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Butterfly Spread Profile Version / Simplified Version / Comprehensive Version

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Butterfly Spread - Introduction
The Butterfly Spread is an advanced neutral option trading strategy which profits from stocks that are stagnant or trading within a very tight price range. A Butterfly Spread is so named as it consists of putting on 3 option trades at once, just like the 2 wings built on the body of a butterfly. This is an options trading strategy where a very large profit is realised if the stock is at or very near the middle strike price on expiration day. When implemented properly, the potential gain is higher than the potential loss, but both the potential gain and loss will be limited.
Unlike many basic option trading strategies, you can put on a butterfly spread for a much lesser price than most other strategies due to the fact that one leg or "wing" of the position is a credit spread that offsets much of the price of the other leg or "wing".

The Butterfly Spread differs from the Iron Butterfly Spread in that the iron butterfly spread consists of 4 stock options trades instead of just 3 with a larger potential profit and that executing an Iron Butterfly Spread results in a net credit whereas executing a Butterfly Spread results in a net debit.

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As Butterfly Spread is a complex options trading strategy comprising of a credit spread on one leg, most brokers will not allow beginner option traders to execute Butterfly Spreads. Only veteran traders with high trading levels are allowed to execute butterfly spreads. You need to check with your broker for the criteria needed to allow the trading of credit spreads or butterfly spreads.

The Butterfly Spread belongs to the family of complex neutral option strategies, similar to the Condor Spread, Iron Butterfly Spread and Iron Condor Spread. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses. Here is a table explaining the differences:

Condor Spread Iron Condor Spread Butterfly Spread Iron Butterfly Spread
Debit/Credit Debit Credit Debit Credit
Max Profit Low High Higher Highest
Max Loss Highest Higher High Low
Cost of Position High NIL Low NIL
Profitable Range Wide Widest Narrow Wider

These comparisons are made with the same maximum and minimum strike prices and real values. As you can see from the table above, all of the above complex neutral option strategies comes with their own strengths and weaknesses. Option trading strategies are all about trade-offs. There are no single option trading strategy that has the best of all worlds.



When To Use Butterfly Spread?
One should use a Butterfly Spread when one expects the price of the underlying asset to change very little over the life of the option contracts.


How To Use Butterfly Spread?
There are 3 option trades to establish for this strategy : 1. Buy To Open X number of In The Money Call Options. 2. Buy To Open X number of Out Of The Money Call Options. 3. Sell To Open 2X number of At The Money Call Options.

Veteran or experienced option traders would identify at this point that the butterfly spread actually consists of a Bull Call Spread and a Bear Call Spread. This is similar to a Condor Spread except for the fact that the middle strike price has been combined into 1 same middle strike price in order to set up a higher maximum profit potential but a narrower profitable range. A Butterfly Spread is really a Condor Spread with a narrower profitable range but a higher maximum profit potential.

The choice of which strike prices to buy the long legs (trades 1 and 2 above) at depends on the range within which the underlying asset is expected to trade in. The further away from the money the 2 long legs are, the lower the risk (as the underlying stock needs to move further in order to exit the breakeven range), and the lower the potential profits (as the further in the money options will cost a lot more to buy).

Interestingly, the Butterfly Spread can also be executed by using Put Options instead of Call Options with the same effects. We will use Call Options as the standard example here.

Example : Assuming QQQQ trading at $43.57.

Buy To Open 1 contract of Jan $42 Call at $2.38
Buy To Open 1 contract of Jan $44 Call at $1.06
Sell To Open 2 contracts of Jan $43 Call at $1.63.

Net Debit = (($1.63 - $1.06) + ($1.63 - 2.38)) x 100 = $18.00 per position


Profit Potential of Butterfly Spread :
Butterfly spreads achieve their maximum profit potential at expiration if the price of the underlying asset is equal to the middle strike price.

From the above example : Assuming QQQQ close at $43 at expiration. You will profit from the value of the 2 at the money short call options and you will lose the value of the long out of the money call option and the decay of the in the money call option.



Profit Calculation of Butterfly Spread:
Maximum Profit = (Middle Strike - Lower Strike - Net Debit) x 100
Profit % = (Max Profit - Net Debit) / Net Debit

From the above example : Assuming QQQQ close at $43 at expiration.

Maximum Profit = $43 - $42 - $0.18 = $0.82 x 100 = $82.00

Profit % = ($82 - $18) / $18 = 355%



Risk / Reward of Butterfly Spread:

Upside Maximum Profit: Limited

Maximum Loss: Limited to net debit paid


Break Even Point (Profitable Range) of Butterfly Spread:
A Butterfly Spread is profitable if the underlying asset expires within the profitable range bounded by the upper and lower breakeven points.

1. Lower Breakeven Point : Net Debit + Lower Strike Price

Net Debit = $0.18 , Lower Strike Price = $42.00

Lower Breakeven Point = $0.18 + $42.00 = $42.18.

And

2. Upper Breakeven Point : Higher Strike Price - Net Debit

Net Debit = $0.18 , Higher Strike Price = $44.00

Higher Breakeven Point = $44.00 - $0.18 = $43.82.


Profitable Range = $43.82 to $42.18 therefore a $1.64 range.


Advantages Of Butterfly Spread:

  • Large profit percentage due to low cost involve in executing the position.

  • Limited risk should the underlying asset rally or ditch unexpectedly. (unlike the Short Straddle)

  • Maximum loss and profits are predictable.


    Disadvantages Of Butterfly Spread:

  • Larger commissions involved than simpler strategies with lesser trades.

  • Not a strategy that traders with low trading levels can execute.


    Alternate Actions for Butterfly Spreads Before Expiration :

    1. If the underlying asset has gained in price and is expected to continue rising, you could buy back the short call options and hold the long call options.

    2. If the underlying asset has dropped in price and is expected to continue dropping, you could sell the long call options and hold the short call options. This action is only possible if your broker allows you to sell naked options.


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