Short Call Strategy

BearishAdvancedUnlimited Risk

Sell call options to collect premium with bearish outlook. Unlimited risk requires careful management.

Short Call Calculator

Premium Income
$325.00
Max Profit
$325.00
Max Loss
Unlimited
Breakeven
$158.25
Max Profit Return
2.10%
Breakeven Move
+5.50%

Profit/Loss at Expiration

$0120210Stock Price at Expiration

Position Summary

• Short 1 call at $155 strike

• Premium received: $3.25

• Maximum profit if stock stays below $155

• Unlimited risk if stock rises significantly above breakeven

⚠️ Risk Warning

Short calls have unlimited loss potential. As the stock price rises above the strike, losses increase dollar-for-dollar with no cap. This strategy requires significant margin and active risk management.

Strategy Overview

Type:Single Option
Outlook:Neutral to Bearish
Risk/Reward:Limited Reward, Unlimited Risk
Complexity:Advanced

Description

A Short Call involves selling a call option without owning the underlying stock. It profits when the stock stays below the strike price, with the maximum gain being the premium received.

Setup

Sell Call Option
Strikes: At or out of the money
Expiration: Typically 30-45 days

When to Use

  • You expect the stock to decline or stay flat
  • Implied volatility is high
  • You want to collect premium income
  • You understand and can manage unlimited risk

Advantages

  • +Immediate premium income
  • +Profits from time decay
  • +Benefits from volatility decrease
  • +No upfront capital for option

Disadvantages

  • -Unlimited loss potential
  • -Requires margin account
  • -Subject to early assignment
  • -High risk strategy

How It Works

1

Sell Call: Receive premium for selling call option.

2

Monitor Position: Watch stock price relative to strike.

3

Manage Risk: Close or roll if stock rises significantly.

Key Metrics

Max Profit:Premium Received
Max Loss:Unlimited (if stock rises)
Breakeven:Strike Price + Premium
Time Decay:Favorable (Theta positive)
Assignment Risk:High if ITM