Thursday, July 30, 2026

Established Covered Call Position in D.R. Horton Inc.

This afternoon my Covered Call net debit limit order was entered and soon thereafter executed in D.R. Horton Inc. (ticker DHI) with a short-term August 14th, 2026 options expiration date.  One D.R. Horton Call option was sold at $7.99 at the $140.00 strike price when the stock price was $145.89 -- the net debit was $137.90 per share and the Call option's time value profit potential was $2.10 [$7.99 option price - ($145.89 stock price - $140.00 strike price)].  The probability that the Call will be in-the-money (i.e. above the $140.00 strike price) on the 814/2026 options expiration date was 69.4% when this position was established. There is an intervening ex-dividend of $.45 per share (1.2% annual dividend yield) on August 6th which is included in the potential return-on-investment results detailed below.

D.R. Horton is the largest homebuilder in America by market cap. Importantly, it is considered the best-in-class operator in its industry and has the highest exposure to the critically important entry-level buyers (67% of closings), lowest debt leverage, and least on-balance sheet land risk.  Although homebuilders' business has been stagnant during the past 3 years, home buyers' demand is strong but constricted by the current high mortgage interest rates.  Just yesterday the 30-year treasury bond yield hit an intraday high above 5.20% which was last seen two decades ago.  Whenever these rates begin to reverse (especially if below 4.5%), homebuilders' financials will begin to improve.  In the meantime, D.R. Horton will continue to manage their business wisely and profitably.  

As detailed below, two potential return-on-investment results are: (1) +1.3% absolute return-on-investment (equivalent to a +67.3% annualized return-on-investment in 7 days if the Call option is exercised and the stock is therefore assigned on the last business day prior to the August 6th ex-dividend date; and (2) +1.6% absolute return-on-investment (equivalent to a +39.4% annualized return-on-investment in 15 days if the DHI stock is in-the-money and the stock is assigned on its August 14th, 2026 options expiration date.

D.R. Horton Inc. (DHI) -- New Covered Call Position
The Buy/Write transaction was as follows:
7/30/2026 Bought 100 shares of D.R. Horton Inc. stock @ $145.89 per share.  
7/30/2026 Sold 1 D.R. Horton August 14th, 2026 $140.00 Call option @ $7.99 per share.  The Implied Volatility of the Call option was 35.8 which, as preferred, is well above the current 17.1 of VIX.
8/6/2026 Upcoming ex-dividend of $.45 per share

Two possible overall performance results (including commissions) would be as follows:
Covered Call Position Net Investment: $13,787.67
= ($145.89 - $7.99) * 100 shares + $.67 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Option Income: +$767.00
= ($7.67 * 100 shares)
(b) Dividend Income (If option exercised early on Aug. 5th, the last business day prior to the August 6th ex-div date): +$0.00; or
(b) Dividend Income (If DHI stock assigned at the Aug 14th, 2026 expiration): $45.00
= ($.45 dividend per share x 100 shares)
(c) Capital Appreciation (If D.R. Horton Call option is assigned early on August 6th): -$589.00
+($140.00 strike price - $145.89 stock price) * 100 shares; or
(c) Capital Appreciation (If shares assigned at $140.00 strike price at the Aug. 14th options expiration): -$589.00
+($140.00 - $145.89) * 100 shares

1. Total Net Profit [If option exercised early on the last business day prior to the August 6th ex-dividend date)]: +$178.00
= (+$767.00 option income +$0.00 dividend income -$589.00 capital appreciation); or
2. Total Net Profit (If stock shares assigned at $140.00 strike price at the Aug. 14th, 2026 expiration): +$223.00
= (+$767.00 option income + $45.00 dividend income - $589.00 capital appreciation)

1. Absolute Return-on-Investment (If option exercised early on August 5th): +1.3%
= +$178.00/$13,787.67
Annualized Return-on-Investment: +67.3%
= (+$178.00/$13,787.67) * (365/7 days); or
2. Absolute Return-on-Investment (If D.R. Horton shares assigned at $140.00 at the August 14th, 2026 options expiration date): +1.6%
= +$223.00/$13,787.67
Annualized Return-on-Investment (If shares assigned at the 8/14/2026 options expiration date): +39.4%
= (+$223.00/$13,787.67) * (365/15 days)