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| Home > Advanced Options Trading > Options Spreads > Debit Spreads |
Debit Spreads |
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Debit Spreads - DefinitionDebit Spreads are options positions created by buying more expensive options contracts and simultaneously writing cheaper options contracts. Debit Spreads - IntroductionDebit Spread is one of the two kinds of options spreads, the other being the Credit Spread. Debit spreads are usually the first kinds of options spreads that beginners to options strategies use. Debit spreads not only has predictable maximum loss, making it safer in terms of money management, but it also requires a much lower options account trading level than the more complex credit spreads. This tutorial shall explore in depth what debit spreads are, how they work and briefly introduce the different kinds debit spread options strategies. What are Debit Spreads?Debit spreads refers to options spreads that you have to pay a "net debit" in order to put on, this debit to your account is why such options spreads are known as "Debit Spreads". This means that the short legs in a debit spread do not generate enough premium to offset the price of the long legs, as such, you end up paying money to own such an options position. Options spreads that does the opposite of crediting your account with cash instead are known as "Credit Spreads". This means that you need to pay cash to put on a debit spread while you will actually receive cash for putting on a credit spread.
A simple common example of a debit spread is the Bull Call Spread which consists of buying at the money or in the money call options and then writing out of the money call options at a higher strike price in order to partially offset the cost of owning the long call options.
Purposes of Debit SpreadsSo why do options traders and even market makers trade debit spreads? What is the purpose of debit spreads in options trading? Debit spreads are created primarily for offsetting the cost of owning long options positions. Out of the money call options are written in order to reduce the cost of owning lower strike price call options and out of the money put options are written in order to reduce the cost of owning higher strike price put options as shown in the preceding example. This is particularly useful when one expects the price of the underlying asset to move only moderately up to a certain ceiling (Learn about the Six Main Outlooks in Options Trading). Debit spreads typically comes with limited profit potential and limited risk potential; this means that there is usually a ceiling on the maximum achievable profit and a floor to the maximum possible loss (usually the net debit paid), making the reward risk ratio of the options position predeterminable. As such, if you expect the price of the underlying asset to move significantly for an extended period of time (such as in a Sustained Bull Trend outlook), you would not use a debit spread as you won't want to limit the maximum profit potential of your options position.
Unlike credit spreads, because debit spreads has a limited risk potential, it does not require margin to put on and is therefore possible for options traders with low account trading level. Types of Debit SpreadsThere are debit spreads for every class of options strategies; Bullish, Bearish, Neutral as well as Volatile. Debit spreads are usually the limited profit and limited risk strategies of each class and you can find plenty of them listed below: Bullish Limited Risk Limited Profit Bearish Limited Risk Limited Profit Neutral Limited Risk Limited Profit Volatile Limited Risk Limited Profit The most common bullish debit spread is the Bull Call Spread, the most common bearish debit spread is the Bear Put Spread, the most common neutral debit spread is the Butterfly Spread and the most common volatile debit spread is the Reverse Iron Butterfly Spread. How Do Debit Spreads Work?So, how do debit spreads work the way they do in options trading? What is the underlying principle behind debit spreads that allows them to be traded without margin with limited risk and profit potential? All debit spreads consist of being long on an in the money option while simultaneously being short on an out of the money option. The extrinsic value of the out of the money option offsets the full cost of the in the money option (consisting of both intrinsic value and extrinsic value), providing the cost offsetting effect.
In a debit spread, maximum loss potential is limited due to the fact that if the price of the underlying stock goes opposite to what is expected, all options involved in the debit spread expire worthless together without further obligations with the maximum loss being the net debit paid. This is also why no margin is needed for the execution of debit spreads.
In a debit spread, maximum profit potential is limited due to the fact that if the price of the underlying asset move beyond the strike price of the short options, both the long and short option would appreciate at the same rate, resulting in no further profit possible. As such, the room for profit growth in a debit spread is usually the price range bracketed by the long and short strike price. As such, the maximum possible profit of a debit spread can be predetermined through mathematical formula and considered for options trade planning before actually executing the trade.
Bullish or Bearish debit spreads also result in better return on investments than outright call options or put options trading due to the lower cost of the position than outright call options or put options when the price of the underlying asset closes right at the strike price of the short leg by expiration.
Advantages of Debit Spreads:: No margin needed :: Predeterminable maximum loss and profit :: Limited loss potential :: Lower account level required :: Better return on investment than outright positions in moderate trends Disadvantages of Debit Spreads:: Need to pay cash to trade :: Limited profit potential :: Can result in lost profit potential in sustained trends
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