Long Put Vs Short Box (Arbitrage) Options Trading Strategy Comparison

A long put option strategy works well when you're expecting the underlying asset to sharply decline or be volatile in near future.

Being risks free arbitrage strategy, this strategy can earn better return than earnings in interest from fixed deposits for any investor. The earning from this strategy varies with the strike price chosen by the trader. i.e. Earning from strike price '10400, 10700' will be different from strike price combination of '9800,11000'.

The short box strategy should be used when the component spreads are overpriced in relation to their expiration values. In most cases, the trader has to hold the position till expiry to gain the benefits of the price difference.

Note: If the spreads are underpriced, another strategy named Long Box (or Box Spread) can be used for a profit.

This strategy should be used by advanced traders as the gains are minimal. The brokerage payable when implementing this strategy can take away all the profits. This strategy should only be implemented when the fees paid are lower than the expected profit.

When you are expecting a drop in the price of the underlying and rise in the volatility.

The market view for this strategy is neutral. The movement in underlying security doesn't affect the outcome (profit/loss). This arbitrage strategy is to earn small profits irrespective of the market movements in any direction.

• Buy Put Option

Let's assume you're Bearish on Nifty currently trading at 10,400. You expect it to fall to 10,000 level. You buy a Put option with a strike price 10,000. If the Nifty goes below 10,000, you will make a profit on exercising the option. In case the Nifty rises contrary to expectation, you will incur a maximum loss of the premium.

• Buy Call Option 2
• Sell Call Option 1
• Buy Put Option 2
• Sell Put Option 1 (2>1)

Say for XYZ stock, the component spread is relatively overpriced than its underlying. You can execute execute Short Box strategy by selling 1 ITM Call and 1 ITM Put while buying 1 OTM Call and 1 OTM Put. There is no risk of loss while the profit potential would be the difference between two strike prices minus net premium.

The breakeven is achieved when the strike price of the Put Option is equal to the premium paid.

The risk for this strategy is limited to the premium paid for the Put Option. Maximum loss will happen when price of underlying is greater than strike price of the Put option.

The Short Box Spread Options Strategy is a relatively risk-free strategy. There is no risk in the overall position because the losses in one spread will be neutralized by the gains in the other spread.

The trades are also risk-free as they are executed on an exchange and therefore cleared and guaranteed by the exchange.

The small risks of this strategy include:

1. The cost of trading - Some brokers charges high brokerage/fees, which along with the taxes could make the overall loss-making trade.
2. The box spread can be liquidated by an offsetting transaction easily and transparently on an exchange with minimal loss/profit.

This strategy has the potential to earn unlimited profit. The profit will depend on how low the price of the underlying drops.

The reward in this strategy is the difference between the total cost of the box spread and its expiration value. Being an arbitrage strategy, the profits are very small.

It's an extremely low-risk options trading strategy.

Underlying goes down and Option exercised

• Maximum Profit = Unlimited
• Maximum Profit Achieved When Price of Underlying = 0
• Profit = Strike Price of Long Put - Premium Paid

Underlying goes up and Option not exercised

• Max Loss = Premium Paid + Commissions Paid
• Max Loss Occurs When Price of Underlying >= Strike Price of Long Put

Unlimited profit potential with risk only limited to loss of premium.

1. In short box, you are taking money in, so there's no capital tied up.
2. This is an Arbitrage strategy. This strategy is to earn small profits with very little or zero risks.

You may incur 100% loss in premium if the underlying price rises.

1. It's a professional strategy and not for retail investors. The opportunities are closely monitored by High-Frequency algorithms. These arbitrage opportunities are usually for the high-frequency algorithms and need large pools of money to make it worth it and usually with better brokerage commission schemes.
2. This strategy has high margin maintenance requirements and in many cases, the trader won't have the margin available to do that.
3. For retail investors, the brokerage commissions don't make this a viable strategy. Only low-fee traders can take advantage of this.
4. In theory, this strategy sounds good but in reality, it may not as profits are small.
5. Locking the box - Trader has to wait until to expiry by keeping the money stuck in the box.

• Box Spread or Long Box