Quote from metameta:
<<< But that is what a successful put seller is attempting to do. As a put seller you may be agnostic as to its current price but you are trying to say where it will not go (down 40% within 12 months, or 15% down in 60 days etc..)
Successful options traders tend to have a healthy dose of skepticism. >>>
Well stated.
I really don't know why some want to make option investing so complicated, unpredictable, leveraged, and stressful.
<<< Take a company such as COH sell puts out in time and down in price well below current price after it has fallen hard already doesn't strike me as excessively risky. low leverage and spread out over dozens of high quality companies can achieve decent returns. If you only target high quality companies with at least stable ops and the price decline persists, private equity will take over and leave you short a put well below their buyout price placing you better off than the buyer o' puts (unless he was long the equity as well. >>>
COH is actually a pretty good example of your discussion in your 1st paragraph. It's currently trading at $50.40.
Personally, I'm waiting for COH to test the $46 area, and then consider selling a put with a strike of $38 - $40.
The strike, credit and annualized % return I get, will depend on what changes in VIX and IV occur between now and then, as the stock drops and time decays.
Bottom line..... assuming the stock actually drops, I'll have time to do a more detailed and updated stock and probability analysis.
As the stock deteriorates, I'll then get an idea of what the credit premium may be, relative to changes in VIX, IV, and theta, for the strike I desire.
I'll then have an idea of what % return I should shoot for, relative to where I think the stock will eventually trade, relative to the % otm safety cushion I desire, relative to the length of contract I select, ect....
Assuming everything eventually blends into place, I'll then place my GTC order and simply wait.
And if I don't like the more recently updated info/analysis, and/or stock/sector behavior, I'll cancel the GTC order.
Or if the stock doesn't drop enough, and/or the VIX/IV doesn't rise enough, there are planty of other stocks to consider.
Perhaps if put selling were more complicated, unpredictable, leveraged, and stressful, others might find it more appealing.
