Friday, May 30, 2025

Covered Calls Established in Bank of America Corporation

Early this afternoon, a Covered Calls position was established in Bank of America Corp. (ticker BAC) with the purchase of 500 shares at $43.88 per share and five June 13th, 2025 Call options were sold for $1.66 per share at the $42.50 strike price.  This Bank of America transaction occurred via a simultaneous buy/write transaction at my net debit limit order price of $42.22 per share.  The corresponding time value (aka extrinsic value) in the Call options was $.28 per share = [$1.66 Call options premium received - ($43.88 stock purchase price - $42.50 options strike price)].  A moderately in-the-money Covered Calls positions was established with the probability that the stock will close in-the-money on the options expiration date was 75.3%.  As preferred, the next earnings report on July 16th, 2025 is after the June 13th options expiration date. 

Bank of America goes ex-dividend at $.26 per share (2.4% annualized dividend yield at the current stock price) on June 6th, 2025 which is prior to the June 13th options expiration date, so this dividend is included in the potential return-on-investment results shown below.  As shown below, all nine criteria in the Covered Calls Advisor's Dividend Capture Strategy spreadsheet were met for this position.  

Most companies in the Financial Sector provide only modest growth prospects, but they often provide good annual dividend yields.  Consequently, the Covered Calls Advisor targets opportunities to use the Dividend Capture Strategy in all Financial Sector Covered Calls positions.  This new June 13th, 2025 Bank of America Covered Calls position continues the Dividend Capture Strategy of often selling in-the-money monthly Covered Calls for one of six megacap U.S. banks (Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo) for each options expiration month:
(JPMorgan Chase quarterly for Jan, Apr, July, and Oct options expirations;
Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and/or Wells Fargo for Feb, May, Aug, and Nov options expirations; and Bank of America and/or Goldman Sachs for Mar, Jun, Sep, and Dec options expirations). 

The goal of these monthly Covered Calls in these banks is to both provide an opportunity to either: (1) potentially capture the quarterly dividend payment and if the stock price remains above the strike price at options expiration, the maximum possible return-on-investment result on the options expiration date for the position would be achieved; or (2) have the stock assigned early on the day prior to the ex-dividend date in which case the annualized return-on-investment for early assignment is often greater than that of an assignment on the options expiration date (which is true for this BAC Covered Calls position).  So far, applying this approach has provided attractive annualized return results -- significantly better than would be achieved if Covered Calls positions for these bank stocks were held in the Covered Calls Advisor Portfolio in the other two non-dividend paying months each quarter.  

Two potential return-on-investment results for this Bank of America Covered Calls position are: (a) +0.6% absolute return-on-investment (equivalent to +33.7% annualized return-on-investment for the next 7 days) in the event that the stock is assigned early [i.e. on June 5th which is the last trading day prior to the June 6th ex-dividend date]; OR (b) +1.3% absolute return-on-investment (equivalent to +32.9% annualized return-on-investment over the next 14 days) if the stock is assigned on the June 13th, 2025 options expiration date. 

Bank of America Corporation (BAC) -- New Covered Calls Position

The buy/write transaction was as follows:
5/30/2025 Bought 500 shares of Bank of America Corp. stock @ $43.88 per share 
5/30/2025 Sold 5 BAC June 13th, 2025 $42.50 Call options @ $1.66 per share
Note: The Implied Volatility of these Calls was 23.3 when this position was established.
6/6/2023 Upcoming ex-dividend of $.26 per share

Two possible overall performance results (including commissions) would be as follows:
Covered Calls Cost Basis: $21,113.35
= ($43.88 - $1.66) * 500 shares + $3.35 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Options Income: +$826.65
= ($1.66 * 500 shares) - $3.35 commission
(b) Dividend Income (If BAC shares assigned on 6/5/2025, the last business day prior to the 6/6/2025 ex-dividend date): = +$0.00; or
(b) Dividend Income (If BAC shares assigned at the 6/13/2025 options expiration): +$130.00
= $.26 per share x 500 shares
(c) Capital Appreciation (If BAC shares assigned early on 6/5/2025): -$690.00
= ($42.50 strike price - $43.88 stock purchase price) * 500 shares; or
(c) Capital Appreciation (If shares above $42.50 strike price at the June 13th options expiration): -$690.00
= ($42.50 - $43.881) * 500 shares

1. Potential Net Profit (If Bank of America shares assigned on 6/5/2025, the day prior to the June 6th ex-dividend date): +$136.65
= (+$826.65 options income +$0.00 dividend income - $690.00 capital appreciation)
2. Potential Net Profit (If BAC price is above the $42.50 strike price at the June 13th options expiration): +$266.65
= (+$826.65 options income +$130.00 dividend income - $690.00 capital appreciation)

1. Absolute Return (If BAC shares assigned on 5/31/2023, the day prior to the June 1st ex-dividend date): +0.6%
= +$136.65/$21,113.35
Equivalent Annualized Return (If assigned early on day prior to ex-div date): +33.7%
= (+$136.65/$21,113.35) * (365/7 days)

2. Absolute Return (If BAC price is above $42.50 strike price at the June 13th options expiration): +1.3%
= +$266.65/$21,113.35
Equivalent Annualized Return (If assigned on the 6/1/2023 options expiration date): +32.9%
= (+$266.65/$21,113.35) * (365/14 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, all nine criteria are achieved for this Bank of America Covered Calls position.



