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Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Vs Short Condor (Short Call Condor) Options Trading Strategy Comparison

Compare Long Condor (Long Call Condor) and Short Condor (Short Call Condor) options trading strategies. Find similarities and differences between Long Condor (Long Call Condor) and Short Condor (Short Call Condor) strategies. Find the best options trading strategy for your trading needs.

Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Vs Short Condor (Short Call Condor)

  Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Short Condor (Short Call Condor)
Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Logo Short Condor (Short Call Condor) Logo
About Strategy A Long Call Condor is a neutral market view strategy with a limited risk and a limited profit. The long call condor investor is looking for little or no movement in the underlying. It is a 4 leg strategy which involves buying 2 ITM Calls and 2 OTM Calls at different strike price with the same expiry date. The strategy is similar as long butterfly strategy with the difference being in the strike prices selected. Suppose Nifty is currently trading at 10,400. The long call condor strategy can be used if expect very little volatility in the index and market to largely remain range bound. To profit in such a market scenario lets: Long Call Condor Options Strategy OrdersExample NIFTY Strike Price Buy 1 ITM CallNIFTY18APR10200C... Read More A Short Call Condor (or Short Condor) is a neutral strategy with a limited risk and a limited profit. The short condor strategy is suitable for a high volatile underlying. The goal of this strategy is to profit from a stock price moving up or down beyond the highest or lowest strike prices of the position. The strategy is similar to Short Call Butterfly strategy with the difference being in the strike prices selected. Suppose Nifty is currently trading at 10,400. If the trader is expecting high volatility in the index due to specific events i.e. budget, results, and elections, he could choose the Short Condor strategy to profit in such a market scenario. The strategy could be constructed as below: Short Condor Options Strategy ... Read More
Market View Neutral Volatile
Strategy Level Advance Advance
Options Type Call Call
Number of Positions 4 4
Risk Profile Limited Limited
Reward Profile Limited Limited
Breakeven Point

When and how to use Long Condor (Long Call Condor) and Short Condor (Short Call Condor)?

  Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Short Condor (Short Call Condor)
When to use?

The Long Call Condor works well when you expect the price of the underlying to be range bound in the coming days. In other words, when the trader is anticipating minimal price movement in the underlying during the lifetime of the options.

The Short Call Condor works well when you expect the price of the underlying to be very volatile. In other words, when the trader is anticipating massive price movements (in any direction) in the underlying during the lifetime of the options.

Market View Neutral

When you are unsure about the direction in the movement in the price of the underlying but are expecting little volatility in it in the near future.

Volatile

When you are unsure about the direction in the movement in the price of the underlying but are expecting high volatility in it in the near future.

Action
  • Buy Deep ITM Call Option
  • Buy Deep OTM Call Option
  • Sell ITM Call Option
  • Sell OTM Call Option

Suppose Nifty is currently trading at 10,400. You expect little volatility in the index and market to largely remain range bound. To profit in such a market scenario, you can buy buy 1 ITM Nifty Call Option at 10,200, sells 1 ITM Nifty Call Option 10,300, sell 1 OTM Call Option at 10,500 and buy 1 OTM Nifty Call Option at 10,800. The Net debit of premium is the maximum possible loss while your maximum profit will be when Nifty is between the strike prices of 2 short calls on expiry.

Buy ITM Call Option + Buy OTM Call Option + Sell Deep OTM Call Option + Sell Deep ITM Call Option

Suppose Nifty is trading at 10,400. If you expect high volatility in the Nifty in the coming days then you can execute Short Call Condor by selling 1 ITM Nifty Call at 10,200, buying 1 ITM Call at 10,300, buying 1 OTM Call Option at 10, 500 and selling 1 OTM Nifty Call at 10, 600. Your maximum loss will be if Nifty closes in the range of 10,300 to 10,500 on expiry while maximum profit will be on either side of upper or lower strikes.

Breakeven Point

There are 2 break even points in this strategy. The upper break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the difference between higher strike price and net premium paid. The lower break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the total of lower strike price and net premium paid.

Lower Breakeven = Lower Strike Price + Net Premium

Upper breakeven = Higher Strike Price - Net Premium


There are 2 break even points in this strategy. The upper break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the difference between strike price of highest strike shot call and net premium paid. The lower break even is hit when the underlying price is equal to the strike price of lowest strike short call and net premium paid.

Lower Breakeven = Lower Strike Price + Net Premium

Upper breakeven = Higher Strike Price - Net Premium

Compare Risks and Rewards (Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Vs Short Condor (Short Call Condor))

  Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Short Condor (Short Call Condor)
Risks Limited

The maximum risk in a long call condor strategy is equal to the net premium paid at the time of entering the trade. The max risk is when the price of the underlying equal to or below the lower strike price or when the underlying price is equal to or above the higher strike price of Options in trade at expiration time.

Limited

This is a limited risk strategy. The maximum risk in a short call condor strategy is calculated as below:

Max Loss = Strike Price of Lower Strike Long Call - Strike Price of Lower Strike Short Call - Net Premium Received + Commissions Paid

The max risk is when the price of the underlying remains in between strike price of 2 long calls.

Rewards Limited

The maximum profit in a long call condor strategy is realized when the price of the underlying is trading between the two middle strikes at time of expiration.

Limited

The maximum profit in a short call condor strategy is realized when the price of the underlying is trading outside the range at time of expiration.<.p>

Max Profit = Strike Price of Lower Strike Short Call - Strike Price of Lower Strike Long Call - Net Premium Paid

Maximum Profit Scenario

Both ITM Calls exercised

Max Profit = Strike Price of Lower Strike Short Call - Strike Price of Lower Strike Long Call - Net Premium Paid

All options exercised or not exercised

Maximum Loss Scenario

All Options exercised or not exercised

Max Loss = Net Premium Paid

Both ITM Calls exercised

Pros & Cons or Long Condor (Long Call Condor) and Short Condor (Short Call Condor)

  Long Condor (Long Call Condor) Short Condor (Short Call Condor)
Advantages

It allows you to profit from range bound underlying at low capital. The profit is high with limited risk exposure.

The maximum profit for the condor trade may be low in relation to other trading strategies but it has a comparatively wider profit zone.

It allows you to profit from highly volatile underlying assets moving in any direction.

The maximum profit for the condor trade may be low in relation to other trading strategies but it has a comparatively wider profit zone.

Earn profit with little or no investment as you will have a credit of net premiums.

Disadvantage

Strike prices selected may have an impact on the potential of profit.

Brokerage and taxes makes a significant impact on the profits from this strategy. The cost of trading increases with number of legs. This strategy has 4 legs and thus the brokerage cost is higher.

Strike prices selected may have an impact on the potential of profit.

Brokerage and taxes make a significant impact on the profits from this strategy. The cost of trading increases with the number of legs. This strategy has 4 legs and thus the brokerage cost is higher.

Simillar Strategies Long Put Butterfly, Short Call Condor, Short Strangle Long Put Butterfly, Short Call Condor, Short Strangle

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