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

Short Put works well when you're Bullish that the price of the underlying will not fall beyond a certain level.

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.

When you are expecting the price or volatility of the underlying to increase marginally.

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.

• Sell Put Option

A short put strategy involves selling a Put Option only. So if you see that the shares of a Company A will not move below a 1000 then you sell the Put Option of that stock at 1000 and receive the premium amount. The premium received will be the maximum profit you can earn from this deal. However, if the price of the underlying moves below 1000 than you will incur losses.

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.

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

There is no limit to losses incurred in the trade. The risk is when the price of the underlying falls, and the Put is exercised. You are then obliged to buy the underlying at the strike price.

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.

The profit is limited to premium received in your account when you sell the Put Option.

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

Underlying doesn't go down and options remain exercised.

All options exercised or not exercised

Underlying goes down and options remain exercised.

Both ITM Calls exercised

It allows you benefit from time decay. And earn income in a rising or range bound market scenario.

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.

It is a high risk strategy and may cause huge losses if the price of the underlying falls steeply.

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.

Bull Put Spread, Covered Call, Short Straddle