Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Established Covered Calls Position in Oshkosh Corporation

This afternoon at 1:05pm, a Covered Calls position was established in Oshkosh Corporation (ticker OSK).  I bought 200 shares and simultaneously sold 2 Call options at the May 17th, 2024 monthly options expiration date and at the $110.00 strike price. The net debit limit price for my order was $108.62 and the 200 shares were purchased at $113.16 and 2 May 17th, 2024 Call options were sold for $4.54 per share.  Therefore, a maximum potential time value profit of $1.38 per share = [$4.54 options premium - ($113.16 stock price - $110.00 strike price)] is available for this position.  

This Oshkosh position uses the Covered Calls Advisor's Dividend Capture Strategy since it has an upcoming quarterly ex-dividend of $.46 per share on May 10th which is a week prior to the options expiration date.  This is equivalent to an absolute annual dividend yield of 1.6% and an equivalent annualized dividend yield if assigned on its 5/17 options expiration date of 8.7% = [($.46/$113.16) x (365/17)].  This dividend is included in the detailed return-on-investment calculations below.  Either an early assignment on the last trading day prior to the ex-dividend date or on the May 17th options expiration date would be desirable to the Covered Calls Advisor given the potential annualized return on investments for either outcome.  Importantly to the Covered Calls Advisor, there is no quarterly earnings report prior to the options expiration date since the next quarterly earnings report will not occur until the end of July.

As shown on the table at the bottom of this post, eight of the nine criteria for my Dividend Capture Strategy are met with this position.  Even if the Oshkosh Corp. stock price declines somewhat during the next 17 days until the options expiration date, if the stock closes above the $110.00 strike price, then a very satisfactory annualized-return-on-investment of +36.2% will be achieved.  The probability that these Call options will be in-the-money on the options expiration date was 69.8% when this Covered Calls position was established.  

Oshkosh Corporation is an Industrial sector company headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  They manufacture purpose-built equipment for the access, Defense, fire and emergency, refuse collection, and concrete placement markets.  I am impressed with their CEO and the company was identified in two of my stock screeners: (1) Dividend Growth; and (2) Quantitative Value.  The results below for the Quantitative Value stock screener show that all 21 filters were met.  In addition, Oshkosh was the highest rated stock in the Industrial sector for this Quantitative Value screener.   


As detailed below, two potential return-on-investment results are: 

  •  +1.3% absolute return (equivalent to +46.1% annualized return-on-investment for the next 10 days) if the stock is assigned early (on the last business day prior to the May 10th ex-dividend date); or  
  • +1.7% absolute return (equivalent to +36.2% annualized return-on-investment over the next 17 days) if the stock is assigned on the May 17th, 2024 options expiration date.

Oshkosh Corporation (OSK) -- New Covered Calls Position
The buy/write transaction was:
4/30/2024 Bought 200 Oshkosh Corporation shares @ $113.16.
4/30/2024 Sold 2 OSK 5/17/2024 $110.00 Call options @ $4.54 per share.
Note: Implied Volatility (IV) of the Call options was at 22.6 when this position was transacted which, as preferred, is above the current VIX of 15.5.   
5/10/2024 Upcoming quarterly ex-dividend of $.46 per share.  

Two possible overall performance results (including commissions) for this Oshkosh Covered Calls position are as follows:
Covered Calls Net Investment: $21,725.34
= ($113.16 - $4.54) * 200 shares + $1.34 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Options Income: +$906.66
= ($4.54 * 200 shares) - $1.34 commission
(b) Dividend Income (If OSK Call options exercised early on May 9th, 2024, the last business day prior to the May 10th ex-div date): +$0.00; or
(b) Dividend Income (If Oshkosh stock assigned at the May 17th, 2024 options expiration): +$92.00
= ($.46 dividend per share x 200 shares)
(c) Capital Appreciation (If OSK's Call options assigned early on May 10th): -$632.00
+($110.00 - $113.16) * 200 shares; or
(c) Capital Appreciation (If shares assigned at $110.00 strike price at the 5/17/2024 options expiration): -$632.00
+($110.00 - $113.16) * 200 shares

1. Total Net Profit [If option exercised early (business day prior to the May 10th ex-dividend date)]: +$274.66
= (+$906.66 options income +$0.00 dividend income -$632.00 capital appreciation); or
2. Total Net Profit (If Oshkosh's shares assigned at $110.00 at the May 17th, 2024 expiration): +$366.66
= (+$906.66 options income +$92.00 dividend income -$632.00 capital appreciation)

1. Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment [If option exercised on business day prior to ex-dividend date]: +1.3%
= +$274.66/$21,725.34
Potential Annualized Return-on-Investment (If option exercised early): +46.1%
= (+$274.66/$21,725.34) * (365/10 days); or
2. Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment (If shares assigned on the May 17th options expiration date): +1.7%
= +$366.66/$21,725.34
Potential Annualized Return-on-Investment (If Oshkosh Corporation's shares assigned at $110.00 at the May 17th, 2024 expiration): +36.2%
= (+$366.66/$21,725.34) * (365/17 days)

At least eight of the nine metrics used in the Covered Calls Advisor's Dividend Capture Strategy spreadsheet (see below) must be 'YES' prior to establishing a new Covered Calls position using the Covered Calls Advisor's Dividend Capture strategy.  As shown below, eight of the nine metrics are achieved for this Oshkosh Corp. Covered Calls position.




