Short Straddle (Sell Straddle or Naked Straddle) Vs Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Options Trading Strategy Comparison

This strategy is to be used when you expect a flat market in the coming days with very less movement in the prices of underlying asset.

The Long Call Condor works well when you expect the price of the underlying to be range bound in the coming days. In other words, when the trader is anticipating minimal price movement in the underlying during the lifetime of the options.

When trader don't expect much movement in its price in near future.

When you are unsure about the direction in the movement in the price of the underlying but are expecting little volatility in it in the near future.

• Sell Call Option
• Sell Put Option

• Buy Deep ITM Call Option
• Buy Deep OTM Call Option
• Sell ITM Call Option
• Sell OTM Call Option

Suppose Nifty is currently trading at 10,400. You expect little volatility in the index and market to largely remain range bound. To profit in such a market scenario, you can buy buy 1 ITM Nifty Call Option at 10,200, sells 1 ITM Nifty Call Option 10,300, sell 1 OTM Call Option at 10,500 and buy 1 OTM Nifty Call Option at 10,800. The Net debit of premium is the maximum possible loss while your maximum profit will be when Nifty is between the strike prices of 2 short calls on expiry.

There are 2 break even points in this strategy. The upper break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the total of strike price of short call and net premium paid. The lower break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the difference between strike price of short Put and net premium paid.

Break-even points:

Lower Breakeven = Strike Price of Put - Net Premium

Upper breakeven = Strike Price of Call+ Net Premium

There are 2 break even points in this strategy. The upper break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the difference between higher strike price and net premium paid. The lower break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the total of lower strike price and net premium paid.

Lower Breakeven = Lower Strike Price + Net Premium

Upper breakeven = Higher Strike Price - Net Premium

There is a possibility of unlimited loss in the short straddle strategy. The loss occurs when the price of the underlying significantly moves upwards and downwards.

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

The maximum risk in a long call condor strategy is equal to the net premium paid at the time of entering the trade. The max risk is when the price of the underlying equal to or below the lower strike price or when the underlying price is equal to or above the higher strike price of Options in trade at expiration time.

Maximum profit is limited to the net premium received. The profit is achieved when the price of the underlying is equal to either strike price of short Call or Put.

The maximum profit in a long call condor strategy is realized when the price of the underlying is trading between the two middle strikes at time of expiration.

Both ITM Calls exercised

Max Profit = Strike Price of Lower Strike Short Call - Strike Price of Lower Strike Long Call - Net Premium Paid

One Option exercised

All Options exercised or not exercised

Max Loss = Net Premium Paid

It allows you to benefit from double time decay and earn profit in a less volatile scenario.

It allows you to profit from range bound underlying at low capital. The profit is high with limited risk exposure.

The maximum profit for the condor trade may be low in relation to other trading strategies but it has a comparatively wider profit zone.

Unlimited losses if the price of the underlying move significantly in either direction.

Strike prices selected may have an impact on the potential of profit.

Brokerage and taxes makes a significant impact on the profits from this strategy. The cost of trading increases with number of legs. This strategy has 4 legs and thus the brokerage cost is higher.