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Thursday, April 3, 2025

Established Covered Calls in Vertiv Holdings Company

Today a Covered Calls position was established in Vertiv Holdings Company (ticker VRT). Three hundred shares were purchased at $68.02 and three April 17th, 2025 weekly Call options were sold at the $60.00 strike price at $9.60 per share--a buy/write net debit amount of $68.42 per share which provides a $1.58 per share time value profit potential.  This in-the-money was established to provide significant downside protection given the uncertainty from yesterday's tariffs announcement and the very high implied volatility in the Calls at 82.9 when this position was established is also indicative of this current high level of uncertainty.  As preferred, the next quarterly earnings on April 23rd is after the April 17th options expiration date.

Vertiv is in the Electrical Equipment industry and is a leader in supporting data centers and communications networks in both commercial and industrial environments.  They provide products like uninterruptible power supplies, thermal management systems, and power distribution units.  Their growth rate and profitability are strong and should continue consistent with the expected future growth in data centers.  

As detailed below, a potential return-on-investment result is +2.7% absolute return-on-investment (equivalent to +70.2% annualized return-on-investment for the next 14 days) if the Vertiv share price is in-the-money (i.e. above the $60.00 strike price) and therefore assigned on its April 17th, 2025 options expiration date.  At this time I continue as a very cautious investor -- the majority of my investable assets are in a money market fund.

Vertiv Holdings Company (VRT) -- New Covered Calls Position

The buy/write net limit order transaction was as follows:
4/3/2025 Bought 300 Vertiv shares at $68.02.
4/3/2025 Sold 3 VRT 4/17/2025 $60.00 Call options @ $9.60 per share.  The Implied Volatility of the Calls was 88.4% when these Calls were sold.

A possible overall performance result (including commissions) for this Vertiv Holdings Co. Covered Calls position is as follows:
Covered Calls Net Investment: $17,528.01
= ($68.02 - $9.60) * 300 shares + $2.01 commission

Net Profit:
(a) Options Income: +$2,877.99
= ($9.60 * 300 shares) - $2.01 commission
(b) Dividend Income: +$0.00
(c) Capital Appreciation (If 300 Vertiv shares assigned at the $60.00 strike price at expiration): -$2,406.00
+($60.00 strike price - $68.02 stock purchase price) * 300 shares

Total Net Profit Potential (If 300 Vertiv shares are in-the-money and therefore assigned at the $60.00 strike price at the options expiration date): +$471.99
= (+$2,877.99 options income + $0.00 dividend income - $2,406.00 capital appreciation)

Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment: +2.7%
= +$471.99/$17,528.01
Potential Annualized Return-on-Investment: +70.2%
= (+$471.99/$17,528.01) * (365/14 days)


Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Covered Calls Position Closed in Freeport-McMoran Inc.

The Freeport-McMoran (FCX) Covered Calls position had an options expiration date this Friday.  Because of my concerns related to the potential impact of the impending reciprocal tariffs announcement, I decided to free up some additional cash by closing out (i.e. unwinding) this position at a small net loss when it was somewhat below the $38.00 strike price.  So, I sold-to-close the 500 Freeport-McMoran shares at $37.85 and simultaneously bought-to-close the 5 April 4th, 2025 $38.00 Calls at $.64 per share -- a net credit for this transaction of $37.21 per share. The detailed transactions and the return-on-investment results for this position are as follows: 

Freeport-McMoran Inc. (FCX) -- Closed Out this Covered Calls Position
The simultaneous buy/write transaction was as follows:
3/21/2025 Bought 500 shares of Freeport-McMoran stock @ $39.37 per share.  
3/21/2025 Sold 5 Freeport-McMoran April 4th 28th, 2025 $38.00 Call options @ $2.11 per share.
4/2/2025 Unwound this FCX Covered Calls position by selling-to-close the 500 Freeport-McMoran shares and simultaneously buying-to-close the 5 FCX $38.00 Calls that expire Friday at a net credit of $37.21 per share.

The overall performance result (including commissions) was as follows:
Covered Calls Cost Basis: $18,633.35
= ($39.37 - $2.11) * 500 shares + $3.35 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Options Income: +$728.30
= ($2.11 - $.64) * 500 shares - $6.70 commissions
(b) Dividend Income: +$0.00 
(c) Capital Appreciation: -$760.00
= ($37.85 stock selling price - $39.37 stock purchase price) * 500 shares

Total Net Profit: -$31.70
= (+$728.30 options income + $0.00 dividend income - $760.00 capital appreciation)

Absolute Return-on-Investment: -0.17%
= -$31.70/$18,633.35
Equivalent Annualized Return-on-Investment: -5.2%
= (-$31.70/$18,633.35) * (365/12 days)