Butterfly Option Strategy: Maximising Profit Potential (2024)

Options trading offers investors the flexibility to profit from price movements in financial assets. Strategies like the butterfly option strategy help in managing risk and maximising returns in various market conditions. Let us understand its working, execution, and potential outcomes.

What is the butterfly option strategy

The butterfly strategy is employed by options traders who anticipate minimal movement in the price of the underlying asset. In this strategy, traders buy and sell three options contracts simultaneously. All of them have different strike prices but the same expiration date.

The purpose of using this strategy is to profit from a limited range of price movement in the underlying asset. Now, let us understand the basic components of a butterfly strategy:

ATM option

  • This is the option purchased at the money.
  • This means its strike price is closest to the current price of the underlying asset.

OTM option

  • These are the options sold at strike prices above and below the ATM option.
  • These options will typically be equidistant from the ATM option.

Further OTM option

  • This is the additional option purchased.
  • It has a strike price even further from the current price of the underlying asset than the two sold options.

Let us see the working in three steps:

Step I: Buy one option

Step II: Sell two options

Step III: Buy one option

  • The trader buys one at-the-money (ATM) call or put option.
  • This option will typically be closest to the current price of the underlying asset.
  • The trader sells two out-of-the-money (OTM) call or put options.
  • These options will have strike prices above and below the ATM option.
  • Finally, the trader buys one further out-of-the-money (OTM) call or put option.
  • This option will have a strike price even further from the current price of the underlying asset than the two sold options.

Butterfly strategy example

An options trader believes that the stock of XYZ Ltd. will trade within a narrow range in the near term. The current price of XYZ Ltd. is Rs. 1000 per share.

How will the trader set up the butterfly spread?

Buy 1 ATM call option

  • Buy one call option with a strike price of Rs. 1000 and an expiration date one month away.
  • This is the at-the-money (ATM) option.

Sell 2 OTM call options

  • Sell two call options with strike prices of Rs. 1050 and Rs. 1100, respectively, expiring in one month.
  • These are the out-of-the-money (OTM) options.

Buy 1 further OTM call option

  • Buy one call option with a strike price of Rs. 1150, expiring in one month.
  • This is the further out-of-the-money (OTM) option.

Now, let us analyse this trade set-up under three different scenarios:

Scenario 1: Price remains within the range (Rs. 1000 - Rs. 1100)

  • If the price of XYZ Ltd. stays between Rs. 1000 and Rs. 1100 until expiration, the trader profits.
  • The sold options expire worthless, while the purchased options gain value due to their proximity to the ATM option.
  • The maximum profit is achieved if the price settles exactly at Rs. 1100 at expiration.

Scenario 2: Price goes above Rs. 1100

  • If the price of XYZ Ltd. rises above Rs. 1100, the maximum loss occurs.
  • The sold options become in-the-money (ITM).
  • This event results in losses that are partially offset by the profits from the purchased options.
  • Also, the losses are limited due to the purchased options.

Scenario 3: Price drops below Rs. 1000:

  • If the price of XYZ Ltd. falls below Rs. 1000, the maximum loss occurs again.
  • In this scenario, the ATM option expires worthless, while the purchased options also lose value.
  • However, the losses are limited due to the purchased options.

What are the different types of butterfly trading strategies

Butterfly spreads are a family of options trading strategies. There are several variations of butterfly spreads, each with its unique characteristics and applications. Let us explore some of the common types:

Types

Execution

Timing

Long call butterfly spread

  • Buy one call optionat a lower strike price
  • Sell two call options at a middle strike price, and
  • Buy one call option at a higher strike price.

Used when the trader expects the price of the underlying asset to remain stable, with a slight bias towards one direction.

Long put butterfly spread

Similar to the long call butterfly spread, but using put options instead of call options.

Used when the trader anticipates minimal movement in the price of the underlying asset.

Short call butterfly spread

  • Sell one call option at a lower strike price
  • Buy two call options at a middle strike price, and
  • Sell one call option at a higher strike price.

Used when the trader expects the price of the underlying asset to remain within a specific range, with no significant movement.

Short put butterfly spread

Similar to the short call butterfly spread, but using put options instead of call options.

Used when the trader anticipates minimal movement in the price of the underlying asset.

When is the maximum profit realised

In all the above cases, the maximum profit is achieved if the price of the underlying asset is equal to the middle strike price at expiration.

Conclusion

Butterfly option strategy offers various ways to profit from expected price stability in an underlying asset. Whether it is through long or short call/put butterfly spreads, traders can effectively execute these strategies and maximise their earning potential.

However, as with all forms of futures and options trading, butterfly strategy also comes with risks. Thus, traders must remain cautious and start by practising with small positions. Continuous learning and monitoring the market is the key that can significantly improve the chances of success.

Butterfly Option Strategy: Maximising Profit Potential (2024)

FAQs

How do you calculate max profit on butterfly spread? ›

The maximum profit potential is equal to the difference between the lowest and middle strike prices less the net cost of the position including commissions, and this profit is realized if the stock price is equal to the strike price of the short calls (center strike) at expiration.

