrease the value of the nearer month option (which the buyer is short) due to the higher Vega of the out-month option. This will narrow the spread thereby creating a loss for the buyer.

In the same way that stock movement in the right direction can be profitable for the buyer of a time spread, stock movement in the wrong direction can be costly. As the stock moves away from the spread’s strike, the spread decreases in value. That will create a loss for the buyer of the spread.

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Time spreads can be a profitable investment strategy if you understand the concept of time decay. A time spread is designed to take advantage of the fact that an option’s decay curve is non-linear, that is, an option’s value does not decay evenly over time. As an option gets closer to expiration, its rate of decay increases meaning the option loses value more quickly. That decay rate increases progressively until expiration.

An option’s decay rate begins to accelerate when the option is about 45 days out. It picks up steam at 30 days out and really comes under decay pressure at about 15 days out. This scenario is similar to a boulder rolling down from a hilltop. As it starts, it rolls slowly, then gains more speed, and momentum the further it gets down the hill until it achieves its maximum speed at the bottom. Option decay acts the same way - gathering speed and momentum as the option approaches expiration.

In time spreads, both options have the same strike price that remains constant. Each option’s value decays at different rates and over different lengths of time. The option, with one month until expiration, experiences value decay at a faster rate than the one with three months until expiration.

If you buy an option with three months to go and sell an option with the same strike but with one month to go, you have set up a spread between the two options values (prices). As time passes, your short option loses value more quickly than your long option that decays more slowly. The value of the spread widens and you profit from that spread’s expansion. This is the fundamental behavior of the time-spread.

The above chart shows an option decay graph. The numbers across the bottom represent days to expiration. Along the decay line, you will notice an “X” at the 30-day to expiration line and another “X” at the 60-day to expiration line. The first “X” represents a 30-day option while the second “X” represents a 60-day option. If you look closely at this chart, you will see the nature of the time spread.

Consider that you are long the 60-30 day time spread. That means you are long the 60-day option and short the 30-day option. We will assign a price of $3.00 to the 60-day option and $2.00 to the 30-day option. Since you pay for the one and receive payment for the other, the bottom line cost of what you put out for the spread is $1.00.

Look at the slope of the line (representing decay) drawn from the 60-day option to the 30-day option. Compare the slope of that line to the slope of the line drawn from the 30-day option to expiration (Day 0). As you can see, there is a big difference in the steepness of the slope of the two lines. The slope of the line drawn between the 30-day option to expiration is much steeper than the slope of the line drawn from the 60-day option to the 30-day option.

These slopes show how the time spread works. During the first 30-day period, the 30-day option has a steeper slope, meaning a higher rate of decay. During that 30-day period, this option will go from $2.00 to $0. Meanwhile, the 60-day option, having a flatter slope, will not decay as quickly.

During the same 30-day period, it goes from $3.00 to $2.00. Remember, the spread’s bottom line cost was $1.00. The 30-day option (now expired) will be worth $0 while the 60-day option (now a 30-day option) will be worth $2.00. If you had invested in this spread, after 30 days decay you would be holding one option worth $2.00. The investment has provided a nice return!

This is an ideal situation. The stock price and volatility remain constant and you capture the decay. The time spread has worked just as it should. It does work that way sometimes, but nothing works as it should all the time. As we know, stock prices and volatility levels do not remain constant. They are always changing. In the time spread strategy, the investor must choose opportunities carefully. In addition to picking a stock that will be in a stagnant period, the investor should look for two other situations where the spread has profit possibilities: changes in volatility and to a lesser degree stock price movements.

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Time spreads, also known as calendar spreads, are an ideal way to take advantage of time decay and changes in implied volatility. Time spread strategy focuses on the movement of time and volatility more than on the movement of the stock. Therefore, it is perfect for when you anticipate stagnant or explosive periods in a stock.

Time spreads, like other spreads, have their own risks and rewards. The risks are very limited for the buyer, but substantial for the seller. The seller’s risk can be avoided or contained with due diligence at the expiration of the near month’s option. Several strategies can affect the seller’s risk. The advantage of the time spread strategy is that the investor can pursue a time decay or volatility position without the large capital outlay necessary for the purchase of the stock.

The construction of the time spread involves the purchase of one option and the sale of another in different months with both having the same strike. You can construct a time spread using either two calls or two puts. A long time spread is constructed by purchasing the out month option and selling the nearer month option. For example, you buy the September 45 call, sell the August 45 call or buy April 30 puts, and sell February 30 puts. You can construct a short time spread by selling the farther out month and buying the nearer month. For instance, sell July 50 calls and buy May 50 calls.

The important elements in the construction of the time spread are: using two call or put options on the same stock, using the same strike for both, choosing different months for each and using a one to one ratio. A one to one ratio means that you must purchase one option for every one you sell or sell one option for every one you buy. A time spread can utilize any two months as long as it has the same strike price and the trade is in a one to one ratio.