Thursday, May 29, 2025

Established Covered Calls in Nvidia Corporation

This afternoon a Covered Calls position was established in Nvidia Corporation (ticker NVDA).  Nvidia's earnings report yesterday was stellar and their guidance for next quarter was also encouraging.  This morning I established a net buy/write limit order at $130.50 which I thought would be unlikely to be executed today.  But at 1:46pm ET, four hundred shares were purchased at $138.95 and four June 13th, 2025 weekly Call options were sold at the $133.00 strike price at $8.45 per share, which provides a $2.50 per share time value profit potential.  There was a 68.0% probability that the stock will be in-the-money on its 6/13/2025 options expiration date.

Because of my continuing bullish outlook on Nvidia's potential growth in both revenue and earnings, this position continues my recent practice of establishing short-term in-the-money Covered Calls positions in Nvidia. I prefer short-term (less than 30 days duration) positions since: (1) the potential annualized return-on-investment is higher for shorter-duration positions; and (2) short-term positions provide us a more frequent opportunity to re-evaluate the existing positions, so we can react quickly if negative news causes a significant stock price decline. 
 
As detailed below, a potential return-on-investment result is +1.9% absolute return-on-investment (equivalent to +46.5% annualized return-on-investment for the next 15 days) if the Nvidia share price is in-the-money (i.e. above the $133.00 strike price) and therefore assigned on its June 13th, 2025 options expiration date.  

Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) -- New Covered Calls Position

Today's buy/write net limit order transaction was as follows:
5/29/2025 Bought 400 Nvidia Corporation shares at $138.95.
5/29/2025 Sold 4 NVDA 6/13/2025 $133.00 Call options @ $8.45 per share.  The Implied Volatility of these Calls was 43.2% when this position was established.  

A possible overall performance result (including commissions) for this Nvidia Corporation Covered Calls position is as follows:
Covered Calls Net Investment: $52,202.68
= ($138.95 - $8.45) * 400 shares + $2.68 commission

Net Profit:
(a) Options Income: +$3,377.32
= ($8.45 * 400 shares) - $2.68 commission
(b) Dividend Income: +$0.00
(c) Capital Appreciation (If 400 Nvidia shares assigned at the $133.00 strike price at expiration): -$2,380.00
+($133.00 strike price - $138.95 stock purchase price) * 400 shares

Total Net Profit Potential (If 400 Nvidia shares in-the-money and therefore assigned at the $133.00 strike price at the options expiration date): +$997.32
= (+$3,377.32 options income + $0.00 dividend income - $2,380.00 capital appreciation)

Potential Absolute Return-on-Investment: +1.9%
= +$997.32/$52,202.68
Potential Annualized Return-on-Investment: +46.5%
= (+$997.32/$52,202.68) * (365/15 days)

Established Covered Call Position in Home Depot Inc.

A buy/write limit order in Home Depot Inc. (ticker HD) was executed at my net debit price of $359.00 per share. One hundred shares were purchased at $369.71 and one June 13th, 2025 Call option was sold for $10.71 at the $362.50 strike price. So, the potential time value profit is $3.50 per share = [$10.71 option premium - ($369.71 stock price - $362.50 strike price)] is possible if this Covered Calls position is closed out by assignment.  

This position uses my Dividend Capture Strategy since Home Depot has an upcoming quarterly ex-dividend of $2.30 per share on June 5th which is prior to the June 13th options expiration.  This is equivalent to an annualized dividend yield of 2.5% (at the $369.71 stock price) and an equivalent annualized dividend yield of 14.2% = [($2.30/$369.71) x (365/16 days to expiration)] for the 16 days duration of this position.  This dividend is included in the detailed return-on-investment calculations shown below.  Either an early assignment on the day prior to the ex-dividend date or on the June 13th options expiration date would be desirable given the potential annualized return-on-investment results for either outcome.

As shown on the table at the bottom of this post, all nine criteria of the  Dividend Capture Strategy are met with this position, and the probability that the position will be in-the-money at market close on the options expiration date was 67.9%.  

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

  •  +1.0% absolute return (equivalent to +44.4% annualized return-on-investment for the 8 days) if the stock is assigned early (the last business day prior to the June 5th ex-dividend date).
  • +1.6% absolute return (equivalent to +36.8% annualized return-on-investment over the next 16 days) if the stock is assigned on the June 13th, 2023 options expiration date.