Monday, April 29, 2024

Covered Calls Position Established in Citigroup Inc.

Today, a Covered Calls position was established in Citigroup Inc. (ticker symbol C) with the purchase of 500 shares at $61.99 per share and five May 10th, 2024 Call options were sold for $2.25 per share at the $60.00 strike price.  Given the Covered Calls Advisor's currently Neutral Overall Market Meter sentiment, a slightly in-the-money Covered Calls positions was established. The net debit limit price for my order was $59.74 so a maximum potential time value profit of $.26 per share = [$2.25 options premium - ($61.99 stock price - $60.00 strike price)] is available for this position.  The probability that the Calls will be in-the-money and therefore assigned at the $60.00 strike price on the options expiration date was 81.8% when this position was established today.  

Citigroup reported their Q1 2024 earnings seventeen days ago at $1.58 per share which exceeded analysts' estimates by $.35 per share and their current P/E Ratio is only 6.1.  A common valuation metric for banks is price-to-book-value.  Citi has by far the lowest current value at only 0.6 which is substantially lower than its next nearest competitor (Bank of America at 1.1) in the mega-cap banking industry.  During her relatively short 3-year term at Citi, CEO Jane Fraser is providing strong leadership and is committed to continuing to divest losing businesses and improving key overall bank metrics.   The average target price of the analysts following Citigroup is $66.30 (+7.0% above today's purchase price).    

Most mid- to large-cap companies in the Financial Sector provide only modest growth prospects, but they often pay 2.0%+ annual dividend yields.  Consequently, the Covered Calls Advisor is targeting opportunities to use the Dividend Capture Strategy in all Financial Sector Covered Calls positions.  Citi has announced that their next ex-dividend date will be 5/03/2024 and at $.53 per share which is a 3.4% annual dividend yield at its current price.  This new May 10th Citigroup Covered Calls position continues the Dividend Capture Strategy of often selling in-the-money monthly Covered Calls for one of the six U.S. mega-cap banks (Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley) during each options expiration month:
(JPMorgan Chase quarterly for Jan, Apr, July, and Oct options expirations; Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Morgan Stanley for Feb, May, Aug, and Nov options expirations; and Bank of America and Goldman Sachs for Mar, Jun, Sep, and Dec options expirations).  

Two potential return-on-investment results are: (a) +0.4% absolute return (equivalent to +39.7% annualized return for the next 4 days) if the stock is assigned early [on the last trading day prior to the 5/3/2024 ex-dividend date]; OR (b) +1.3% absolute return (equivalent to +43.9% annualized return over the next 11 days) if the stock is assigned on the May 10th, 2024 options expiration date. 


Citigroup Inc. (C) -- New Covered Calls Position
The transactions were:
4/29/2024 Bought 500 Citigroup shares @ $61.99
4/29/2024 Sold 5 Citigroup 5/10/2024 $60.00 Call options @ $2.25 per share.
Note: the Implied Volatility of these Call options was 19.4 when this position was established.
5/3/2024 Upcoming quarterly ex-dividend of $.53 per share

Two possible overall performance results (including commissions) for this Citigroup Covered Calls position are as follows:
Covered Calls Net Investment: $29,873.35
= ($61.99 - $2.25) * 500 shares + $3.35 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Options Income: +$1,125.00
= ($2.25 * 500 shares)
(b) Dividend Income (If option exercised early on the business day prior to the ex-div date): +$0.00; or
(b) Dividend Income (If Citi shares assigned at the May 10th, 2024 expiration): +$265.00
= ($.53 dividend per share x 500 shares)
(c) Capital Appreciation (If Citigroup shares assigned early): -$995.00
+($60.00 strike price - $61.99 stock purchase cost) * 500 shares; or
(c) Capital Appreciation (If Citi shares assigned at the $60.00 strike price at options expiration): -$995.00   = ($60.00- $61.99) * 500 shares