Is butterfly strategy profitable? ›

The OTM butterfly strategy can offer a low-risk trade with an attractive reward-to-risk ratio and a high probability of profit if the stock does move higher when using calls.

What is the most consistently profitable option strategy? ›

The most successful options strategy for consistent income generation is the covered call strategy. An investor sells call options against shares of a stock already owned in their portfolio with covered calls. This allows them to collect premium income while holding the underlying investment.

Which option strategy has highest probability of profit? ›

One strategy that is quite popular among experienced options traders is known as the butterfly spread. This strategy allows a trader to enter into a trade with a high probability of profit, high-profit potential, and limited risk.

What are the disadvantages of the butterfly spread? ›

The primary disadvantage of the butterfly spread is the possibility that the market could move sharply in either direction to incur a loss on the position, and the potential trading costs versus the limited profit potential (see sidebar).

What is the 1 3 2 option strategy? ›

The 1-3-2 structure supposedly appears as a tree. The strategy profits from a small increase in the price of the underlying asset and maxes when the underlying closes at the middle option strike price at options expiration. Maximum profit equals middle strike minus lower strike minus the premium.

What is the formula for maximum profit? ›

It is present in a monopoly and perfect competition market. The profit maximization formula depends on profit = Total revenue – Total cost.

What is golden butterfly option strategy? ›

The butterfly strategy is employed by options traders who anticipate minimal movement in the price of the underlying asset. In this strategy, traders buy and sell three options contracts simultaneously. All of them have different strike prices but the same expiration date. This is the option purchased at the money.

What is the success rate of the iron butterfly strategy? ›

It may generate a stable income and reduce the risks as much as possible compared with directional spreads, using very little capital. What is the success rate of the iron butterfly strategy? There is a 20% to 30% probability of an iron butterfly achieving any profit. It makes an entire profit only 23% of the time.

Which option strategy has unlimited profit potential? ›

A Long Straddle is an unlimited profit & fixed risk strategy which involves buying a call and a put option at the same strike price and expiration. You use long straddle when you expect high volatility after a market event, but unsure about the direction.

What option strategy does Warren Buffett use? ›

Selling (Writing) Options: Buffett's preferred options strategy revolves around writing (selling) options rather than buying them. By selling options, he collects premiums upfront, which can generate income even if the options expire worthless.

What is poor man's covered call? ›

In a poor man's covered call, investors replace the shares of stock with a deep in-the-money (ITM) long call that has a longer expiration term than the short call. As a result, investors generally spend significantly less money executing the PMCC while reducing the maximum loss potential as well.

What is the maximum profit on a butterfly option? ›

The maximum profit is equal to the higher strike price minus the strike of the sold put, less the premium paid. The maximum loss of the trade is limited to the initial premiums and commissions paid.

Is butterfly strategy good? ›

Description: The Butterfly Spread Option strategy works best in a non-directional market or when a trader doesn't expect the security prices to be very volatile in future. That allows the trader to earn a certain amount of profit with limited risk.

What is the long call butterfly option strategy? ›

Long Call Butterfly is a neutral strategy where very low volatility in the price of underlying is expected. The strategy is a combination of bull Spread and bear Spread. It involves Buy 1 ITM Call, Sell 2 ATM Calls and Buy 1 OTM Call. The strike prices of all Options should be at equal distance from the current price.

Which option strategy is most profitable? ›

1. Bull Call Spread. A bull call spread strategy is driven by a bullish outlook. It involves purchasing a call option with a lower strike price while concurrently selling one with a higher strike price, positioning you to profit from an anticipated gradual increase in the stock's value.

What is the butterfly strategy payoff? ›

The payoff diagram of a long call butterfly defines the maximum risk and reward. The maximum loss on the trade is defined at entry by the combined cost of the four call options and is realized if the underlying stock price closes above or below the long options at expiration.

What is the advantage of butterfly method? ›

The Butterfly Method offers several advantages for adding fractions: Simplicity: It simplifies fraction addition, making it accessible to students and math enthusiasts of all levels. Time efficiency: Eliminates the need for finding common denominators, saving time in mathematical operations.

How do you find the maximum profit in ratio spread? ›

A put ratio spread is buying one ATM or OTM put option, while also writing two further options that are further OTM (lower strike). The max profit for the trade is the difference between the long and short strike prices, plus the net credit received (if any).

How is max profit calculated? ›

The maximum profit will occur at the quantity where the difference between total revenue and total cost is largest. Based on its total revenue and total cost curves, a perfectly competitive firm like the raspberry farm can calculate the quantity of output that will provide the highest level of profit.

What is the max profit on a spread option? ›

The maximum profit potential is the spread width minus the premium paid. To break even on the position, the stock price must be above the long call option by at least the cost to enter the position.

How do you calculate the maximum profit of a bull put spread? ›

The maximum profit for a bull put spread is equal to the difference between the amount received from the sold put and the amount paid for the purchased put. In other words, the net credit received initially is the maximum profit, which only happens if the stock's price closes above the higher strike price at expiry.

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