Downside is not unlimited, at least better than buying stock on the spot. When you sell otm put, if it is assigned, you entry price is lower than buying stock; if not assigned, you earn premium
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@lindq said: "particularly dangerous for the inexperienced".
It's the rookie mindset who sees the "good in evil". Stock is at $100 right now, it's totally fine to sell naked put for $3, coze even if if stock drops to $90, you would have lost more if you bought the stock. This way at least you get a cushion of $3 compared to the suckers who bought the stock directly at $100 and now they find their asset worth only $90.
Lemme explain to you why this explanation is totally wrong.
When you buy the stock TODAY at $100, there's an entire universe of possibilities of where it may go. Yes, it may drop to $90 and then you'd be better selling a put on it and getting $3 extra for being a sucker.
But YOU DON'T KNOW UPFRONT. The guys who buy the stock now at $100 as opposed to selling a put, can AND WILL have their asset worth skyrocketing to $110, $120, $200 sometimes.
You, the "genius" who sold a naked put are GUARRANTEED to miss that upside. You only sign in for losers. Whenever you HAVE to buy the stock as according to the contract is because you're a sucker and the stock isn't worth how much you pay for it. You will have to buy it at $90, $50, $10 sometimes. ALWAYS THE SUCKER'S SIDE. Never the upside.
Again, as
@lindq said.