1. Total Net Profit [If option exercised this Thursday on May 2nd, 2024 (the last business day prior to the May 3rd ex-dividend date)]: +$130.00
= (+$1,125.00 options income +$0.00 dividend income - $995.00 capital appreciation); or
2. Total Net Profit (If Citi shares assigned at $60.00 at the May 10th, 2024 options expiration): +$395.00
= (+$1,125.00 options income +$265.00 dividend income -$995.00 capital appreciation)

1. Absolute Return (If Citigroup options exercised early on the business day prior to the expiration date): +0.4%
= +$130.00/$29,873.35
Annualized Return (If option exercised early): +39.7%
= (+$130.00/$29,873.35) * (365/4 days); or

2. Absolute Return (If Citigroup shares assigned at $60.00 at the Nov. 10th, 2024 expiration): +1.3%
= +$395.00/$29,873.35
Annualized Return (If Citi stock assigned at $37.50 at the Nov. 10th expiration date): +43.9%
= (+$395.00/$29,873.35) * (365/11 days)

Either outcome would provide a good return-on-investment result.  These returns will be achieved as long as the stock is above the $60.00 strike price at assignment.  If the stock declines below the strike price, the breakeven price of $59.21 ($61.99 -$2.25 -$.53) provides 4.5% downside protection below today's stock purchase price.

Continuation of Covered Calls Position in APA Corporation

The Covered Calls Advisor Portfolio has a Covered Calls position in APA Corporation (ticker APA) which expired last Friday with the stock at $32.49 which was below the $34.00 strike price.  Today this position was continued by rolling out to the May 10th, 2024 weekly options expiration at the same $34.00 strike price by selling-to-open four Calls at $.40 per share when the price of APA was $32.50.  

As detailed below, a potential outcome for this APA Corporation investment if the stock is in-the-money and therefore assigned on the options expiration date is +3.5% absolute return-on-investment over 31 days (equivalent to +41.8% annualized-return-on-investment) if the stock closes above the $34.00 strike price on the May 10th, 2024 options expiration date.  The transactions history of this APA Covered Calls position to-date along with a potential return-on-investment result if the stock is assigned on the May 10th, 2024 options expiration date is as follows:


APA Corporation (APA) -- Continuation of Covered Calls Position
The simultaneous buy/write transactions was as follows:
4/9/2024 Bought 400 shares of APA Corporation stock @ $34.87 per share.  
4/9/2024 Sold 4 APA April 26th, 2024 $34.00 Call options @ $1.42 per share.
4/19/2024 Ex-dividend at $.25 per share
4/26/2024 APA Corp. stock price was below the $34.00 strike price, so the Calls expired and the 400 APAS shares remained in the Covered Calls Advisor Portfolio.
4/29/2024 Continued this APA Corp. Covered Calls position by selling four May 10th, 2024 $34.00 Call options @ $.40 per share when the stock was trading today at $32.50.  

The overall performance results (including commissions) would be as follows:
Covered Calls Cost Basis: $13,382.68
= ($34.87 - $1.42) * 400 shares + $2.68 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Options Income: +$722.64
= ($1.42 + $.40) * 400 shares - $5.36 commissions
(b) Dividend Income (If APA stock assigned on the May 10th, 2024 options expiration date): +$100.00
= $.25 dividend per share x 400 shares
(c) Capital Appreciation (If APA stock is above the $34.00 strike price and therefore assigned at the May 10th options expiration date): -$348.00
= ($34.00 - $34.87) * 400 shares

Potential Net Profit (If APA stock price is above $34.00 strike price at the May 10th options expiration): +$474.64
= (+$722.64 options income +$100.00 dividend income - $348.00 capital appreciation)

Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment: +3.5%
= +$474.64/$13,382.68
Potential Equivalent Annualized Return-on-Investment: +41.8%
= (+$474.64/$13,382.68) * (365/31 days)

Friday, April 26, 2024

Established Covered Calls in Las Vegas Sands Corporation

Today, a buy/write limit order was entered in Las Vegas Sands Corporation (ticker LVS) to buy 500 shares and simultaneously sell 5 Call options at the May 17th, 2024 monthly options expiration date and at the $44.50 strike price. The net debit limit price for my order was $43.78 and this order was executed when 500 shares were purchased at $45.54 and 4 May 17th, 2024 Call options were sold for $1.76 per share.  Therefore, a maximum potential time value profit of $.72 per share = [$1.76 options premium - ($45.54 stock price - $44.50 strike price)] is available for this position.  

This position uses the Covered Calls Advisor's Dividend Capture Strategy since Las Vegas Sands has an upcoming quarterly ex-dividend of $.20 per share on Monday, May 6th which is prior to the May 17th options expiration date.  This is equivalent to an absolute annual dividend yield of 1.8% and an equivalent annualized dividend yield of 7.6% = [($.20/$45.54) x (365/21 days to expiration)].  This dividend is included in the detailed return-on-investment calculations below.  Either an early assignment next Friday, May 3rd (the last trading day prior to the ex-dividend date) or on the May 17th options expiration date would be desirable to the Covered Calls Advisor given the potential annualized return on investments for either outcome.  Importantly to the Covered Calls Advisor, there is no quarterly earnings report prior to the options expiration date since the next earnings report on July 17th, 2024 is two months after the May 17th options expiration date.

