Covered straddle
Own the shares and sell an at-the-money call and put for the largest premium.
Bullish3 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 $9,300 |
|---|---|
| Max profit | +$700 |
| Max loss | −$19,300 if the shares went to zero |
| Break-even | 96.50 |
| Position delta today | +91 shares |
| Outlook | Bullish |
The legs
| Action | Quantity | Option | Model price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buy | 100 shares | Shares | 100.00 |
| Sell | 1 | 100 call, 45 days | 3.77 |
| Sell | 1 | 100 put, 45 days | 3.22 |
How it works
Own the shares and sell an at-the-money call and put for the largest premium. 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 −$19,300 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 straddle 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 straddle?
Own the shares and sell an at-the-money call and put for the largest premium.
What is the maximum loss on a covered straddle?
In this illustrative example it is −$19,300 for one lot at expiry.
Where does a covered straddle break even?
With the underlying at 100 in this illustrative example, the break-even at expiry is 96.50.
Can I build a covered straddle 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.