How to Handle the Friday November 19 Options Expiration

Happy and newly enriched followers of the Mad Hedge Fund Trader Alert Service have the good fortune to own a record ten deep-in-the-money options positions that expire on Friday, November 19 at the stock market close in two days.

I have to admit that I traded like a Wildman this month, pedal to the metal, and 100% invested. This will take our 2021 year-to-date performance to over 100% for the first time in our 14-year history. I like to think that is the end result of my 53 years of investment in researching trading strategies.

Sometimes, overconfidence works.

It is therefore time to explain to the newbies how to best maximize their profits.

These involve the:

(GS) 11/$330-$350 call spread                    10.00%

(GS) 11/$385-$395 call spread                    10.00%

(MS) 11/$85-$90 call spread                        10.00%

(MS) 11/$95-$98 call spread                        10.00%

(BAC) 11/$37-$40 call spread                      10.00%

(BAC) 11/$43-$46 call spread                      10.00%

(TLT) 11/$150-$153 put spread                    10.00%

(ROM) 11/$105-$110 call spread                 10.00%

(BRKB) 11/$275-$280 call spread               10.00%

(BRKB) 11/$277.50-$282.50 call spread     10.00%

Provided that we don’t have another 2,000-point move down in the market in the next two days, these positions should expire at their maximum profit points.

So far, so good.

I’ll do the math for you on our deepest in-the-money position, the Goldman Sachs (GS) November 19 $330-$350 vertical bull call spread, which I almost certainly will run into expiration. Your profit can be calculated as follows:

Profit: $20.00 expiration value - $16.50 cost = $3.50 net profit

(6 contracts X 100 contracts per option X $3.50 profit per options)

= $2,100 or 17.65% in 24 trading days.

Many of you have already emailed me asking what to do with these winning positions.

The answer is very simple. You take your left hand, grab your right wrist, pull it behind your neck, and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

You don’t have to do anything.

Your broker (are they still called that?) will automatically use your long position to cover your short position, canceling out the total holdings.

The entire profit will be credited to your account on Monday morning November 22 and the margin freed up.

Some firms charge you a modest $10 or $15 fee for performing this service.

If you don’t see the cash show up in your account on Monday, get on the blower immediately and make your broker find it.

Although the expiration process is now supposed to be fully automated, occasionally machines do make mistakes. Better to sort out any confusion before losses ensue.

If you want to wimp out and close the position before the expiration, it may be expensive to do so. You can probably unload them pennies below their maximum expiration value.

Keep in mind that the liquidity in the options market understandably disappears, and the spreads substantially widen, when a security has only hours, or minutes until expiration on Friday, November 19. So, if you plan to exit, do so well before the final expiration at the Friday market close.

This is known in the trade as the “expiration risk.”

One way or the other, I’m sure you’ll do OK, as long as I am looking over your shoulder, as I will be, always. Think of me as your trading guardian angel.

I am going to hang back and wait for good entry points before jumping back in. It’s all about keeping that “Buy low, sell high” thing going.

I’m looking to cherry-pick my new positions going into the next month end.

Take your winnings and go out and buy yourself a well-earned dinner. Just make sure it’s take-out. I want you to stick around.

Well done, and on to the next trade.

 

You Can’t Do Enough Research