Buy Deep In The Money Call Options: Good Strategy?

Are you looking to maximize your profits and minimize risk from stock trading?

Consider buying deep in the money call options on the ticker. It’s a strategy that can help increase returns and minimize risk of loss, but it requires an understanding of when to buy these deep ITM calls and knowing why someone would sell them.

In this blog post we’ll discuss what deep in the money call options are, when they should be bought, why someone would want to sell them, as well as some examples of how to go about buying these types of options.

What We Cover:

What are Deep in the Money Call Options?

Deep in the money call options are a type of option contract that has an intrinsic value greater than its strike price. This means that the underlying asset is trading at a higher price than the strike price, and the option buyer will make a profit if they exercise their option.

If you have a call with a strike of $90 and Apple’s stock rises to $110 before your expiration date, then your deep in the money call option would be worth $20 (the difference between what you paid for it and its current value).

You could decide to exercise your right to buy 100 shares of Apple stock at a price of $90 each or alternatively, sell the option on the open market for more than you initially paid (the general way traders use options).

When deciding whether or not to buy deep in the money calls, there are several factors traders should consider: time frame, cost of entry, potential return on investment (ROI), risk tolerance level, volatility of underlying asset prices and other market conditions such as liquidity levels and interest rates.

Time frame must be taken into account since options contracts have an expiration date associated with them so you should think about how long you plan on holding the position.

Additionally, the cost of the trade must be factored in since this can significantly affect ROI depending on how much was initially spent (premium paid) when purchasing these contracts.

Deep in the Money Call Options are a great way to leverage your capital and potentially increase returns, but it’s important to understand when they should be used and how they can benefit you.

Main Lesson: Deep in the money call options are a type of option contract with an intrinsic value greater than its strike price.

When Should I Buy Deep in the Money Calls?

When it comes to buying deep in the money calls, timing is key. These contracts can be very profitable if used correctly and at the right time.

One of the best times to buy deep in the money calls is when you expect market conditions or news events to cause an increase in price for an underlying asset quickly. For example, if you anticipate that a company’s stock will go up due to positive earnings reports or other favorable news, buying deep ITM calls could be a good way to capitalize on this profit potential without having to buy the actual stock.

You must have an idea of how long you will hold and when the expected price move may be.  When buying options, you pay a premium and the premiums for deep ITM options are more expensive than OTM or ATM options.

These contracts can generate larger returns than OTM/ATM call options due to their greater intrinsic value relative to cost basis ratio (IV/CBR). Remember though, they are expensive and the expected return you have should mitigate those costs.

It is important to remember that even though deep ITM calls offer great potential profits, they also come with risks. Time decay can eat away at the value of the contract and sudden moves against you, can be costly.  Your maximum loss is the cost of the trade which can be high.

Main Lesson: Deep in the money calls can be a great way to capitalize on potential gains, but it’s important to consider how long you plan on holding your position and that they come with greater risks. Factors to consider include: cost basis ratio, premiums, and capital required.

Why Would Someone Sell Deep ITM Calls?

There are several reasons why someone might sell deep ITM calls.

One reason could be that they believe that the underlying asset will not increase significantly over time. If this is true, then selling deep ITM calls can generate income without taking on too much risk since there is little chance that their option will ever get exercised by another trader.

Another reason could be as part of a hedging strategy. For instance, if an investor owns shares of stock and wants to protect against losses due to market volatility or other factors, they may choose to sell some deep ITM calls on those same stocks as insurance against any potential losses from holding them long term.

This way, even if their stocks go down in value they can still make money from selling these options contracts which offsets some or all of their losses from owning shares directly.

Main Lesson: Deep in the money call options can generate income without taking on too much risk, or be used as part of a hedging strategy to protect against losses.

Examples of Buying Deep In The Money Calls

If Apple stock is trading for $153.00 per share and you purchase a call option with a strike price of $145 then your intrinsic value will be $8 ($153-$145).

deep in the money

If Apple’s stock increases to $160 per share then your intrinsic value will increase to $15 ($160-$145) and you can exercise your option and buy Apple shares at only $145 instead of paying full market value.  Notice that as we get closer to the current price of the stock, the premium gets cheaper. 

With a $145 strike, it would cost you about $11.00 per share.

With an options contract, you essentially have the right to buy 100 shares and in this case, the contract would cost you $11 X 100 = $1100.00 for the deep ITM contract.  This is also the most you will lose on this trade.

Main Lesson: Deep in the money call options are a great way to purchase stock at a discounted rate with limited downside risk. They can be used when there is significant upside potential and sold for income without taking on too much risk.