Most time spreads are executed at-the-money because at-the-money options have the greatest amount of extrinsic value. An option’s extrinsic value is what decays over time. This is the basis of the time spread’s strategy. Since the time spread is built to take advantage of time decay, it is better suited for at-the-money options. This does not mean that you cannot use the time spread with in-the-money or out-of-the-money options. In-the-money and out-of-the-money options have less extrinsic value than at-the-money options.

The rate of decay of an in-the-money or out-of-the-money option with one month until expiration is still greater than an in-the-money or out-of-the-money option of the same strike that has three months to go before expiration. This being said, the time spread can be constructed using any option regardless if it is in, out, or at-the-money.

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We are going to put together an imaginary spread scenario and set it in real life events. Consider that, in October, you begin to hear about IJK stock. It looks interesting, so you use a variety of sources to learn about it. (News, charts, outside analysts, Internet research, etc.) From your investigations, you decide that this stock is poised for a strong upward move and you would like to take advantage of it. Each share is $50.00 and you question whether you want to put out the capital for enough shares to make the trade worthwhile.

Now is the time to investigate IJK spreads. Since you are bullish on the stock, you look into the bullish plays of the call spreads and the put spreads. You check the pricing of both since you know that implied volatility and time decay affect your purchase and selling price if you decide to sell out the spread before expiration.

Imagine that you set the spread’s maximum potential gain at $10.00 using our formula. Then you decide that you want to buy a call spread, so you buy 10 IJK Nov. 50 calls and sell 10 IJK Nov 60 calls. This is the Nov. 50-60 spread. The spread’s cost is $3.50, which means you pay $3,500 for the trade. This is inexpensive when you consider that 1,000 shares of IJK stock would have cost you $50,000! You will now wait and follow the stock price of IJK. If you hold the position to expiration, you face the following losses or gains.

If the stock does not move up as you expected and stays at $50 or decreases in value, your spread is worthless and you will lose the $3,500 that you paid for the spread. If the stock begins to move up, you will recoup your investment and move into profits. When the stock has moves up to $3.50, you are at the breakeven point. Every money advance after that represents profit. The chart below represents the spread’s losses, gains and your total profit.

This chart shows stock prices at expiration on Friday in November. Until then, the spread’s value fluctuates between $0 and its maximum (the difference between strike prices) of $10.00.

At any time until expiration, you can sell out of the spread, but what you receive for the price are influenced by implied volatility and time decay. That will change your profit or loss. If you hold the spread until expiration and your bullish lean proves true, your maximum profit on your $3,500 investment is $6,500.

You paid $3,500 for the spread and received $10,000 at expiration with the stock at $60.00. That represents a $6,500 profit, which is a 186% return. If you had invested $50,000 for 1,000 shares of IJK and at expiration sold the stock for $60,000, your profit is $10,000 for a 20% return.

For many investors the reward/risk scenario of the spread is attractive because investors can limit the capital at risk and the time of risk/reward exposure. The spread also offers protection if your lean is bullish or bearish. Finally, the spread has the potential of a large percentage return on investment.

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The terms “bull” and “bear” are often associated with vertical spreads. This leads most people to think of vertical spreads as directional plays, which is true. Vertical spreads can also be used to take advantage of two other potential trading opportunities – time decay and volatility movement.

Using Vertical Spreads to Take Advantage of Time Decay

If you are looking for a fully hedged way to take advantage of time decay, a vertical spread can be an excellent tool. It has a limited profit potential, but a limited loss scenario for both the buyer and the seller.

At-the-money options have more extrinsic value than their similar month in-the-money or out-of-the-money options. Since it is an option’s extrinsic value that decays over time, you can set up a vertical spread by selling an at-the-money option and buying either an out-of-the-money option (creating a credit spread) or an in-the-money option (creating a debit spread). If the stock holds tight to the out-of-the-money option, the option’s extrinsic value will decay at a faster rate than the in-the-money option or out-of-the-money option. This is because the at-the-money option has more total extrinsic value to decay in the same amount of time as the others.

Creating the vertical spread by selling an at-the-money option and buying an out-of-the-money or in-the-money option as a hedge looks like a good idea. Now, there are a couple choices. Should you do the put or call spread? Should you buy or sell it? You should base your decision of what to do on which way you think the stock will move. Although you are playing for time decay and you are assuming an overall lack of movement, you cannot expect the stock not to move at all. So even though you are playing time decay, you still want to form an opinion on in which direction the stock is most likely to move. Doing this, you have now given yourself another way of making the trade profitable. You are playing for a lack of movement but now you can still win if you pick the right direction. This scenario presents you with two ways to win and only one to lose.

