Opening (IRA): TQQQ March 21st 69 Covered Call... for a 65.42 debit.
Comments: High IV + weakness. Selling the -75 call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 65.42
Max Profit: 3.58
ROC at Max: 5.47%
50% Max: 1.79
ROC at 50% Max: 2.74%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, add at intervals (assuming I can get in at a break even better than what I currently have on), and/or roll out the short call in the event take profit is not hit.
Moniedcoveredcall
Opening (IRA): XBI January 17th 92 Covered Call... for a 90.47 debit.
Comments: IVR/IV isn't fantastic here at 11.1/26.3%, but there is some IV skew to take advantage of on the call side -- 31.34% at the 92 call relative to 26.62% at the 92 put.
Selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put to take advantage of the IV skew and the built-in defense of the short call. From a charting standpoint, the break even sets up nicely with the "RFK, Jr. low" in November.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 90.47
Max Profit: 1.53
ROC at Max: 1.69%
50% Max: .77
ROC at 50% Max: .85
Opening (IRA): TMF Feb 28th 35 Covered Call... for a 33.98 debit.
Comments: High IVR/IV at 40.7/44.2, which is no surprise, since this is a bullish 3 x leveraged 20 year paper exchange-traded fund. It does have a dividend that pays out quarterly in March, June, September, and December (annualized yield of 4.71%).
Selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call. Using the February 28th expiry to keep things in that 45 DTE wheelhouse and will look to add at intervals, assuming I can get in at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 33.98/share
Max Profit: 1.02
ROC at Max: 3.00%
50% Max: .51
ROC at 50% Max: 1.50%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll in-profit short call out to reduce my break even.
Opening (IRA): TLT April 17th 82 Covered Call... for an 80.60 debit.
Comments: Laddering out at strikes better than what I currently have on (Feb 87's, March 84's). Selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short calls. Plus, gotta be in shares to grab that divvy.
Metrics:
Break Even/Buying Power Effect: 80.60/shares
Max Profit: 1.40
ROC at Max: 1.74% (excluding dividends)
Ordinarily, I take profit at 50% max, but will wait until the dividend immediately preceding the monthly expiry drops before considering taking profit.
Opening (IRA): TLT February 21st 87 Covered Call... for a 85.97 debit.
Comments: Going long at or near November lows, selling the -75 call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, with the built-in defense of the short call. I'm also looking to snag the January and potentially the February dividends here. This is a bit longer-dated than I ordinarily like to go, but I'm not doing a ton here besides waiting for January setups to come in/be managed.
The obvious variant is to sell the standard -30 delta against: TLT Feb 21st 94 covered call, 89.72 debit, 4.28 max. 4.77% ROC at max where the short call is paying >1% of the strike price in credit.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 85.97/share
Max Profit (ex. dividends): 1.03
ROC at Max: 1.20%
50% Max: .52
ROC at 50% Max: .60%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max after at least the January dividend drops.
Opening (IRA): TLT March 21st 84 Covered Call... for an 82.72 debit.
Comments: Laddering out into 2025 at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on, looking to snag January, February and potentially March dividends ... .
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 82.72/share
Max Profit: 1.28
ROC at Max: 1.55%
50% Max: .64
ROC at 50% Max: .77%
Opening (IRA): XBI February 28th 82 Covered Call... for an 80.54 debit.
Comments: Adding to my position at a strike/break even better than what I currently have on. Going with the February 28th, since the March monthly remains someone long in duration.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 80.54/share
Max Profit: 1.46
ROC at Max: 1.81%
50% Max: .73
ROC at 50% Max: .92%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on take profit test.
Opening (IRA): XBI February 21st 85 Covered Call... for an 83.01 debit.
Comments: Adding at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 83.01/share
Max Profit: 1.99
ROC at Max: 2.40%
50% Max: 1.00
ROC at 50% Max: 1.20%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on take profit point test.
Opening (IRA): XBI February 21st 83 Covered Call... for a 81.26 debit.
Comments: Adding at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against stock to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 81.26/share
Max Profit: 1.74
ROC at Max: 2.14%
50% Max: .87
ROC at 50% Max: 1.07%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max.
Opening (IRA): IBIT February 28th 49.5 Covered Call... for a 47.52 debit.
Comments: High IV/IVR. Back into IBIT on a little bit of weakness here, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call. The March monthly is still a bit long in duration for my tastes, so going with a weekly.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 47.52/share
Max Profit: 1.98
ROC at Max: 4.17%
50% Max: .99
ROC at 50% Max: 2.09%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on take profit test, add at intervals, assuming I can get in at break evens better than what I currently have on.
Opening (IRA): TLT March 21st 81 Covered Call... for a 79.98 debit.
Comments: Adding a "rung" in March at a break even better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 79.98/share
Max Profit (Excluding Dividends): 1.02
ROC at Max (Excluding Dividends): 1.28%
Generally looking to roll out-of-the-money short call down and out for a credit that is greater than the amount of strike destruction at expiry to generate a quasi-free cash flow setup consisting of (a) short call premium; and (b) dividends. This differs somewhat than what I would ordinarily do, which is generally money/take/run at 50% max.
Opening (IRA): URTY January 17th 51 Covered Call.. for a 49.25 debit.