ITM VS OTM CALL OPTIONS

In the world of stock and options trading, there are two main types of call options: in the money (ITM) and out of the money (OTM). ITM calls are those with a strike price lower than the current market price. OTM calls have a strike price higher than the current market price.

The biggest difference between ITM and OTM calls is the premium paid.

ITM calls tend to be more expensive because they already have intrinsic value, meaning that if you exercise them, you would make a profit right away due to their lower strike prices.

ITM AND OTM OPTIONS PREMIUM

On the flip side, OTM calls are cheaper since they don’t have any intrinsic value yet; exercising them would not result in an immediate profit.

Another key difference between these two types of call options is their potential for return on investment (ROI). Since ITM calls already have some intrinsic value when purchased, they can generate greater returns compared to OTM ones as long as your predictions about future stock movements prove correct.

However, this also means that if your trade turn out wrong or if markets move against you unexpectedly, then you could end up losing more money with an ITM option than with an OTM one due to its higher initial cost.

OTM calls offer traders the advantage of unlimited upside potential without requiring a large upfront cost. This makes them ideal for those who want to gain exposure to stocks but don’t want to commit too much capital at once or take on too much risk before seeing how things develop in real-time market conditions over longer periods such as weeks or months.

When deciding which type of call option best suits your needs as a trader, consider factors such as how much capital you have available, what kind of ROI expectations do you realistically expect from this particular trade, and whether short-term or long-term gains matter most.

Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages so choose wisely depending on what works best for your individual goals.

Main Lesson: When deciding which type of call option to use, consider the upfront cost, expected ROI, and whether short-term or long-term gains are more important. ITM calls offer greater potential returns but also carry higher risks due to their higher costs. OTM calls provide unlimited upside potential with a lower initial investment.

Quick FAQ

Is it good to buy a call option in the money?

The answer to this question depends on the individual trader’s goals and risk tolerance. Generally speaking, buying an in-the-money call option can be a good strategy if you are looking for immediate gains due to the higher intrinsic value of the option. It also carries more risk if price moves against you. Ultimately, whether or not it is a good decision will depend on your own personal trading style and objectives.

Why buy deep OTM options?

Options trading can be a great way to make money, but it is important to understand the risks involved. Deep Out-of-the-Money (OTM) options are those with strike prices that are far away from the current market price of the underlying asset. Buying deep OTM options can provide traders with higher leverage and greater potential for large returns compared to buying at or near the money options.

However, these types of trades also come with increased risk as they have a lower probability of expiring in-the-money and may require more capital than other strategies. Ultimately, whether or not you choose to buy deep OTM options depends on your individual risk tolerance and investment goals.

These are the cheapest options for a reason.  You need a large move in the underlying stock quickly to avoid time decay and missing the strike price by expiration.

Wrap Up

Deep in the money call options are a great way to gain exposure to stocks without having to buy them outright. They offer investors the potential for large returns with limited risk and can be used as part of an overall investment strategy. When considering buying deep in the money calls, it is important to have an idea when you expect a move in the underlying stock.

We don’t want time decay to add up and render the contract worthless.

If you buy deep in the money call options, understand they are expensive but also will combat time decay.  You can afford some time before the stock gets moving but you still need the move to happen relatively quickly.  The closer you get to expiration, the greater the increase in the Delta of an option and the acceleration of decay if the stock is not moving.

The answer to this question depends on the individual trader’s goals and risk tolerance. Generally speaking, buying an in-the-money call option can be a good strategy if you are looking for immediate gains due to the higher intrinsic value of the option. However, it also carries more risk if price moves against you. Ultimately, whether or not it is a good decision will depend on your own personal trading style and objectives.

Options trading can be a great way to make money, but it is important to understand the risks involved. Deep Out-of-the-Money (OTM) options are those with strike prices that are far away from the current market price of the underlying asset. Buying deep OTM options can provide traders with higher leverage and greater potential for large returns compared to buying at or near the money options. potential

However, these types of trades also come with increased risk as they have a lower probability of expiring in-the-money and may require more capital than other strategies.

These are the cheapest options for a reason.\u00a0 You need a large move in the underlying stock quickly to avoid time decay and missing the strike price by expiration.

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Author: CoachShane
Shane his trading journey in 2005, became a Netpicks customer in 2008 needing structure in his trading approach. His focus is on the technical side of trading filtering in a macro overview and credits a handful of traders that have heavily influenced his relaxed approach to trading. Shane started day trading Forex but has since transitioned to a swing/position focus in most markets including commodities and futures. This has allowed less time in front of the computer without an adverse affect on returns.