Applied Options Strategies for Portfolio Managers Gary Trennepohl Oklahoma State University Jim Bittman The Options Institute
Session Outline Typical Fund Objectives Strategies for special situations Six Investor Strategies Actual Investment Manager Approaches 2
Using Options to Meet Investment Objectives Objectives: Increase exposure to equities without increasing risk Buy equities during the next year at lower prices Generate income Conserve cash 3
Suitable Option Investment Strategies 1 Invest cash 5%-20% below current market level and generate income Sell cash-secured put Sell out-of-the-money put spread Ratio put spread 4
Suitable Option Investment Strategies 2 Increase market exposure, limit risk and conserve cash Ratio call spread overlay Long a synthetic or split-strike synthetic Target buy/sell prices and generate income Sell covered straddle or strangle 5
Special Situations Defined Portfolio rebalancing driven by Unanticipated market moves Anticipated/unanticipated cash flows Market timing events Price entry/exit decisions Options give investors more strategy alternatives to manage these decisions/situations. 6
Prices for Case Studies November 1 S&P 500 @ 1,425 Strike Mar Mar Price Calls Puts 1,350 130 65 1,400 95 85 1,450 70 105 1,500 45 130 Quarterly Expiration: March 31, 2013, 150 days 7
3 Strategies that: Invest Below the Current Market Level and Bring in Cash Income
Case 1 Ready to Buy If Down 8%-10% Market View: You are willing to commit funds to the S&P near 1,300 Objective: Bring in cash income and buy the market near 1,300 Strategy: Sell cash-secured put Sell SPX Mar 1400 Puts @ 85 T-Bills: $140,000 per put 9
Short 1 1400 Put @ 85.00 SPX Level Sale Price Value at Exp. P /(L) 1500 85 0 +85 1450 85 0 +85 1400 85 0 +85 1350 85 50 +35 1300 85 100 (15) 10
Short 1 1400 Put @ 85.00 +100 + 50 0 ][ ][ ][ ][ - 50-100 1,315 1300 1425 1350 1400 1450 +85 Invest in S&P Put expires Effective price Keep premium = 1,315 = 6% ann rate 11
Case 1 Sell Put Outcomes Market Up: Puts expire; keep premium, equal to 6% annual rate Steady: Same as up Down: Buy the S&P at 1,315 (8% below current level of 1,425) 12
Case 2 Ready to Buy if Risk is Limited Market View: You are willing to buy near current levels if risk is limited Objective: Strategy: Commit funds with limited risk and bring in cash income Sell put spread Buy SPX Mar 1350 Put @ - 65 Dr Sell SPX Mar 1450 Put @ + 105 Cr Net Credit 40 T-Bills: $145,000 per put 13
Buy 1350 Put @ 65.00 Sell 1450 Put @ 105.00 Stock Price 1500 1450 1400 1350 1300 +1350 Put at 65.00 (65) (65) 1450 Put at 105.00 +105 +105 P /(L) +40 +40 (65) +55 (10) (65) (60) + 5 (15) (45) (60) 14
Case 2 Sell Put Spread 40/1410 365/150 = 6.9% (ann. rate) + 0 ][ ][ ][ ][ - 60 Max loss No position 1350 1410 1400 Invest in S&P at 1410 1425 1,450 1,500 +40 Put expires Keep 40 15
Case 2 Sell Put Spread Outcomes Market > 1,450: Puts expire; keep premium of 40 index points (7%) 1,350-1,450: Buy S&P at level of 1,410 (1.1% below current level) < 1,350: Max loss of 60 index points (4.2% max loss) 16
Case 3 Ready to Buy 10%-15% Lower Market View: The market will decline 10-15% Objective: Strategy: Bring in cash income and buy the market down 10%-15%. Cash-secured ratio put spread +1 2 Buy 1 SPX Mar 1400 Put @ 85 (85) dr Sell 2 SPX Mar 1350 Puts@ 65 ea. 130 cr T-Bills $135,000 Net Credit 45 cr Max risk = long 1 unit 17
Buy 1 1400 Put @ 85.00 Sell 2 1350 Puts @ 65.00 ea S&P Level 1450 1400 1350 1300 1250 +1 1400 P at 85 (85) (85) 2 1350 P at 65 ea. +130 +130 P /(L) +45 +45 (35) +130 +95 +15 +30 +45 +65 (70) ( 5) 18
Case 3 Cash-Secured Ratio Put Spread + 0 ][ ][ ][ - 1,255 1300 Buy at a level of??? 1350 +95 Long put settles in cash 1400 1425 +45 Puts expire Keep 45 19
Case 3 Ratio Put Spread Outcomes Market > 1,400: Puts expire; keep premium of 45 index points (3.2% in 150 days) 1,350-1,400: Long put settles in cash for additional income < 1,350: Buy the S&P 500 at 1,255 20