Now that you have picked which at-the-money strike you are going to sell and you have picked your anticipated stock position, you still have a decision to make. Do you do the call vertical spread or the put vertical spread? Remember, both the vertical call spread and vertical put spreads allow you to participate in either stock direction. For the bulls, you can buy a vertical call spread or sell a vertical if you think that the stock will go up.

For the bears, you can buy a vertical put spread or sell a vertical call spread.

There are two choices to decide from for each direction. One is a purchase. The other is a sale. The best way to decide which one to do, other than your own style or comfort, is a simple risk/reward analysis. By selecting an at-the-money option to sell as part of a vertical spread, an investor can execute a time decay play with a hedged position.

Using Vertical Spreads as a Volatility Play

Vertical spreads are also usable as a volatility play. We stated earlier that an at-the-money option has more extrinsic value than other options in its expiration month. This is due to a number of contributing factors including time and largely volatility. An option’s dollar sensitivity to movements in implied volatility is known as Vega. Obviously, an at-the-money option will have a higher Vega (volatility sensitivity) than an in-the-money or out-of-the-money option in the same month.

As volatility increases, the at-the-money option will increase in price to a greater degree than will an in-the-money or out-of-the-money option. As volatility increases, the at-the-money option will increase in price to a greater degree than will an in-the-money or out-of-the-money option with a lesser Vega.

Conversely, the at-the-money option will lose value at a greater rate than an in-the-money or out-of-the-money option should implied volatility decrease. The question is how to use the vertical spread to take advantage of anticipated movements in implied volatility. Remember, the vertical spread affords you the luxury of being hedged on either side of the trade – both as a buyer and as a seller of the spread.

If you think that implied volatility is likely to increase, you can set up a vertical spread by buying an at-the-money option and selling either the in-the-money or out-of-the-money option against it. If you feel that implied volatility will decrease, you can set up a vertical spread by selling an at-the-money option and buy either an out-of-the-money or an in-the-money option against it.

To set it up, you would follow the same guidelines for setting up a vertical spread to take advantage of time decay. Decide which direction you feel the stock would most likely move. If you feel it is likely to rise, you must decide between buying a vertical call spread and selling a vertical put spread.

Either way, the spread will have to be constructed with the at-the-money option being long if you feel volatility will increase or short if you feel volatility will decrease. If you feel the stock would most likely fall, you will have to decide between buying a vertical put spread and selling a vertical call spread. Either way, the spread must be constructed with the short option being the at-the-money.

As you can see, the vertical spread is not restricted to directional scenarios. It is very versatile allowing the investor several choices among a diverse group of potential uses. It also affords limited risk, albeit limited profit potential, to the buyer and the seller.

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To get a firm grasp of volatility’s effect on vertical spreads, let us examine three spreads against different implied volatilities while keeping the stock price constant at 67 ½. These are the 60 - 65, 65 - 70 and 70 - 75 call spreads.The chart below illustrates how volatility movements affect in-the-money, at-the-money and out-of-the-money vertical spreads.

In-the-Money Vertical Spreads

Looking at the in-the-money spread (June 60 - 65), we see that as volatility increases, the value of the spread decreases. This is because with the increased volatility, the stock has a greater tendency to move. That brings a higher probability of the stock moving to a price where the June 60 - 65 call spread will no longer be in-the-money.

To adjust for higher volatility risk, the spread will have less value. A general rule of thumb is that as volatility increases, the value of an in-the-money vertical spread decreases. Conversely, an in-the-money vertical spread’s value increases as volatility decreases.

At-the-Money Vertical Spreads

A change in volatility has very little effect on the at-the-money vertical spread (June 65 – 70). With the stock price located equidistant from the two strikes, each strike’s volatility component will be very similar. Therefore, both options will increase equally once volatility increases. Being long on one and short on the other, the increase in values will offset each other so the spread’s value will hold fairly constant. When volatility increases or decreases, the value of an at-the-money vertical spread will stay reasonably constant.

Out-of-the-Money Vertical Spreads

The out-of-the-money vertical spread (June 70 – 75) has the opposite effect of the in-the-money vertical spread (June 60 – 65). As volatility increases, the value of the out-of-the-money vertical spread will increase. This is because the increase in volatility assumes that the stock price is more likely to move. Thus, the out-of-the-money vertical call spread is more likely to finish in-the-money.

Because of this spread’s increased potential to finish in-the-money, its value will increase. The spread’s value will decrease if volatility decreases. On the other hand, an out-of-the-money vertical spread’s value increases when volatility increases.

The chart below illustrates what happens to option Deltas when volatility increases or decreases.

When trying to estimate how your spread will change in price with volatility movement, you must understand how the price and Delta of both of your options - long and short - will act.

It bears repeating again that each spread is different and will act differently depending on where the stock is in relation to the spread and what implied volatility does.

