7/16/22, 11:50 AM Short Condor Spread with Calls - Fidelity

Short condor spread with calls

THE OPTIONS INSTITUTE AT CBOE®

Bearish

Goal
To profit from a stock price move up or down beyond the highest or lowest strike
prices of the position.

Explanation

Example of short condor spread with calls

Sell 1 XYZ 95 call at 8.40 8.40

Buy 1 XYZ 100 call at 4.80 (4.80)

Buy 1 XYZ 105 call at 2.35 (2.35)

Sell 1 XYZ 110 call at 0.95 0.95

Net credit = 2.20

A short condor spread with calls is a four-part strategy that is created by selling one
call at a lower strike price, buying one call with a higher strike price, buying another
call with an even higher strike price and selling one more call with an even higher
strike price. All calls have the same expiration date, and the strike prices are
equidistant. In the example above, one 95 Call is sold, one 100 Call is purchased,
one 105 Call is purchased, and one 110 Call is sold. This strategy is established for a
net credit, and both the potential profit and maximum risk are limited. The
maximum profit is equal to the net premium received less commissions, and it is
realized if the stock price is above the higher strike price or below the lower strike
price at expiration. The maximum risk equals the distance between the strike prices
less the net premium received and is incurred if the stock price is between the
middle two strike prices on the expiration date.

This is an advanced strategy because the profit potential is small in dollar terms and
because “costs” are high. Given that there are four strike prices, there are multiple
commissions and bid-ask spreads when opening the position and again when
closing it. As a result, it is essential to open and close the position at “good prices.”
It is also important to trade a condor at acceptable risk/reward ratios.

Maximum profit

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The maximum profit potential is the net credit received less commissions, and there
are two possible outcomes in which a profit of this amount is realized. If the stock
price is below the lowest strike price at expiration, then all calls expire worthless
and the net credit is kept as income. Also, if the stock price is above the highest
strike price at expiration, then all calls are in the money and the condor spread
position has a net value of zero. As a result, the net credit less commissions is kept
as income.

Maximum risk
The maximum risk is equal to the difference between the strike prices less the net
credit received minus commissions, and a loss of this amount is realized if the stock
price is between the middle strike prices at expiration.

In the example above, the difference between the strike prices is 5.00, and the net
credit received is 2.20, not including commissions. The maximum risk, therefore, is
2.80 less commissions.

Breakeven stock price at expiration

There are two breakeven points. The lower breakeven point is the stock price equal
to the lowest strike price plus the net credit received. The upper breakeven point is
the stock price equal to the highest strike price minus the net credit.

Profit/Loss diagram and table: short condor spread with calls

Sell 1 XYZ 95 call at 8.40 8.40

Buy 1 XYZ 100 call at 4.80 (4.80)

Buy 1 XYZ 105 call at 2.35 (2.35)

Sell 1 XYZ 110 call at 0.95 0.95

Net credit = 2.20

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Stock Short 1 95 Long 1 100 Long 1 105 Short 1 110 Net

Price at Call Call Call Call Profit/(Loss)
Expiration Profit/(Loss) Profit/(Loss) Profit/(Loss) Profit/(Loss) at
at at at At Expiration
Expiration Expiration Expiration Expiration

115 (11.60) +10.20 +7.65 (4.05) +2.20

110 (6.60) +5.20 +2.65 +0.95 +2.20

105 (1.60) +0.20 (2.35) +0.95 (2.80)

100 +3.40 (4.80) (2.35) +0.95 (2.80)

95 +8.40 (4.80) (2.35) +0.95 +2.20

90 +8.40 (4.80) (2.35) +0.95 +2.20

Appropriate market forecast

A short condor spread with calls realizes its maximum profit if the stock price is
above the highest strike or below the lowest strike on the expiration date. The
forecast, therefore, must be for “high volatility,” i.e., a price move outside the range
of the strike prices of the condor.

