Covered call
Own 100 shares and sell a call against them for income; upside is capped at the strike.
Bullish2 legsDebit
Illustrative: underlying at 100, strikes every 2.5, 45 days to expiry, implied volatility 25%, model prices. One lot = 100 shares.
Key figures
| Opens for | a debit of $9,821 |
|---|---|
| Max profit | +$679 |
| Max loss | −$9,821 if the shares went to zero |
| Break-even | 98.21 |
| Position delta today | +67 shares |
| Outlook | Bullish |
The legs
| Action | Quantity | Option | Model price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy | 100 shares | Shares | 100.00 |
| Sell | 1 | 105 call, 45 days | 1.79 |
How it works
Own 100 shares and sell a call against them for income; upside is capped at the strike. Single options are the building blocks: the right to buy (a call) or to sell (a put) 100 shares at a fixed price, the strike, until expiry. Combined with shares, they add income or protection to a holding.
When it fits
It suits a view that the underlying holds up or rises before expiry.
What can go wrong
The loss grows as the price falls, to −$9,821 in this example if the shares went to zero. Short options can be assigned early, and a sharp fall with implied volatility rising can hurt more than the expiry line suggests, which is what the crash band shows.
Building it in Trident
In the Strategy Lab, choose covered call and the days to expiry. Trident applies these strike rules to your live chain, prices each leg and draws the trade on the risk graph, where you can drag the days to expiry, change implied volatility or switch on the crash band. When it looks right, send it to order management; nothing reaches your broker until you send it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a covered call?
Own 100 shares and sell a call against them for income; upside is capped at the strike.
What is the maximum loss on a covered call?
In this illustrative example it is −$9,821 for one lot at expiry.
Where does a covered call break even?
With the underlying at 100 in this illustrative example, the break-even at expiry is 98.21.
Can I build a covered call in Trident?
Yes. Pick it in the Strategy Lab and Trident chooses the strikes from your live chain, prices the legs and draws it on the risk graph.
Illustrative example with model prices, not a recommendation. Options carry risk of loss. See the risk disclosure.