Selling covered calls on GS, need some advice

What about selling 2 of the 180's and 1 of the 185's?
You'll make more money if all your shares get called away, and still collect a nice total premium whatever happens.
 
Quote from NHS:

Apart from the current atock price you will also want to look at the IV - high stock price and relative high IV is good. If the stock and IV goes down you can consider to buy to close the calls you have sold.
I don't think IV is a consideration when his position is 30 pts underwater.
 
Quote from vhehn:

do you understand that if you sell 180 calls you are only getting 43 cents premium because your calls are already 4.57 in the money? your stock will be exercised at any price 180 and over.if the stock continues to go down you keep stock and premium if stock is under 180 at expiration.
I think his cost basis is $184.47

Current price of GS is $154.16 so the entire $5 premium for the OTM 180 strike is time premium.
 
Quote from Lalit11:

I am holding 300 shares of GS at $184.57. My question is what would be the downside of me selling 3 180 calls for $5.00 against my position. I understand I would miss any upside past the $185, and if the stock continues to go down I am still holding the stock which is fine.

No downside if you're OK holding the shares (your what ifs are correct).

Am I correct to assume if the stock surpasses $185 before July, that the person exercise those shares?

Early exercise is highly unlikely as long as there's any time premium remaining in the option.

And what if the stock continues to go down how does the option price affect me if I already sold the the July 180 calls for $5.00.

As time passes and/or the stock drops, the calls will drop in value which will allow you, if so inclined, to buy them back at a lower price for a gain on them.

Would I be better off to wait and sell those calls when GS trades towards $159 range or even better off selling the $185 call for $3.70 or even the $190 calls if GS trades in the $160 price range.

Yup, you'll get more call premium if GS is higher just as you'll get less if it's lower. Selling higher strikes means you get more potential for stock profit and less premium. Lower strikes means you get less potential for stock profit (and possibly locking in a loss) but more premium. Which is best depends on your objective and what the future brings (underlying price).
 
Quote from spindr0:

I think his cost basis is $184.47

Current price of GS is $154.16 so the entire $5 premium for the OTM 180 strike is time premium.
oops. i misunderstood what he wrote. i read it as the stock being 184.47 right now.
 
If I was 30 points under, I'd be more concerned with breaking even rather than be OK with holding the stock and hoping for a big recovery and future profits.

With covered calls, I'd sell at least a strike lower. It would lock in a small loss but you'd have more premium coming in while holding for eternity :)

If GS wasn't so far underwater, I'd slightly overwrite a higher strike and possibly Apr instead of Jul. Let's leave this one alone because if you're 30 pts underwater, risk management isn't your forte

The next choice might be writing some bearish call spreads along with your CC's so that you can collect a bit more premium if GS goes nowhere. Perhaps sell 5 Jul 185 calls and buy 2 Jul 195 calls (or 6/3 etc.). If the stock actually makes the move and brings the short strike into play, you'll break even (make sure calculate the break even when figuring out how many spreads to sell).

And then there's the bullish breakeven covered call spread strategy. For every 100 shares owned, buy a lower strike call and sell 2 higher strike calls. With a Jul 160/170 CCS, you'd break even at 170.

What you do now depends on whether you want income now while waiting/hoping for breakeven (the CC or CC with add'l spreads) or you forego the premium for a breakeven at a lower price (the CCS).
 
Sorry to bother you again, by looking at the example that you provide how is there a net credit of .10, shouldn't it be $100.

His cost is $27,500 and from buying 10 ABC SEPT $22.50 calls for $2.50 he spends $2500, and selling 20 ABC SEPT 25 calls at $1.30 he receive $2600.

I am certain I am missing something basic. I am trying to work it out for the example that you provided earlier to lower my cost basis in GS to $170.
 
Quote from Lalit11:

Sorry to bother you again, by looking at the example that you provide how is there a net credit of .10, shouldn't it be $100.

His cost is $27,500 and from buying 10 ABC SEPT $22.50 calls for $2.50 he spends $2500, and selling 20 ABC SEPT 25 calls at $1.30 he receive $2600.

I am certain I am missing something basic. I am trying to work it out for the example that you provided earlier to lower my cost basis in GS to $170.
He receives 10 cts per CCS. A standard option represents 100 shares so that's $10. Since he did 10 of them, that's $100 which is what you came up with by calcualting the components.

Post your premiums, strikes and calculations for GS and I (or someone else) will work it through with you.
 
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