Strategy discussion
A short condor spread with calls is the strategy of choice when the forecast is for a
stock price move outside the range of the highest and lowest strike prices. Unlike a
long straddle or long strangle, however, the profit potential of a short condor
spread is limited. Also, the commissions for a condor spread are higher than for a
straddle or strangle. The tradeoff is that a short condor spread has breakeven points

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much closer to the current stock price than a comparable long straddle or long
strangle.

Condor spreads are sensitive to changes in volatility (see Impact of Change in

Volatility). The net price of a condor spread falls when volatility rises and rises when
volatility falls. Consequently some traders establish a short condor spread when
they believe that volatility is “low” and forecast that it will rise. Since the volatility in
option prices typically rises as an earnings announcement date approaches and
then falls immediately after the announcement, some traders will sell a condor
spread seven to ten days before an earnings report and then close the position on
the day before the report. Success of this approach to selling condor spreads
requires that either the volatility in option prices rises or that the stock price rises or
falls outside the strike price range. If the stock price remains constant and if implied
volatility does not rise, then a loss will be incurred.

Patience and trading discipline are required when trading short condor spreads.
Patience is required because this strategy profits from stock price movement and/or
rising implied volatility, and stock price action can be unsettling as it rises and falls
between the lower and upper strike prices as expiration approaches. Trading
discipline is required, because, as expiration approaches, “small” changes in the
underlying stock price can have a high percentage impact on the price of a condor
spread. Traders must, therefore, be disciplined in taking partial profits if possible
and also in taking “small” losses before the losses become “big.”

Impact of stock price change

“Delta” estimates how much a position will change in price as the stock price
changes. Long calls have positive deltas, and short calls have negative deltas.

Regardless of time to expiration and regardless of stock price, the net delta of a
condor spread remains close to zero until one or two days before expiration. If the
stock price is below the lowest strike price in a short condor spread with calls, then
the net delta is slightly negative. If the stock price is above the highest strike price,
then the net delta is slightly positive. Overall, a short condor spread with calls profits
from a stock price rise or fall outside the range of strike prices in the spread and is
hurt by time decay.

Impact of change in volatility

Volatility is a measure of how much a stock price fluctuates in percentage terms,
and volatility is a factor in option prices. As volatility rises, option prices tend to rise
if other factors such as stock price and time to expiration remain constant. Long
options, therefore, rise in price and make money when volatility rises, and short
options rise in price and lose money when volatility rises. When volatility falls, the
opposite happens; long options lose money and short options make money. “Vega”
is a measure of how much changing volatility affects the net price of a position.

Short condor spreads with calls have a negative vega. This means that the price of a
short condor spread falls when volatility rises (and the spread makes money). When
volatility falls, the price of a short condor spread rises (and the spread loses money).
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Short condor spreads, therefore, should be established when volatility is “low” and
forecast to rise.

Impact of time
The time value portion of an option’s total price decreases as expiration
approaches. This is known as time erosion. “Theta” is a measure of how much time
erosion affects the net price of a position. Long option positions have negative
theta, which means they lose money from time erosion, if other factors remain
constant; and short options have positive theta, which means they make money
from time erosion.

A short condor spread with calls has a net negative theta – it loses from time decay –
as long as the stock price is in a range between the lowest and highest strike prices.
If the stock price moves out of this range, however, the theta becomes positive as
expiration approaches.

Risk of early assignment

Stock options in the United States can be exercised on any business day, and
holders of short stock option positions have no control over when they will be
required to fulfill the obligation. Therefore, the risk of early assignment is a real risk
that must be considered when entering into positions involving short options.

While the long calls (middle two strike prices) in a short condor spread have no risk
of early assignment, the short calls do have such risk. Early assignment of stock
options is generally related to dividends. Short calls that are assigned early are
generally assigned on the day before the ex-dividend date. In-the-money calls
whose time value is less than the dividend have a high likelihood of being assigned.

