Long Call Vs Short Strangle (Sell Strangle) Options Trading Strategy Comparison

Compare Long Call and Short Strangle (Sell Strangle) options trading strategies. Find similarities and differences between Long Call and Short Strangle (Sell Strangle) strategies. Find the best options trading strategy for your trading needs.

Long Call Vs Short Strangle (Sell Strangle)

	Long Call	Short Strangle (Sell Strangle)


About Strategy	A Long Call Option trading strategy is one of the basic strategies. In this strategy, a trader is Bullish in his market view and expects the market to rise in near future. The strategy involves taking a single position of buying a Call Option (either ITM, ATM or OTM). This strategy has limited risk (max loss is premium paid) and unlimited profit potential. When the trader goes long on call, the trader buys a Call Option and later sells it to earn profits if the price of the underlying asset goes up. When the trader buys a call, he pays the option premium in exchange for the right (but not the obligation) to buy share or index at a fixed price by a certain expiry date. This premium is the only amount at-the-risk for trader in case the mark... Read More	The Short Strangle (or Sell Strangle) is a neutral strategy wherein a Slightly OTM Call and a Slightly OTM Put Options are sold simultaneously of same underlying asset and expiry date. This strategy can be used when the trader expects that the underlying stock will experience a very little volatility in the near term. It is a limited profit and unlimited risk strategy. The maximum profit earn is the net premium received. The maximum loss is achieved when the underlying moves either significantly upwards or downwards at expiration. A net credit is taken to enter into this strategy. For this reason, the Short Strangles are Credit Spreads. The usual Short Strangle Strategy looks like as below for NIFTY current index value at 10400 (NIFTY S... Read More
Market View	Bullish	Neutral
Strategy Level	Beginners	Advance
Options Type	Call	Call + Put
Number of Positions	1	2
Risk Profile	Limited	Unlimited
Reward Profile	Unlimited	Limited
Breakeven Point	Strike Price + Premium	two break-even points

When and how to use Long Call and Short Strangle (Sell Strangle)?

	Long Call	Short Strangle (Sell Strangle)
When to use?	A long call Option strategy works well when you expect the underlying instrument to move positively in the recent future. If you expect XYZ company to do well in near future then you can buy Call Options of the company. You will earn the profit if the price of the company shares closes above the Strike Price on the expiry date. However, if underlying shares don't do well and move downwards on expiry date you will incur losses (i.e. lose premium paid).	The Short Strangle is perfect in a neutral market scenario when the underlying is expected to be less volatile.
Market View	Bullish When you're expecting a rise in the price of the underlying and increase in volatility.	Neutral When you are expecting little volatility and movement in the price of the underlying.
Action	Buy Call Option A long call strategy involves buying a call option only. So if you expect Reliance to do well in near future then you can buy Call Options of Reliance. You will earn a profit if the price of Reliance shares closes above the Strike price on the expiry date. However, if Reliance shares don't move up within the expiry date you will incur losses.	Sell OTM Call Sell OTM Put Sell 1 out-of-the-money put and sell 1 out-of-the-money call which belongs to same underlying asset and has the same expiry date.
Breakeven Point	Strike Price + Premium The break-even point for Long Call strategy is the sum of the strike price and premium paid. Traders earn profits if the price of the underlying asset moves above the break-even point. Traders loose premium if the price of the underlying asset falls below the break-even point.	two break-even points A strangle has two break-even points. Lower Break-even = Strike Price of Put - Net Premium Upper Break-even = Strike Price of Call+ Net Premium"

Compare Risks and Rewards (Long Call Vs Short Strangle (Sell Strangle))

	Long Call	Short Strangle (Sell Strangle)
Risks	Limited The risk is limited to the premium paid for the call option irrespective of the price of the underlying on the expiration date. Max Loss = Premium Paid	Unlimited The maximum loss is unlimited in this strategy. You will incur losses when the price of the underlying moves significantly either upwards or downwards at expiration. Loss = Price of Underlying - Strike Price of Short Call - Net Premium Received Or Loss = Strike Price of Short Put - Price of Underlying - Net Premium Received
Rewards	Unlimited There is no limit to maximum profit attainable in the long call option strategy. The trade gets profitable when price of the underlying is greater than strike price plus premium. Profit = Price of Underlying - (Strike Price + Premium Paid)	Limited For maximum profit, the price of the underlying on expiration date must trade between the strike prices of the options. The maximum profit is limited to the net premium received while selling the Options. Maximum Profit = Net Premium Received
Maximum Profit Scenario	Underlying closes above the strike price on expiry.	Both Option not exercised
Maximum Loss Scenario	Underlying closes below the strike price on expiry.	One Option exercised

Pros & Cons or Long Call and Short Strangle (Sell Strangle)

	Long Call	Short Strangle (Sell Strangle)
Advantages	Buying a Call Option instead of the underlying allows you to gain more profits by investing less and limiting your losses to minimum.	The strategy offers higher chance of profitability in comparison to Short Straddle due to selling of OTM Options.
Disadvantage	Call options have a limited lifespan. So, in case the price of your underlying stock is not higher than the strike price before the expiry date, the call option will expire worthlessly and you will lose the premium paid.	Limited reward with high risk exposure.
Simillar Strategies	Protective Put, Covered Put/Married Put, Bull Call Spread	Short Straddle, Long Strangle

1 Comments

1. Justin Gilead

| Link|August 16, 2022 9:47:47 PMReply

You partially get it wrong! The max loss will be the equivalent of the call premium paid for a single call position, indeed ; for a synthetic call options, it will be likened to the call options premium that you actually haven't paid as the call position has just been replicated along with the help of a long put and a long underlying though. For instance, if you purchase an ITM put, in addition to the long underlying, then the overall cost will be quite high, but the max risk entailed in the position will be the equivalent of the cheap OTM call options (only time value) that stands on the other side and on the same strike. In short, you may pay more to risk less with a synthetic options ; it definitely does the trick for hedging purposes then.

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