Quote from darp:
Hi Premium,
I just did a 85/850 pure calendar at same total risk $3375 ($25 more), its a lot smaller 25-25. At 1100 30 days before exp, it does cut the loss in half, if SP goes up they are the same. at 90/900 they are the same, below 900 the 50-40 75P blows the 25/25 850 away
At 800 its $12,000 gain 50/40 and $6800 25/25.
At 700 its $15,000 gain 50-40 and $3,000 25/25
If IV goes up 10% they both gain about the same.
So at the 95-110 the pure calendar does better, and below 90 the 50-40 does much better. In case a big crash like in 2008 the 50-40 much better. That is 30 days before expire.
If it goes down next week the 50-40 does better at all prices by a lot, a prolem with pure calendars when new, not much delta.
So there are several trade offs.
Thanks
Is that 25/25 the SPY DEC 85P/SEP 85P spread? When I look at the prices, I see the 25/25 as much cheaper than the 50/40 SPY DEC 75P/SEP 75P spread. Using the closing prices, the 25/25 costs $2,700 and the 50/40 costs $3,570 at midpoint prices.