Beginner Strategies: Covered Calls
Covered calls (CCs) are a simple way to generate income on stocks you already own. You sell a call option against 100 shares, collect premium up front, and agree to sell shares at a chosen strike if assigned.
Before You Trade
These examples and charts are simplified teaching models. Confirm live pricing, liquidity, and assignment risk in your broker before placing real trades.
Covered Call Basics
What you do and why it works
A covered call combines a long stock position with a short call. The stock is the “cover,” meaning your obligation to sell shares is already backed by shares you own. The call premium acts like income and slightly lowers your cost basis.
Position
Own 100 shares and sell 1 call against them.
Goal
Earn premium and possibly sell shares at a profit.
Tradeoff
Upside is capped above the strike price.
When CC Makes Sense
Best fits: neutral-to-bullish outlook
Covered calls shine when you would be happy selling shares at a higher price and you expect slow, steady price action. You’re getting paid for giving up some upside.
A good CC environment
Your stock is fairly valued, implied volatility is elevated (premium is richer), and you are comfortable taking profits if the stock rallies above your strike.
A bad CC environment
You expect a sharp breakout or you cannot afford to sell the shares (for tax reasons or because you need the long exposure).
Payoff & Outcomes
Understand expiration scenarios
Example setup: buy 100 shares at $100, sell the $105 call for $2. Your max profit is capped at $7 per share ($5 stock gain + $2 premium). Your breakeven is $98.
Covered call P/L combines stock gains with short call premium. Upside is capped above $105.
Illustrative example only: chart values are simplified to teach mechanics and are not live quotes or trade forecasts.
Below strike
Stock: $95
P/L: $-3.00
Keep shares + premium
At strike
Stock: $105
P/L: $7.00
Likely called away
Above strike
Stock: $120
P/L: $7.00
Upside capped
Greeks In Action
Delta and theta are your two main levers
A covered call reduces your net delta. You still benefit from a rising stock, but each $1 move has a smaller impact than owning stock alone. Theta works in your favor: every day that passes chips away at the call’s value, helping you keep more of the premium.
As the stock rises, the short call pulls your net delta lower, which dampens upside.
Illustrative example only: chart values are simplified to teach mechanics and are not live quotes or trade forecasts.
Short calls benefit from time decay. Value erodes faster as expiration approaches.
Illustrative example only: chart values are simplified to teach mechanics and are not live quotes or trade forecasts.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these CC pitfalls
Too tight strikes
Selling a call too close to the stock price caps upside quickly and increases assignment risk. Give the stock room to move.
Chasing premium
Picking an overly aggressive strike just because the premium looks good can lock you into selling shares earlier than planned.
Ignoring earnings
Earnings spikes can blow through your strike. Plan around high-volatility events.
Forgetting ex-dividend assignment risk
Short calls can be assigned early around ex-dividend dates when extrinsic value is low. Be ready to close or roll before the ex-date if assignment would be a problem.
Quick Checklist
Before you sell the call
- Would I be happy selling shares at the strike?
- Is implied volatility elevated enough to justify the premium?
- Do I have earnings or news risk before expiration?
- Is the premium worth the capped upside?
Who This Is For
Stock owners who want to generate extra income on shares they already hold by selling call options against them.
Learning Objectives
- • Explain what a covered call is and why the stock provides the “cover.”
- • Calculate max profit, max loss, and breakeven for a covered call.
- • Identify when covered calls work best (neutral-to-slightly-bullish outlook).
- • Understand how theta works in your favor as a call seller.
Risk Note
Your main risk is on the downside: if the stock drops sharply, the small premium collected from the call does little to offset the stock loss. You still own the shares and bear all downside risk below your breakeven. Additionally, your upside is capped—if the stock rallies past your strike, you miss those gains.
Example Walkthrough
Scenario: You own 100 shares of XYZ at $100. You sell the $105 call expiring in 30 days for $2.00 ($200 total credit).
Best case: XYZ at $105 at expiration
Stock gain: $5/share. Premium kept: $2/share. Total: +$700 ($7 × 100). Shares are called away at $105.
Worst case: XYZ drops to $85
Stock loss: −$15/share. Premium cushion: +$2/share. Net: −$1,300 (−$13 × 100). The premium helps, but the stock loss dominates.
Breakeven: $100 − $2 = $98. Below $98, you are losing more than the premium earned. Max profit: $7/share ($5 stock gain + $2 premium), capped at the strike.
Quick Recap
- • A covered call = long 100 shares + short 1 call. You earn premium but cap your upside at the strike.
- • Theta (time decay) works in your favor—every day that passes erodes the call value you sold.
- • Best when you are neutral-to-slightly-bullish and would be happy selling shares at the strike price.
Next lesson
Cash-Secured Puts
Up nextGet paid to wait for a lower entry price and compare CSPs to limit buy orders.
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