2 Strategies that: Increase Market Exposure, Limit Risk and Conserve in Cash
Case 4 Increase Exposure Without Risk Market View: Objective: Strategy: The market will rise modestly Add upside exposure without increasing downside risk. Ratio Call Spread Overlay Own SPY (or S&P stocks) @ 1,425 Buy 1 SPX Mar 1,450 Call @ 70 (70) Dr Sell 2 SPX Mar 1,500 Calls @ 45 ea 90 Cr Net Credit 20 Cr 22
Ratio Call Spread: Own S&P @ 1,425, +1 1450 Call @ 70, 2 1500 Calls @ 45 ea S&P Level Long S&P at 1425 +1 1450 C at 70 2 1500 C at 45 ea P /(L) 1600 +175 +80 (110) +145 1550 +125 +30 (10) +145 1500 +75 (20) +90 +145 1450 +25 (70) +90 +45 1425-0- (70) +90 +20 23
Case 4 Ratio Call Spread Overlay + 0 ][ ][ ][ - 1400 1,425 Long 1 +145 1,450 +20 Long 2 1,500 1,570 No market exposure 24
Case 4 Spread Overlay Outcomes Market < 1,450: Long 1 performs 20 points better than S&P 500 1,450-1,500: Long 2 > 1,500: No market exposure maximum profit = +145 (+10.2% in 5 months) 25
Case 5 Target Buying Lower, but Can t Miss a Rally Market View: Think market will decline, but worried about missing a rally Objective: Establish a buy point down 5% and participate in the upside. Strategy: Split-strike synthetic Sell 1 SPX Mar 1350 Put @ 65 Cr Buy 1 SPX Mar 1450 Call T-Bills $135,000 @ (70) Dr Net Cost ( 5) Dr 26
Sell 1,350 Put @ 65.00 Buy 1,450 Call @ 70.00 S&P Level 1500 1450 1400 1350 1300 1350 Put at 65 +1450 Call at 70 P /(L) +65 (20) +45 +65 (70) ( 5) +65 +65 +15 (70) (70) (70) ( 5) ( 5) (55) 27
Case 5 Split-Strike Synthetic 5 + 0 ][ ][ ][ - 1350 1425 No 1,455 1,450 1,550 market Long 1 exposure Long 1 28
Case 5 Split-Strike Syn. Outcomes Market < 1,350: Put assigned long the S&P 500 at 1,355 1,350-1,450: No market exposure ( 5 pts) > 1,450: Exercise call long the S&P 500 at 1,455 29
1 Strategy that: Targets Buy and Sell Prices and Generates Income
Case 6 Trading a Range Market View: The S&P 500 is range bound between 1,300 and 1,600 Objective: Increase exposure near 1,300, Decrease exposure near 1,600, and earn income while waiting. Strategy: Covered Strangle Sell SPX Mar 1,500 Calls @ 45 Cr Sell SPX Mar 1,350 Puts @ 65 Cr Own 10 SPY for each call and put 31
Covered Strangle: Own S&P @ 1,425, Sell 1350 Put @ 65, Sell 1500 Call @ 45 S&P Level Long S&P at 1425 1350 P at 65 1500 Call at 45 P /(L) 1600 +175 +65 (55) +185 1500 + 75 +65 +45 +185 1425-0- +65 +45 +110 1350 ( 75) +65 +45 + 10 1250 (175) (35) +45 (165) 32
Case 6 Covered Strangle + 0 ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ - 1300 Puts Assigned Equal to buying at S&P 1,315 1350 1400 1425 +110 Long 1 1450 1500 +185 Calls Assigned Sell S&P 1,610 33
Case 6 Covered Strangle Outcomes Market > 1,500: Calls assigned; equal to selling at S&P 1,610 1,350-1,500: Long S&P + 110 points < 1,350: Puts assigned; equal to doubling up at S&P 1,315 34
Actual Money Manager Strategies Using Options 1. CLIFTON GROUP DEFENSIVE EQUITY 2. HARVEST VOLATILITY MANAGEMENT 35
Clifton Group Defensive Equity Strategy Clifton s Defensive Equity strategy is comprised of a b Higher S&P Prices 50% S&P 500 Index se oi pr tfolio combined wp th an o S&P 500 Call Overlay Sell covered calls above current market price (out-of-money) Portfolio Construction tion overlay. Base Portfolio 0% Option Overlay Lower S&P Prices 50% US Treasury Bills S&P 500 Put Overlay Sell cash covered puts below current market price (out-of-money) Option Details Short-term expirations Out-of-the-money, volatility-based dynamic strikes European style, exchange-traded Cash settled upon expiration when new options are sold Straightforward portfolio that is liquid, transparent and unlevered 36