Median Value

An important thing to note is that when volatility increases, spreads crunch to their median value. For example, the median value of a $5.00 spread will be $2.50 while a $10.00 spread will have a $5.00 median value.

Crunching to the median value means that a $5.00 spread with a median value over $2.50 will lose value and head toward the median price. That happens with an increase in volatility. Meanwhile, increased implied volatility will make a spread with a value less than $2.50, increase in value and rise toward median value.

When implied volatility decreases, the value of a $5.00 spread will move away from the median price of $2.50. Therefore, when implied volatility decreases, all the spreads valued above $2.50 will increase in value toward maximum value. Spreads valued below $2.50 will lose value and head toward $0.

The Effect of Time

Time affects the spread differently depending on where the stock is. Look at the QCOM 65 – 70 call spread. Look at the spread’s reaction to the passing of time with the stock price of $65.50.

The chart below shows what the spread’s value does as expiration approaches.

With the stock at $65.50, the spread has $.50 of intrinsic value. Holding the stock price frozen at $65.50 until expiration, the spread would be worth $.50. The table above shows that the spread loses value as time passes and decreases in value toward its $.50 intrinsic value.

Next, look at the 65 – 70 spread’s reaction to the passage of time with the stock priced at $67.50.

With the stock price located directly in between the two strikes, the price of the spread holds at approximately $2.50 throughout the passing of time. Take note that time has very little effect on a vertical spread when the stock price lies halfway (equidistant) between the two strikes of the spread.

Now, set the stock price at $69.50 and observe how the spread reacts over time.

This spread increases in value as time passes. With the stock at $69.50, the spread has an intrinsic value of $4.50. If the stock held at $69.50 until expiration, the spread would be worth $4.50 because that is the amount of the spread’s intrinsic value. As time passes, the spread’s value will increase to finally reach $4.50 at expiration.

In conclusion, time’s effect on a vertical spread is contingent on where the stock is in relation to the spread.

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The selection and management of a vertical spread are only two-thirds of the game. Closing out, rolling or morphing the position has to be analyzed and executed with the same due diligence.Looking at the closing out of a vertical call spread, we find there are three possible outcomes. The spread can finish out-of-the-money and valueless. For a call spread, this scenario occurs when the stock closes at or below the lower strike of the spread. In order to close out the spread, an investor would just let it expire. Both options finish out of the money so there is no residual position left over.

If the spread finishes fully in-the-money (at maximum value), meaning both options in-the-money, both options are exercised. You will exercise your long call and your short call will be assigned. They cancel each other out leaving you with no residual position. This scenario occurs when the stock price closes lower than the lower strike call involved in the spread.

Investors encounter a difficult scenario when a stock closes in between the two strikes of the spread. This creates a situation where one strike winds up being in-the-money while the other ends up out-of-the-money. When both options expire in-the-money, they are both exercised. One creates a long stock option, the other a short position canceling each other out. This is not the case here. The option that is in-the-money leaves a residual stock position. Since the other option is out-of-the-money, it cannot offset the residual stock position created by the expiring in-the-money option.

Two actions are possible in this scenario. One involves trading out of the spread on expiration Friday just before the close. Because of the bid/ask spread of the two options, you will probably have to give away some of your profits in order to close out the position. This may be the best thing to do in order to avoid naked, unlimited risk.

If you only trade out of the in-the-money option, you run the risk that the stock moves adversely and the out-of-the-money option suddenly becomes in-the-money. This risk is short-lived because you are doing this late on expiration day of the expiring month. If this happens, you will be naked in the residual stock position.

If there is still time, you can always trade out of the option, but that is very risky. If the stock is at a relatively safe distance from the out-of-the-money option, you may want to just close out the in-the-money option and let it expire worthless.

The two factors that must be considered are: the combination of the distance of the strike from the stock price in relation to the short amount of time for the stock to get there, and the amount of money saved by not buying back the out-of-the-money option. Remember, this takes place at the very end of the day on expiration day. These options only have minutes of life left. The risk is somewhat mitigated, but still there nonetheless.

The catch is the proximity of the stock to the out-of-the-money option. If the stock is close to the out-of-the-money option, it is best to trade out of the spread entirely.

As stated before, if the stock closes either with the spread fully in-the-money or out-of-the-money, the position will adjust itself through the exercise process leaving no residual position. If the stock price finishes between the two strikes, there will be a residual position.

We discussed how to trade out of this position. Your second choice is not to trade out and allow yourself to go through the expiration process. You must remember that if you are going to accept a residual stock position, you must be able to afford it.

If you have 10 July 50 calls and you exercise them, you will be receiving 1000 shares of stock at $50.00 per share. Thus, you must have $50,000.00 of cash and/or margin in your account to receive the stock. If you do not have enough cash and/or margin to accept delivery of the stock, then you must trade out of the position before it expires.

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