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Bull Call Spread Profile Version / Simplified Version / Comprehensive Version

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Bull Call Spread - Definition
A bullish options strategy which aims to reduce the upfront cost of buying call options in order to profit from stocks that are expected to rise moderately.

Bull Call Spread - Introduction
A Bull Call Spread is a bullish option strategy that profits if the underlying asset rises in price. The Bull Call Spread's main advantage is that it is cheaper than just buying call options. In fact, it is better known as an options trading strategy to buy call options at a discount. The main drawback of the Bull Call Spread is that it has a limited profit potential. Other than that, the Bull Call Spread remains one of the most commonly used options trading strategy of all time.

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Bull Call Spread - Classification

Type of Strategy : Bullish | Type of Spread : Vertical Spread | Debit or Credit : Debit


Bull Call Spread - Buying Call Options At A Discount
Time decay of Extrinsic Value is the number one enemy of options traders buying call options. Having the value of those call options decrease each day the underlying stock fails to rise is certainly a painful ordeal. The Bull Call Spread helps to reduce the effects of time decay of those call options by Selling to Open (shorting) out of the money call options in order to partially offset the price of these call options. This reduces the effect of time decay on the position and also increases return on investment since part of the price of the call options have been offset by the sale of the out of the money call options. This effectively allows you to buy call options at a discount and is what makes the Bull Call Spread so popular in options trading.


When To Use Bull Call Spread?
One should use a bull call spread when one is confident in a moderate rise in the underlying instrument.

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How To Use Bull Call Spread?
Establishing a Bull Call Spread involves the purchase of an At The Money or In The Money call option on the underlying asset while simultaneously writing (sell to open) an Out of the Money call option on the same underlying asset with the same expiration month.

Bull Call Spread Example :
Assuming QQQQ at $44. Buy To Open 10 QQQQ Jan44Call, Sell To Open 10 QQQQ Jan45Call

If you expect QQQQ to go up to near $46 by expiration, you will Sell to Open QQQQ Jan46Call instead.



Profit Potential of Bull Call Spread :
A Bull Call Spread profits if the stock goes up. When the stock goes up, the long call option profits while the short call option continue to decay in premium until it's strike price has been reached. From that point onwards, every move in the long call option is matched by an equal move in the short call option, resulting in no further profits.

The maximum profit potential of a bull call spread is therefore when the price of the underlying asset rises up to the strike price of the out of the money short call options and beyond.




Profit Calculation of Bull Call Spread:
Maximum Return = (Difference in strikes - Net Debit) ÷ Net Debit

Following up from the above Bull Call Spread example:
Buy to open 10 QQQQ Jan44call for $1.05 per contract and sell to open 10 QQQQ Jan45call for $0.60 per contract

Max. Return = (45 - 44 - (1.05 - 0.60)) ÷ (1.05 - 0.60) = 0.55 ÷ 0.45 = 122%

Max. Risk = Net Debit = $1.05 - $0.60 = $0.45, if QQQQ is < $44



Risk / Reward of Bull Call Spread:

Upside Maximum Profit: Limited

Maximum Loss: Limited
Net Debit Paid


Break Even Point of Bull Call Spread:

BEP: Strike Price of Long Call Option + Net Debit Paid

Breakeven point of Bull Call Spread:
Buy to open 10 QQQQ Jan44call for $1.05 per contract and sell to open 10 QQQQ Jan45call for $0.60 per contract

Break Even = Lower Strike + Net Debit = $44 + $0.45 = $44.45

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Advantages Of Bull Call Spread :

  • Loss is limited if the underlying financial instrument falls instead of rise.

  • If the underlying instrument fails to rise beyond the strike price of the out of the money short call option, the profit yield will be greater than just buying call options.

  • It is also a way of buying call options at a discount by selling the out of the money call option at a strike price beyond that which the underlying instrument is expected to rise.


    Disadvantages Of Bull Call Spread :

  • There will be more commissions involved than simply buying call options.

  • There will be no more profits possible if the underlying instrument or stock rises beyond the strike price of the out of the money call option.


    Alternate Actions Before Expiration :

    1. If the underlying instrument or stock is expected to continue to rise strongly beyond the strike price of the short call option, one could buy to close the out of the money short call option and then sell to open a further out of the money call option in its place.

    2. If the underlying instrument or stock is expected to continue to rise strongly beyond the strike price of the short call option, one could also choose to buy to close the out of the money short call option and then simply allow the long call option to continue to gain in value.


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