Previously, we posted information on doing a covered call using a LEAPS option. Call calendar spreads are similar to a covered call. One part of the call calendar spread is buying a LEAPS call instead of owning the stock. Then, we can sell call options (like a covered call) with less time to expiration (the calendar part). For example, we can buy a call LEAPS with two years of time and sell a call option in the next month. It the strike price of the LEAPS is the same as the call sold, then you have created a call calendar spread. It the strike prices are different, then we have created a diagonalized calendar spread.
My preference is to buy a LEAPS that is in-the-money. This gives you a higher delta so you captured more of the stock price move. A good target is to buy a LEAPS call with a delta of 0.70 or higher. If the stock makes a strong up move, then you gain more profits in the LEAPS call. Also, ITM LEAPS give us more choices in what strike prices to sell the call. In comparison to a covered call with stock, we DO NOT want to e exercised in the LEAPS position. The reason is simply that we do not want to lose the time value of the LEAP call. You can buy an ATM or OTM LEAPS call, but your delta will be lower and it is more difficult to sell a call until the stock price moves up.
When I sell a call, I like to sell the shortest amount of time available because it will decay faster (more profit per day due to time decay) than a call with several months of time. I like to use the existing month and the next month for call sells. I like to sell an OTM call when holding a LEAPS because the call sold is all time value.
The bottomline: Your returns will be leveraged. For example, you may get a 3% return on a covered call but that same return will be 12% if your underlying is a LEAPS instead of stock. Since we are using LEAPS, if the short call strike price is above the stock then it will expire worthless. You can then sell a call against the LEAPS for the next month. If the stock price is greater than the short call, you can back back the short call or roll it up to a higher strike price.
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