Writing Calls Covered by Long-Term Call Options on CM Shares

As the following graph shows, share prices for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) peaked in February 2017, after which they fell by almost 15% to settle at around $104. Since then, CM is up slightly and trying to break through $110, but this resistance level may be difficult to breach, since it was a support level in December 2016 and January 2017. In technical analysis, it is common knowledge that once a support level has been crossed, it can become a resistance level. This is what appears to be happening here. Furthermore, we can see that CM peaked at $104 at the end of August 2016, and this peak now appears to be serving as a support level. Prices may therefore be relatively stable for a while, moving in a channel bound by $104 and $110. The investor who still believes in the long-term potential of CM may want to take advantage of the time value decay in the short term by writing calls covered not by shares, but by long-term call options. The advantage to holding long-term call options over shares lies in their low cost in comparison to paying $108.52 per share for CM, which was the price when this text was written on August 9, 2017.

Writing Calls Covered with Long-Term Options

Writing Covered Calls: Table Comparing Holding Long-Term Options with Holding Shares

Profit and Loss Diagram upon Expiration of the Short-term Options when Writing Call Options Covered by Long-Term Options

Profit and Loss Diagram upon Expiration when Writing Call Options Covered by Shares

The above graphs and table compare writing calls covered by long-term options with writing calls covered by shares. As you can see, the profit and loss diagrams of these two positions are similar but not identical. Using long-term options results in a potential loss above the upper breakeven price of $122.84, while using shares shows a continuous maximum profit of $258 per contract above the strike price of $110. A maximum profit of $202 per long-term option contract is obtained when CM closes exactly on the $110 strike price upon expiration of the short-term options on September 15, 2017. This $202 potential profit represents a 21% return on invested capital for the 37-day period, and an annualized return of 207.2%  if we could repeat this performance every 37 days for a full year. The maximum profit of $258 per contract when using shares represents a return of 2.4% for the 37-day period and an annualized return of 23.7%.

The static return for the long-term options (the return obtained if the price of CM remains relatively unchanged from now until the options expire on September 15, 2017) is 9.8% for the 37-day period (96.7% annualized return), and 2.4% for the strategy using shares (23.7% annualized return).

The position becomes a losing proposition below the breakeven prices of $107.06 when holding long-term options and $107.42 when holding shares. We will have greater leeway in both of the strategies if the stock price rises compared to if it falls. Consequently, defensive measures should be taken if CM falls below the $104 support level. Should the price fall, the simplest solution would be to liquidate the position entirely, or roll over the call options we have written by buying them back, and selling others at a lower strike price.

As we can see, using long-term options allows us to obtain better returns on our invested capital compared to holding shares, which requires a larger investment of capital. Also, in the event that the stock price falls suddenly and precipitously, our loss is limited to the position’s debit position, which is $965 for the long-term options. This compares to a much greater loss on the strategy of holding shares.

In the proposed scenario of writing covered calls, the use of long-term options therefore represents an excellent alternative to using shares.

Good luck with your trading, and have a good week!

The strategies presented in this blog are for information and training purposes only, and should not be interpreted as recommendations to buy or sell any security. As always, you should ensure that you are comfortable with the proposed scenarios and ready to assume all the risks before implementing an option strategy.