Home Depot Inc. (HD) -- New Covered Call Position
The buy/write transaction was:
5/28/2025 Bought 100 Home Depot shares @ $369.71
5/28/2025 Sold 1 Home Depot 6/13/2025 $362.50 Call option @ $10.71
Note: Implied Volatility (IV) of the Call option was at 20.2 when this position was established.   
6/5/2025 Upcoming quarterly ex-dividend of $2.30 per share

Two possible overall performance results (including commissions) for this Home Depot Covered Call position are as follows:
Covered Calls Cost Basis: $35,900.67
= ($369.71 - $10.71) * 100 shares + $.67 commission

Net Profit Components:
(a) Option Income: +$1,070.33
= ($10.71 * 100 shares) - $.67 commission
(b) Dividend Income (If option exercised early on June 4th, 2025, the business day prior to the June 5th ex-div date): +$0.00; or
(b) Dividend Income (If Home Depot stock assigned at the June 13th, 2025 options expiration date): +$230.00
= ($2.30 dividend per share x 100 shares)
(c) Capital Appreciation (If Home Depot Call option assigned early): -$721.00
+($362.50 strike price - $369.71 stock purchase price) * 100 shares; or
(c) Capital Appreciation (If shares assigned at $362.50 strike price at options expiration): -$721.00
+($362.50 - $369.71) * 100 shares

1. Total Net Profit [If option exercised on June 4th (business day prior to the June 5th ex-dividend date)]: +$349.33
= (+$1,070.33 option income + $0.00 dividend income - $721.00 capital appreciation); or
2. Total Net Profit (If Home Depot shares assigned at $362.50 at the June 13th, 2025 expiration): +$579.33
= (+$1,070.33 option income + $230.00 dividend income - $721.00 capital appreciation)

1. Absolute Return-on-Investment [If option exercised on business day prior to ex-dividend date]: +1.0%
= +$349.33/$35,900.67
Annualized Return-on-Investment (If option exercised early): +44.4%
= (+$349.33/$35,900.67) * (365/8 days); or
2. Absolute Return-on-Investment (If Home Depot shares assigned on June 13th options expiration date): +1.6%
= +$579.33/$35,900.67
Annualized Return-on-Investment (If Home Depot shares assigned at $362.50 strike price on the June 13th, 2025 options expiration date): +36.8%
= (+$579.33/$35,900.67) * (365/16 days)

As shown in items 8 and 9 in the table below, either outcome provides a satisfactory return-on-investment result for this Home Depot investment.  These returns will be achieved as long as the stock is above the $280.00 strike price at assignment.  However, if the stock declines below the strike price, the breakeven price of $276.16 ($291.33 -$13.08 -$2.09) provides 5.2% 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 Home Depot Inc. Covered Call position.


Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Covered Calls Position Closed in Nvidia Corporation

Today I closed out my Covered Calls position in Nvidia Corporation (NVDA).  The position was unwound by selling-to-close the 400 shares and simultaneously buying-to-close the 4 May 30th, 2025 $125.00 Call options.  I decided to close out this position at a net profit before Nvidia's earnings report (which is after the market close today) because of the usual stock price volatility that often occurs immediately after quarterly earnings are reported.   

As detailed below, the results for this Nvidia Covered Calls investment was +1.3% absolute return-on-investment (equivalent to +39.9% annualized return-on-investment) for the 12 days. 

Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) -- Covered Calls Position Closed Out by Decision

The buy/write market order transaction was as follows:
5/16/2025 Bought 400 Nvidia Corporation shares at $135.12.
5/16/2025 Sold 4 NVDA 5/30/2025 $125.00 Call options @ $12.70 per share. 
5/28/2025 Closed out (i.e. unwound) this NVDA Covered Calls position by selling-to-close 400 NVDA shares @ $136.36 per share and simultaneously buying-to-close 4 May 30th, 2025 $125.00 Calls @ $12.32 per share.

The overall performance result (including commissions) for this Nvidia Corporation Covered Calls position is as follows:
Covered Calls Net Investment: $48,970.68
= ($135.12 - $12.70) * 400 shares + $2.68 commission

Net Profit:
(a) Options Income: +$146.64
= ($12.70 Calls sell-to-open price - $12.32 Calls Buy-to-close price) * 400 shares - $5.36 commissions
(b) Dividend Income: +$0.00
(c) Capital Appreciation: +$496.00
+($136.36 stock sell-to-close price - $135.12 stock purchase price) * 400 shares

Total Net Profit: +642.64
= (+$146.64 options income + $0.00 dividend income + $496.00 capital gain on sale of stock)

Absolute Return-on-Investment: +1.3%
= +$642.64/$48,970.68
Annualized Return-on-Investment: +39.9%
= (+$642.64/$48,970.68) * (365/12 days)