Despite the name "Las Vegas Sands", their casino properties are primarily in Macau.  Their current profitable growth is likely to continue for years to come and I like that they are spending capital to maintain their properties as top-rate destinations as well as for investor-friendly dividends and stock buybacks.  The average target price of the 15 analysts covering Las Vegas Sands is $62.84 (+38.0% above today's stock purchase price).  Also, Las Vegas Sands appeared in my Stock Rover Overall stock screener by meeting all 16 filter as show in this chart:

                


As shown on the table at the bottom of this post, all nine criteria of the Dividend Capture Strategy are met with this position.  Even if the Las Vegas Sands stock price declines somewhat during the next 21 days until the options expiration date, if the stock closes above the $44.50 strike price, then a very satisfactory annualized-return-on-investment of +36.3% will be achieved.  The probability that these Call options will expire in-the-money on the options expiration date was 65.2% when this position was established.   


As detailed below, two potential return-on-investment results are: 

  •  +1.6% absolute return (equivalent to +59.5% annualized return-on-investment for the next 10 days) if the stock is assigned early (on the last business day prior to the May 6th ex-dividend date); or  
  • +2.1% absolute return (equivalent to +36.3% annualized return-on-investment over the next 21 days) if the stock is assigned on the May 17th, 2024 options expiration date.

Las Vegas Sands Corporation (LVS) -- New Covered Calls Position
The buy/write transaction was:
4/26/2024 Bought 500 Las Vegas Sands shares @ $45.54
4/26/2024 Sold 5 LVS 5/17/2024 $44.50 Call options @ $1.76 per share.
Note: Implied Volatility (IV) of the Call options was at 24.3 when this position was transacted which, as preferred, is above the current VIX of 15.2.   
5/6/2024 Upcoming quarterly ex-dividend of $.20 per share.

Two possible overall performance results (including commissions) for this Las Vegas Sands Corp. Covered Calls position are as follows:
Covered Calls Net Investment: $21,893.35
= ($45.54 - $1.76) * 500 shares + $3.35 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Options Income: +$876.65
= ($1.76 * 500 shares) - $3.35 commission
(b) Dividend Income (If LVS Call options exercised early on May 3rd, 2024, the last business day prior to the May 6th ex-div date): +$0.00; or
(b) Dividend Income (If LVS stock assigned at the May 17th, 2024 options expiration): +$100.00
= ($.20 dividend per share x 500 shares)
(c) Capital Appreciation (If Las Vegas Sand's Call options assigned early on May 6th): -$520.00
+($44.50 - $45.54) * 500 shares; or
(c) Capital Appreciation (If shares assigned at $44.50 strike price at the May 17th options expiration): -$520.00
+($44.50 - $45.54) * 500 shares

1. Total Net Profit [If option exercised early (business day prior to the May 6th ex-dividend date)]: +$356.65
= (+$876.65 options income +$0.00 dividend income -$520.00 capital appreciation); or
2. Total Net Profit (If LVS's shares assigned at $44.50 at the May 17th, 2024 expiration): +$456.65
= (+$876.65 options income + $100.00 dividend income - $520.00 capital appreciation)

1. Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment [If option exercised on business day prior to ex-dividend date]: +1.6%
= +$356.65/$21,893.35
Potential Annualized Return (If option exercised early): +59.5%
= (+$356.65/$21,893.35) * (365/10 days); or
2. Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment (If LVS's shares assigned on May 17th options expiration date): +2.1%
= +$456.65/$21,893.35
Potential Annualized Return (If Las Vegas Sand's shares assigned at $44.50 at the 5/17/2024 options expiration date): +36.3%
= (+$456.65/$21,893.35) * (365/21 days)

Either outcome provides an attractive return-on-investment result for this Las Vegas Sands investment.  These returns will be achieved as long as the stock is above the $44.50 strike price at assignment.  However, if the stock declines below the strike price, the breakeven price of $43.58 ($45.54 -$1.76 -$.20) provides 4.3% downside protection below today's stock purchase price.

At least eight of the nine metrics used in the Covered Calls Advisor's Dividend Capture Strategy spreadsheet (see below) must be 'YES' prior to establishing a new Covered Calls position using the Covered Calls Advisor's Dividend Capture strategy.  As shown below, all nine criteria are achieved for this Las Vegas Sands Corporation Covered Calls position.