Comments: With my usual leveraged go-to TQQQ in kind of the IV doldrums (IVR 18.1/IV 49.6), opting for a play in URTY with its 63.4% 30-Day IV instead. It's not as liquid and doesn't have nearly as robust an options chain as TQQQ, but I will make do.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 49.25/share
Max Profit: 1.75
ROC at Max: 3.55%
50% Max: .88
ROC at 50% Max: 1.78%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on test of take profit price, and add should I be able to get in at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on.
Opening (IRA): URTY February 21st 41 Covered Call... for a 39.07 debit.
Comments: Adding in at strikes better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with built-in short call defense. I would prefer using TNA, since it's more liquid and has more expiries available, but already have a position on in TNA where the short call strike is at or above the -75, so don't want to add here.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 39.07/share
Max Profit: 1.93
ROC at Max: 4.94%
50% Max: .97
ROC at 50% Max: 2.47%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out the short call if the setup doesn't hit my take profit.
Opening (IRA): TNA February 21st 34 Covered Call... for a 32.45 debit.
Comments: Adding at strikes better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 32.45/share
Max Profit: 1.55
ROC at Max: 4.78%
50% Max: .78
ROC at 50% Max: 2.39%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max ... .
Opening (IRA): IBIT February 21st 47 Covered Call... for a 44.52 debit.
Comments: Adding to my position at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta strike against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Break Even/Buying Power Effect: 44.52/share
Max Profit: 2.48
ROC at Max: 5.57%
50% Max: 1.24
ROC at 50% Max: 2.79%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on take profit point test.
Opening (IRA): TNA Feb 21st 36 Covered Call... for a 34.33 debit.
Comments: Starter position on weakness/high IV in lieu of the less liquid URTY. Selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 34.33/share
Max Profit: 1.67
ROC at Max: 4.86%
50% Max: .84
ROC at 50% Max: 2.43%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, add at intervals should I be able to get in at break evens better than what I currently have on.
Opening (IRA): IBIT February 21st 50 Covered Call... for a 47.07 debit.
Comments: High IVR/IV (88.4/68.6) + weakness post-FOMC. Going out to February, as there are only 30 DTE left in January, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call. Looking at this as a "starter" position, so will look to add at intervals, assuming I can get in at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 47.07/share
Max Profit: 2.93
ROC at Max: 6.22%
50% Max: 1.47
ROC at 50% Max: 3.11%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, roll out short call on take profit point test.
Opening (IRA): URTY February 21st 42 Covered Call... for a 39.56 debit.
Comments: This ... is unwinding. Adding at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against shares to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 39.56/share
Max Profit: 2.44
ROC at Max: 6.17%
50% Max: 1.22
ROC at 50% Max: 3.09%
Opening (IRA): XBI January 17th 89 Covered Call... for an 87.50 debit.
Comments: Adding at strikes/break evens better than what I currently have on ... . The ROC metrics aren't what I generally like to see out of these (2.0% or greater), but it's shorter duration than my usual wheelhouse (45 DTE) ... .
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 87.50
Max Profit: 1.50
ROC at Max: 1.71%
50% Max: .75
ROC at 50% Max: .86%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max.
Opening (IRA): TAN January 17th 33 Covered Call... for a 32.29 debit.
Comments: ETF IV > 35% with 30-day currently at 39.7%. Adding to my position at strikes better than what I currently have on, selling the -75 delta call against stock to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with the built-in defense of the short call. Dinking and doinking on "little stuff" running into year's end ... .
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 32.29/share
Max Profit: .71
ROC at Max: 2.20%
50% Max: .36
ROC at 50% Max: 1.10%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max.
Opening (IRA): SMH January 17th 235 Covered Call... for a 230.52 debit.
Comments: Mostly in this to attempt to grab the annual divvy ... . Last year, it was 1.04/share, but it has been widely variant from year to year (e.g., 2.40 in 2022; 1.57 in 2021; 1.50 in 2020). Selling the -75 delta call against stock to emulate the delta metrics of a 25 delta short put, but with built-in short call defense.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 230.52/Share
Max Profit: 4.48
ROC at Max: 1.94%
50% Max: 2.24
ROC at 50% Max: .97%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max, but may take profit early if the dividend turns out to be non-chump change.
Opening (IRA): USO January 17th 68 Covered Call... for a 66.72 break even.
Comments: Dinking and doinking on USO at /CL <$70/bbl.
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 66.72
Max Profit: 1.38
ROC at Max: 2.07%
50% Max: .69
ROC at 50% Max: 1.04%
Will generally look to take profit at 50% max; add if I can get in at better break evens/strike prices.
Opening (IRA): EWY January 17th 52 Covered Call... for a 51.50 debit.
Comments: Primarily in this for the dividend, since the ROC %-age without it kind of blows chunks. The last four distributions were: .63, 1.68, .70, and 1.65. Would appreciate something in the neighborhood of 1.00 (please and thank you) ... .
Metrics:
Buying Power Effect/Break Even: 51.50/share
Max Profit: .50
ROC at Max (Excluding Dividends): .97%
I generally look to take profit on these at 50% max, but will wait for the dividend to drop to see what's what ... .