Potential goals
To profit from a large stock price move away from the strike price of the calendar spread with limited risk if there is little or no price change.
Explanation
A short calendar spread with calls is created by selling one “longer-term” call and buying one “shorter-term” call with the same strike price. In the example a two-month (56 days to expiration) 100 Call is sold and a one-month (28 days to expiration) 100 Call is purchased. This strategy is established for a net credit (net receipt), and both the profit potential and risk are limited. The maximum profit is realized if the stock price is far above or far below to the strike price on the expiration date of the long call, and the maximum risk is realized if the stock price is at the strike price.
Example of short calendar spread with calls
| Buy 1 28-day XYZ 100 call | (3.35) |
| Sell 1 56-day XYZ 100 call | 4.75 |
| Net credit = | 1.40 |
Maximum profit
The maximum profit potential of a short calendar spread with calls is the net credit received less commissions. This profit is realized if the stock price is either far above or far below the strike price of the calendar spread at expiration of the long call. Whether the stock price rises or falls, if it moves sharply away from the strike price, then the difference between the two calls approaches zero and the full amount received for the spread is kept as income. For example, if the stock price falls sharply, then the price of both calls approach zero for a net difference of zero. If the stock price rises sharply so that both calls are deep in the money, then the prices of both calls approach parity for a net difference of zero.
Maximum risk
The potential maximum risk of a short calendar spread with calls is unlimited if the long call expires worthless and short call (with a later expiration date) remains open. It is therefore essential to monitor a short calendar spread position as the expiration date of the long call approaches.
Assuming that the long call is open, the maximum risk of a short calendar spread with calls occurs if the stock price equals the strike price of the calls on the expiration date of the long call. This is the point of maximum loss, because the short call has maximum time value when the stock price equals the strike price. Also, since the long call expires worthless when the stock price equals the strike price at expiration, the difference in price between the two calls is at its greatest.
It is impossible to know for sure what the maximum loss will be, because the maximum loss depends of the price of short call which can vary based on the level of volatility.
Breakeven stock price at expiration of the long call
Conceptually, there are two breakeven points, one above the strike price of the calendar spread and one below. Also, conceptually, the breakeven points are the stock prices on the expiration date of the long call at which the time value of the short call equals the original price of the calendar spread. However, since the time value of the short call depends on the level of volatility, it is impossible to know for sure what the breakeven stock prices will be.
Profit/Loss diagram and table: short calendar spread with calls
| Buy 1 28-day XYZ 100 call | (3.35) |
| Sell 1 56-day XYZ 100 call | 4.75 |
| Net credit = | 1.40 |
| Stock Price at Expiration of the 28-day Call | Long 1 28-day 100 Call Profit/(Loss) at Expiration | Short 1 56-day 100 Call Profit/(Loss) at Expiration of the 28-day Call* | Net Profit/(Loss) at Expiration of the 28-day Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| 115 | +11.65 | (10.50) | +1.05 |
| 110 | +6.65 | (5.75) | +0.90 |
| 105 | +1.65 | (1.75) | (0.10) |
| 100 | (3.35) | +1.40 | (1.95) |
| 95 | (3.35) | +3.40 | +0.05 |
| 90 | (3.35) | +4.35 | +1.00 |
| 85 | (3.35) | +4.70 | +1.35 |
*Profit or loss of the short call is based on its estimated value on the expiration date of the long call. This value was calculated using a standard Black-Scholes options pricing formula with the following assumptions: 28 days to expiration, volatility of 30%, interest rate of 1% and no dividend.
Appropriate market forecast
A short calendar spread with calls realizes its maximum profit if the stock price is either far above or far below the strike price on the expiration date of the long call. The ideal forecast, therefore, is for a “big stock price change when the direction of the change could be either up or down.” In the language of options, this is known as “high volatility.”