If one short call is assigned (most likely the lowest-strike short call), then 100 shares
of stock are sold short and the long calls (middle two strikes) and the other short call
remain open. If a short stock position is not wanted, it can be closed in one of two
ways. First, 100 shares can be purchased in the marketplace. Second, the short 100-
share position can be closed by exercising the lowest-strike long call. Remember,
however, that exercising a long call will forfeit the time value of that call. Therefore,
it is generally preferable to buy shares to close the short stock position and then sell
a long call. This two-part action recovers the time value of the long call. One caveat
is commissions. Buying shares to cover the short stock position and then selling the
long call is only advantageous if the commissions are less than the time value of the
long call.

If both of the short calls are assigned, then 200 shares of stock are sold short and
the long calls remain open. Again, if a short stock position is not wanted, it can be
closed in one of two ways. Either 200 shares can be purchased in the marketplace,
or both long calls can be exercised. However, as discussed above, since exercising a
long call forfeits the time value, it is generally preferable to buy shares to close the
short stock position and then sell the long calls. The caveat, as mentioned above, is
commissions. Buying shares to cover the short stock position and then selling the

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long calls is only advantageous if the commissions are less than the time value of
the long calls.

Note, however, that whichever method is used, buying stock and selling a long call
or exercising a long call, the date of the stock purchase will be one day later than
the date of the short sale. This difference will result in additional fees, including
interest charges and commissions. Assignment of a short option might also trigger a
margin call if there is not sufficient account equity to support the stock position
created.

Potential position created at expiration

The position at expiration of a short condor spread with calls depends on the
relationship of the stock price to the strike prices of the spread. If the stock price is
below the lowest strike price, then all calls expire worthless, and no position is
created.

If the stock price is above the lowest strike and at or below the second-lowest strike,
then the lowest strike short call is assigned, and the other three calls expire
worthless. The result is that 100 shares of stock are sold short and a stock position of
short 100 shares is created.

If the stock price is above the second-lowest strike and at or below the second-
highest strike, then the lowest strike short call is assigned and the second-lowest
strike long call is exercised. The result is that 100 shares are purchased and 100
shares are sold. The net result is no position, although one stock buy commission
and one stock sell commission have been incurred.

If the stock price is above the second-highest strike and at or below the highest
strike, then the lowest-strike short call is assigned, and both long calls are exercised.
The result is that 100 shares are sold and 200 shares are purchased. The net result is
a stock position of long 100 shares.

If the stock price is above the highest strike, then both short calls (lowest and
highest strikes) are assigned and both long calls (middle two strikes) are exercised.
The result is that 200 shares are purchased and 200 shares are sold. The net result is
no position, although two stock buy and sell commissions have been incurred.

Other considerations
A short condor spread with calls can also be described as the combination of a bear
call spread and a bull call spread. The bear call spread is the short lowest-strike call
combined with the second-lowest strike long call, and the bull call spread is the
second-highest strike long call combined with the short highest-strike call.

The term “condor” in the strategy name is thought to have originated from the
profit-loss diagram. A condor is a bird with an exceptionally long wing span for its
body size. The horizontal line representing the range of maximum profit in the
middle of the diagram for a long condor spread looks vaguely like the body a
condor and the horizontal lines stretching out above the highest strike and below

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the lowest strike look vaguely like the wings of a condor. A short condor spread
looks vaguely like an upside-down condor.

Related Strategies
Long condor spread with calls
A long condor spread with calls is a four-part strategy that is created by buying one call at a
lower strike price, selling one call with a higher strike price, selling another call with an
even higher strike price and buying one more call with an even higher strike price.

Short condor spread with puts

A short condor spread with puts is a four-part strategy that is created by selling one put at
a higher strike price, buying one put with a lower strike price, buying another put with an
even lower strike price and selling one more put with an even lower strike price.

Article copyright 2013 by Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc (CBOE). Reprinted with permission from CBOE. The
statements and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. Fidelity Investments cannot guarantee the
accuracy or completeness of any statements or data.

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry
additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options . Supporting
documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.

Charts, screenshots, company stock symbols and examples contained in this module are for illustrative purposes only.

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