Results Week Ending 5/1/20
When being involved in the stock market, whether as an investor or trader, or both as I am, your account will fluctuate with market movement. You cannot let this deter you from your goals.
I have a strategy where I buy LEAPS with profits from my trading. I look at these LEAPS investments as “Stock Alternative” investments. These are long term, at least LONGER term, than my trading investments. I feel with buying LEAPS I get the same opportunity of gain I would get with buying stocks, only with a much less investment.
If you look at my Active Trades page (at the bottom) you will see a long list of LEAPS I’ve accumulated. These are all Long Positions.
As my list of accumulated Long Positions gets larger my Long Positions will outweigh my Short Positions. When the market moves up my account will be affected, in a positive way, more than if I had more Short Positions. However, when the market moves down my account will move down in a negative way more.
This is normal for most investors who hold mostly Long Positions.
I bring this up because most Main Street beats Wall Street readers know I sell options. Selling options is getting into a Short Position. This week I had the best week of the year bringing in money with selling options. I also had profit selling stock. I brought in over $8000.
Between the close on Wednesday and the close of the week the DOW lost almost 1000 points. This drop helped my Short Calls. Even with the $8000 I brought in this week my account closed lower this Friday than last Friday. The drop in the market on Thursday and Friday caused all my Long LEAPS lose value, which caused my account to have less value. Not to worry! I still brought in $8000 in cash. When the market fluctuates back up, and the value of my Long LEAPS increases, my account will come roaring back.
Let’s take a look at the trades that are responsible for my $8000.
Occidental Petroleum
I’ve been in and out of OXY. I don’t trust the oil industry yet. When I can grab profit I do.
4/22/20 – Buy 500 Shares OXY @ $12.80
4/29/20 – Sold 500 OXY @ $16.25
Profit $1725
I bought this 1000 shares of TWTR to do my Triple Play Hedge. On Thursday I felt the stock was gonna move down. I sold my 1000 shares at $29 taking profit and leaving all 3 Calls Naked in the TPH. It’s a dangerous move but it worked out. The stock dropped below all my Strike Prices in my TPH and they all expired. See the 3 Calls below. On Friday I bought another 1000 shares at $28. Let’s see what I do with the new 1000 shares this coming week.
4/23/20 – Buy 1000 Shares TWTR @ $28.30
4/30/20 – Sell 1000 Shares TWTR @ $29.00
Profit +$700
United Airlines
I bought 1000 shares of UAL to do a Covered Call. I bought the shares at $28 and sold a $28 Call. As with TWTR, on Thursday I felt the stock was going down. I sold the stock at $29.50 taking a $1550 profit leaving the Call Naked. The stock dropped below my Strike and the Call expired. Also, as with TWTR, I bought another 1000 shares at $28 on Friday. I hope to get another Call sold this week.
4/20/20 – Buy 1000 Shares UAL @ $28.00
4/30/20 – Sell 1000 Shares UAL @ $29.55
Profit $1550
United Airlines
This is the Call that was part go my UAL Covered Call. The Call expired with a $500 profit.
4/27/20 – Sell to Open 10 UAL 5/1/20 $28.00 C @ 50¢ (+$500)
5/1/20 – Expired 10 UAL 5/1/20 $28.00 C
Profit +$500
The Calls of my Twitter Triple Play Hedge
All of the Calls of the Triple Play Hedge expired without assignment. This TPH brought in a total of $3530 in premiums. I would say this was my most successful TPH to date. I bought the 1000 shares of TWTR at $28.30 and sold at $29 making a $700 profit. Add this to the $3530 for a total gain of $4230. The 1000 shares cost me $28,300. The profit of $4230 gives me a Rate of Return of 14.9% in one week. I wish they all worked this way.
4/23/20 – Sell to Open 10 TWTR 5/1/20 $29.00 C @ $1.75 ($1750)
5/1/20 – Expired 10 TWTR 5/1/20 $29.00 C
Profit +$1750
4/27/20 – Sell to Open 10 TWTR 5/1/20 $32.50 C @ $1.03 (+$1030)
5/1/20 – Expired 10 TWTR 5/1/20 $32.50 C
Profit +$1030
4/27/20 – Sell to Open 10 TWTR 5/1/20 $34.00 C @ 75¢ (+$750)
5/1/20 – Expired 10 TWTR 5/1/20 $34.00 C
Profit +$750
Total Weekly Gain $8005
Like I said in my opening statements, I had my biggest week of the year but my account went down. Thursday and Friday’s drop is the reason. Now that I have a bunch of Long Positions I hope the market starts to move up more than down in this still volatile market.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Successful Trading,
Steve
The Options Coach