Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Covered Call Position Established in Alphabet Inc.

A new short-term Covered Call net debit buy/write limit order was established yesterday afternoon in Alphabet Inc. (ticker GOOGL) for the August 21st, 2026 expiration and at the $335.00 strike price.  The order was placed at a $332.05 limit price, so the extrinsic value (which represents the maximum profit potential for this position) was $2.95 per share [$14.67 Call option premium - ($346.72 stock purchase price - $335.00 strike price)].  The probability that this position will be in-the-money and therefore assigned on its options expiration date was 74.6% when this order was transacted.

As detailed below, the potential return-on-investment result is +0.9% absolute return-on-investment in 10 days (equivalent to a +32.4% annualized return-on-investment).  

Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) -- New Covered Call Position
The simultaneous buy/write transaction was as follows:
8/11/2026 Bought 100 shares of Alphabet Inc. stock @ $346.72 per share.  
8/11/2026 Sold 1 Alphabet Inc. August 21st $335.00 Call option @ $14.67 per share.
Note: The Implied Volatility of the Call options was 30.8 when this transaction was executed which, as I prefer, is well above the current 15.4 of the S&P 500 Volatility Index (i.e. VIX). 

A possible overall performance result (including commissions) would be as follows:
Covered Call Cost Basis: $33,205.67
= ($346.72 - $14.67) * 100 shares + $.67 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Option Income: +$1,466.33
= ($14.67 * 100 shares) - $.67
(b) Dividend Income: +$0.00 
(c) Capital Appreciation (If Alphabet stock is above $335.00 strike price at the 8/21/2026 options expiration date): -$1,172.00
= ($335.00 strike price - $346.72 stock purchase price) * 100 shares

Total Net Profit Potential: +$294.33
= (+$1,466.33 option income +$0.00 dividend income - $1,172.00 capital appreciation)

Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment: +0.9%
= +$294.33/$33,205.67
Potential Equivalent Annualized Return-on-Investment: +32.4%
= (+$294.33/$33,205.67) * (365/10 days)