Strategy discussion
A short calendar spread with calls is a possible strategy choice when the forecast is for a big stock price change but the direction of the change is uncertain. Short calendar spreads with calls are often established before earnings reports, before new product introductions and before FDA announcements. These are typical of situations in which “good news” could send a stock price sharply higher, or “bad news” could send a stock price sharply lower. The risk is that the announcement does not cause a significant change in stock price and, as a result, the price of the short calendar spread increases and a loss is incurred.
It is important to remember that the prices of options – and therefore the prices of calendar spreads – contain the consensus opinion of options market participants as to how much the stock price will move prior to expiration. This means that sellers of calendar spreads believe that the market consensus is “too low” and that the stock price will move beyond a breakeven point – either up or down.
The same logic applies to options prices before earnings reports and other such announcements. Dates of announcements of important information are generally publicized in advanced and are well-known in the marketplace. Furthermore, such announcements are likely, but not guaranteed, to cause the stock price to change dramatically. As a result, prices of calls, puts and calendar spreads adjust prior to such announcements. In the language of options, this is known as an “increase in implied volatility.”
An increase in implied volatility increases the risk of trading options. For sellers of calendar spreads, higher implied volatility means that breakeven points are farther apart and that the underlying stock price has to move further to achieve breakeven.
“Selling a calendar spread” is intuitively appealing, because “you can make money if the stock price rises or falls.” The reality is that the market is often “efficient,” which means that prices of calendar spreads frequently are an accurate gauge of how much a stock price is likely to move prior to expiration. This means that selling a calendar spread, like all trading decisions, is subjective and requires good timing for both the position entry decision and the exit decision.
Impact of stock price change
“Delta” estimates how much a position will change in price as the stock price changes. Long calls have positive deltas, and short calls have negative deltas. The net delta of a short calendar spread with calls is usually close to zero, but, as expiration approaches, it varies from −0.50 to +0.50 depending on the relationship of the stock price to the strike price of the spread.
With approximately 20 days to expiration of the short call, the net delta varies from approximately −0.10 with the stock price 5% below the strike price to +0.10 with the stock price 5% above the strike price.
With approximately 10 days to expiration of the short call, the net delta varies from approximately −0.20 with the stock price 5% below the strike price to +0.20 with the stock price 5% above the strike price.
When the stock price is slightly below the strike price as expiration approaches, the position delta approaches −0.50, because the delta of the short call is approximately −0.50 and the delta of the long call approaches 0.00.
When the stock price is slightly above the strike price as expiration approaches, the position delta approaches +0.50, because the delta of the shprt call is approximately −0.50 and the delta of the long call approaches +1.00.
The position delta approaches 0.00 if the calls are deep in the money (stock price above strike price) or far out of the money (stock price below strike price). If the calls are deep in the money, then the delta of the short call approaches −1.00 and the delta of the long call approaches +1.00 for a net spread delta of 0.00. If the calls are out of the money, then the deltas of both calls approach 0.00.
Impact of change in volatility
Volatility is a measure of how much a stock price fluctuates in percentage terms, and volatility is a factor in option prices. As volatility rises, option prices tend to rise if other factors such as stock price and time to expiration remain constant. Long options, therefore, rise in price and make money when volatility rises, and short options rise in price and lose money when volatility rises. When volatility falls, the opposite happens; long options lose money and short options make money. “Vega” is a measure of how much changing volatility affects the net price of a position.
Since a short calendar spread with calls has one short call with more time to expiration and one long call with the same strike price and less time, the impact of changing volatility is slightly negative, but very close to zero. The net vega is slightly negative, because the vega of the short call is slightly greater than the vega of the long call. As expiration approaches, the net vega of the spread approaches the vega of the short call, because the vega of the long call approaches zero.
Impact of time
The time value portion of an option’s total price decreases as expiration approaches. This is known as time erosion. “Theta” is a measure of how much time erosion affects the net price of a position. Long option positions have negative theta, which means they lose money from time erosion, if other factors remain constant; and short options have positive theta, which means they make money from time erosion.
Since a short calendar spread with calls has one short call with more time to expiration and one long call with the same strike price and less time, the impact of time erosion is negative if the stock price is near the strike price of the calls. In the language of options, this is a “net negative theta.” Furthermore, the negative impact of time erosion increases as expiration approaches, because the value of the short-term long at-the-money call decays at an increasing rate.