Selecting the Options to Trade Dynamic Strike Prices The dynamic strike process adapts to volatility changes, selling further out-of-money options when expected volatility is higher S&P 500 Index: Monthly Price Change versus Option Strike Prices 1/1/1990 to 12/31/2011 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% -15% -20% SPX - Price Return Monthly Call and Put Strikes (% Out- of- Money) 1990 1993 1997 2000 2004 2007 2011 Median Call Strike: +4.03% Median Put Strike: -4.46% Since 1990 the S&P 500 Index price at expiration: Rallied above the call strike 20.8% of the time Declined below the put strike 10.2% of the time Remained between the call and put strikes 69.0% of the time In 82% of the monthly periods since 1990, option sales were additive to performance* *Said another way, in 18% of the monthly periods, total premium collected was less than the loss on an option that expired in-the-money. See simulated disclosures in Appendices. Source: The Clifton Group 37
Monthly Trading Strategy Using S&P 500 index options or SPY It is Friday, Nov 21 st and SPY is at 140. Assume you own 3,500 shares of SPY and hold $500,000 in cash. Strategy: Sell SPYoptions with Δ.20. Sell 35 Dec 145 Calls ($60 35) = $ 2,100 Sell 37 Dec 135 Puts ($500,000/13,500) ($90 37) = $ 3,330 Net Premium Income $ 5,430 You have sold covered calls and cash secured puts, so you can cover either position if it ends in the money. 38
Recent Actual Performance Actual Performance Actual performance for the Defensive Equity strategy Date: 12/31/2011 12.00% 10.00% 10.93% 8.00% 6.00% 4.00% 2.00% 0.00% -2.00% -4.00% -2.62% 6.75% 0.96% 1.14% -0.22% 1.02% Monthly Returns Actual Month: Defensive Equity (net) S&P 500 Total Return Difference 09/30/11-2.62% -7.03% 4.41% 10/31/11 6.75% 10.93% -4.18% 11/30/11 0.96% -0.22% 1.19% 12/31/11 1.14% 1.02% 0.12% -6.00% -8.00% -7.03% Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Actual Defensive Equity (net) S&P 500 Total Return Note: The inception date for Clifton's Defensive Equity strategy was September 2011. The returns are presented net of 35bps fee. (unified fee is inclusive of investment management, administrative and custody fees) Defensive Equity - Fourth Quarter '11 20 *See the GIPS Performance Presentation and Disclosure Statement in Appendices. Past results are not indicative of future performance. 39
Growth of $100 Simulated Long Run Returns Return Period: 12/31/1989 12/31/2011 Defensive Equity Strategy Simulation Summary of Results 0 Simulated Defensive Equity 1 (Gross) Simulated Defensive Equity 2 (Net) S&P 500 50% S&P 500/ 50% T-Bills Defensive Equity vs. S&P 500 (Gross) Annualized Return 10.3% 9.9% 8.2% 6.2% 2.1% Standard Deviation 8.3% 8.3% 15.2% 7.6% (6.9)% Sharpe Ratio 0.81 0.76 0.30 0.34 0.50 900 800 700 600 S&P 500 outperforms in major bull markets Defensive Equity seeks to outperform in major bear markets Insurance Risk Premium Capture 500 400 300 Equity Risk Equity Risk Premium Give Up 200 S&P 500 Total Return 100 Simulated Defensive Equity (Gross) 50% S&P 500 / 50% T-Bills 0 1990 1993 1997 2000 2004 2007 2011 1 Defensive Equity (Gross) simulated returns are gross of management fees and net of expected transaction costs 2 Defensive Equity (Net) simulated returns are net of fees (35bps) and net of expected transaction costs Source: The Clifton Group, CBOE *See simulated disclosures in Appendices. 40
HARVEST VOLATILITY MANAGEMENT 41
Harvest Strategy Harvest offers a strategy which involves selling put and call spreads against a cash portfolio that s used to support margin requirements for trading. Similar to Clifton, they sell a strangle using S&P 500 index options, but they buy a further out call and put to reduce required margin. 42
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Harvest November Example Friday, Nov 9: S&P 500 at 1390 Buy Dec 1515 Call Sell Dec 1480 Call Sell Dec 1300 Put Buy JAN 1160 Put Sell a Call Spread Sell a Put Calendar Spread Receive $6.70/share (credit spread) Manage position if market makes dramatic move up or down. Trade out of position if market dictates 46