Butterfly Spread Options Strategies | TrendSpider Learning Center (2024)

6 mins read

Butterfly spreads are a popular options trading strategy that can be used to generate profits in a range-bound market. In this strategy, traders simultaneously buy and sell options at different strike prices to create a profit zone with limited risk.

While the strategy may seem complex at first, it can be a valuable tool for experienced traders looking to maximize their profits while minimizing their risks. In this article, we will explore the basics of butterfly spreads, how they work, and when to use them in your trading strategy.

What Is a Butterfly Spread?

A butterfly spread is an options trading strategy that involves the purchase and sale of multiple options contracts at three different strike prices, creating a profit zone. The options contracts are typically all of the same type, either all calls or all puts, and they all have the same expiration date. Essentially, a call butterfly spread is the combination of a bull call spread and a bear call spread and a put butterfly spread is the combination of a bull put spread and a bear put spread. The strategy gets its name from the shape of the profit and loss diagram, which looks like a butterfly with wings.

Butterfly spreads can be constructed in different ways, but a common example is the “long call butterfly” strategy. This involves buying one call option with a lower strike price, selling two call options with a middle strike price, and buying one call option with a higher strike price. A “long put butterfly” is similarly constructed. It involves buying one put option with a lower strike price, selling two put options with a middle strike price, and buying one put option with a higher strike price. The two middle options are sold to offset the cost of the two outer options, and this creates the profit zone.

The butterfly spread strategy can be used by traders who believe that the price of an underlying asset will remain relatively stable within a certain range until the expiration date of the options contracts. It is considered to be a limited-risk strategy.

The maximum profit potential of a butterfly spread is limited to the difference between the middle strike price and the lower (or higher) strike price, minus the net debit paid for the position. This profit is realized when the price of the underlying asset is at the middle strike price at expiration.

The maximum loss is limited to the net debit paid for the position. This loss is realized when the price of the underlying asset expires fully outside, either above or below, the butterfly spread. Depending on which direction and whether it’s a call butterfly or put butterfly, either all the options would expire worthless or all the options would expire in the money, canceling each other out.

Butterfly Spread Example

Let’s say that a trader believes that the price of XYZ stock, currently trading at $100, will remain relatively stable over the next month. The trader decides to enter into a call butterfly spread to potentially profit from this stable market condition.

The trader could enter the following positions:

1. Buy one call option with a strike price of $90 for $5 per share
2. Sell two call options with a strike price of $100 for $2.50 per share each
3. Buy one call option with a strike price of $110 for $1 per share

This results in a net debit of $1.00 per share ($5.00 for the purchased options minus $2.50 x 2 for the sold options plus $1.00 for the purchased option).

If the price of XYZ stock remains within the profit zone at expiration, the trader could potentially realize a maximum profit of $9.00 per share ($10.00 difference between the middle strike price and the lower (or higher) strike price – $1.00 net debit). If the price of XYZ stock moves outside of the profit zone, the trader could potentially realize a maximum loss of $1.00 per share, which is the net debit paid for the position.

How to Trade a Butterfly Spread

Trading a butterfly spread involves the following steps:

1. Identify a range-bound market: Find a stock or underlying asset that you expect to stay within a certain price range until the options contract expires.
2. Choose strike prices: Select three strike prices: one at-the-money (ATM) and two out-of-the-money (OTM) options, with the distance between the strike prices being equal.
3. Buy the wings: For a call butterfly, buy a call option at each of the OTM strike prices. For a put butterfly, buy a put option at each of the OTM strike prices. This will create a profit zone that is limited by the two OTM options. All options should have the same expiration.
4. Sell the body: Sell two options at the ATM strike price. For a call butterfly, sell two call options at the ATM strike price. For a put butterfly, sell two put options at the ATM strike price. This will create a limited-risk strategy, as the two options sold will offset the cost of buying the OTM options. All options should have the same expiration.
5. Monitor the trade: Finally, monitor the trade closely to ensure that the market remains range-bound. If the market moves significantly in one direction, the trader may need to adjust the position or exit the trade to limit losses.

Butterfly spreads can be a valuable tool for experienced traders who are looking to generate profits in a range-bound market. This options trading strategy allows traders to create a profit zone with limited risk, by simultaneously buying and selling options at different strike prices.

How to Adjust a Butterfly Spread

Adjusting a butterfly spread involves making changes to the position in response to changes in the underlying asset’s price movements. Here are a few ways to adjust a butterfly spread:

1. Roll up or down: If the market moves in a direction that is unfavorable to your position, you can consider rolling up or down the butterfly spread. This involves closing out the original position and opening a new position with a different strike price that is more favorable to the new market conditions.
2. Add wings: Another way to adjust a butterfly spread is to add wings to the existing position. This means buying additional options at further OTM strike prices, which can increase the profit zone and potentially offset losses from the original position.
3. Close out the position: If the market moves significantly against your position, you may need to consider closing out the position entirely. This means selling and buying back all the options involved in the butterfly spread and taking the loss.

It is important to keep in mind that adjustments to a butterfly spread should be made based on careful analysis of market conditions and with consideration of the risks involved. Traders should also be aware of the potential costs associated with adjusting the position, such as commissions.

Pros and Cons of Butterfly Spreads

Here are some potential pros and cons of trading butterfly spreads:

Pros:

1. Limited risk: One of the primary advantages of butterfly spreads is that they offer a limited risk to the trader. This is because the maximum loss is limited to the net premium paid for the position.
2. High potential for profit: If the underlying asset remains within the profit zone of the butterfly spread until the options contract expires, the trader can potentially realize significant profits.
3. Flexibility: Butterfly spreads can be adapted to various market conditions and can be traded with both calls and puts.

Cons:

1. Limited potential for profit: While butterfly spreads offer limited risk, they also have a limited potential for profit. This is because the profit zone is confined to a narrow range of prices, and the maximum profit is capped.
2. Requires precise timing: In order for a butterfly spread to be profitable, the underlying asset must remain within the profit zone until the options contract expires. This requires careful timing and analysis of market conditions.
3. Unpredictable market movements: As with any trading strategy, there is always the risk of unpredictable market movements that can cause losses to the trader.
4. Early assignment risk: Early assignment can occur when the owner of an options contract decides to exercise the option before its expiration date, resulting in the assignment of the option to the seller of the contract. This can create risks and unexpected outcomes for the trader, including the potential for losses or unfavorable pricing of the underlying asset.

Butterfly spreads can be a valuable tool for experienced traders who are looking to generate profits in a range-bound market. However, traders should carefully consider the risks and potential rewards before entering into this type of position, and should be prepared to adjust their position if necessary based on changing market conditions.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, butterfly spreads are a sophisticated options trading strategy that can help experienced traders generate profits in a range-bound market. By simultaneously buying and selling options at different strike prices, traders can create a profit zone with limited risk.

While the strategy may seem complex, it can be a valuable tool in the hands of traders who understand its nuances and risks. Ultimately, the success of a butterfly spread strategy depends on a trader’s ability to identify market conditions that are favorable for this type of trade and to execute the strategy with discipline and patience. By mastering the butterfly spread strategy, traders can potentially increase their profits while minimizing their risks in the options market.