If the stock price rises above or falls below the strike price of the calendar spread, however, the impact of time erosion becomes slightly positive. In either of these cases, the time value of the shorter-term long call approaches zero, but the time value of the longer-term short call remains positive and decreases with passing time.
Risk of early assignment
Stock options in the United States can be exercised on any business day, and holders of short stock option positions have no control over when they will be required to fulfill the obligation. Therefore, the risk of early assignment is a real risk that must be considered when entering into positions involving short options.
While the long call in a short calendar spread with calls has no risk of early assignment, the short call does have such risk. Early assignment of stock options is generally related to dividends, and short calls that are assigned early are generally assigned on the day before the ex-dividend date. In-the-money calls whose time value is less than the dividend have a high likelihood of being assigned.
If assignment is deemed likely and if a short stock position is not wanted, then appropriate action must be taken. Before assignment occurs, the risk of assignment can be eliminated in two ways. First, the entire spread can be closed by selling the long call to close and buying the short call to close. Alternatively, the short call can be purchased to close and the long call can be kept open.
If early assignment of the short call does occur, stock is sold, and a short stock position is created. If a short stock position is not wanted, there are two choices. First, the short stock position can be closed by exercising the long call. Second, shares can be purchased in the marketplace and the long call can be left open. Generally, if there is time value in the long call, then it is preferable to purchase shares and sell the long call rather than exercise it. It is preferable to purchase shares in this case, because the time value will be lost if the long call is exercised. Also, generally, if the longer-term short call in a short calendar spread is assigned early, then there is little or no time value in the shorter-term long call. In this case it is usually preferable to close the unwanted short stock position by exercising the long call. Such action then closes the entire position and frees up capital for other uses.
Note, also, that whichever method is used to close the short stock position, the date of the stock purchase will be one day later than the date of the short sale. This difference will result in additional fees, including interest charges and commissions. Assignment of a short call might also trigger a margin call if there is not sufficient account equity to support the short stock position.
Potential position created at expiration of the short call
If the short call is assigned after the long call expires, then stock is sold short and a straight short stock position is created and the potential risk is unlimited.
However, if the short call is assigned prior to expiration of the long call, then stock is sold short and the result is a two-part position consisting of short stock and long call. This position has limited risk on the upside and substantial profit potential on the downside. If a trader has a bearish forecast, then this position can be maintained in hopes that the forecast will be realized and a profit earned. If the short stock position is not wanted, then the position must be closed either by exercising the call or by purchasing stock and selling the call (see Risk of Early Assignment above).
Other considerations
Short calendar spreads with calls are frequently compared to long straddles and long strangles, because all three strategies profit from “high volatility” in the underlying stock. The differences between the three strategies are the initial cost, the risk and the profit potential. In dollar terms, straddles and strangles cost much more to establish, have greater, albeit limited, risk and have unlimited profit potential. Short calendar spreads, in contrast, require less capital (margin requirement) to establish, have a smaller limited risk and have limited profit potential. One should not conclude, however, that traders with limited capital should prefer short calendar spreads to long straddles or long strangles. The risk of a short calendar spread is still 100% of the capital committed. The decision to trade any strategy involves choosing an amount of capital that will be placed at risk and potentially lost if the market forecast is not realized. In this regard, choosing a short calendar spread is similar to choosing any strategy.
The short calendar spread with calls is also known by two other names, a “short time spread” and a “short horizontal spread.” “Short” in the strategy name implies that the strategy is established for a net credit, or net receipt of cash. The terms “time” and “horizontal” describe the relationship between the expiration dates. “Time” implies that the options expire at different times, or on different dates. The term “horizontal” originated when options prices were listed in newspapers in a tabular format. Strike prices were listed vertically, and expirations were listed horizontally. Therefore a “horizontal spread” involved options in the same row of the table; they had the same strike price but they had different expiration dates.